Isolated ground for 20 amp


Hello,

I am planning to have three 20 amp circuits run from my panels into my music room which is right next to the basement where I got two 200 amp breaker boxes. 

To add an separate breaker box directly from the transformer, I was told it would be very expensive and it would make it commercial.

The electrician said, he can make a separate 100 amp panel and run 3 20 amp circuits. But the ground from the separated breaker box will be connected to the ground of one of the main panels. If the grounds are finally connected to the main panel, what is the point of having a separate 100 amp panel? I have quite a few 20 amp slots available in the main panels.

I am also reading about isolated ground. What does it exactly mean? I also read that, it is dangerous to have isolated ground and regular ground next to each other, as each can have a different potential and it can kill people when touched simultaneously.

I also read that, all grounds have to be connected to each other as a safety code. If that is the case, how does isolated ground actually isolate?

Also, I want to connect my components directly to the three 20 amp lines, so I can save cost on conditioners. How do conditioners work? some say they impair sound.

My components are: Reed Muse 3c, Ypsilon MC26L SUT, Ypsilon VPS100, Cary SLP05, Cary DMS600, Cary CAD 211FE monoblocks, KEF Blades

Sorry, any guidance is hugely appreciated.
kanchi647

Showing 11 responses by kanchi647

Also, help me with recommending good outlets. 

Does power conditioners help even with isolated outlets?
@erik_squires thanks for sharing the article.
Power conditioners can cost as much as 10K and split single 20 amp circuit among all the components, which should be plenty enough even with 500 amp monoblocks. 

Running isolated 20 amp circuits is cheap. I can have 3 seperate 20 amp lines with 6 outlets for 1-2K depending on the outlets I use. Will they still have EMI/RF that needs to be conditioned?

@millercarbon Thanks for sharing MF's video. I am surprised he is running all that equipment on single 20 amp circuit using Niagara 7000.
Romex 10/3 is solid copper, whereas 8/3, 6/3 is stranded copper. I am taking that solid copper is preferable and enough gauge.
@erik_squires I am strongly considering torus power supplies. Do you have any experience with them.
What are the pros and cons?

Thank
Nanda
Which kind of Siemens 20 amp breakers do you recommend for dedicated lines. GFCI or regular? standard trip or arc fault?

I have 2 x 200 amp panels. Each panel has two columns of breakers and from what I gather, alternate rows are same phase.  
@lowrider57 I have two ground rods one from each panel (must be 30 yrs old and I cannot see them) that are connected by a thin wire to each 200 amp panel. Do you suggest a third rod and tie back to other two rods?

@gs5556 Thank you for the explanation. Now I understand what isolated ground means.

@lowrider57 the 200 amp panels have a column on the Left and right. Is each in a different phase? How to determine which phase a outlet is in? Which receptacles did you use?
There are a total of 4 wires, what do you do with each wire for isolated ground connection?
@ditusa recommended 10/3. I am thinking the bare ground is not used, instead the insulated white is used for ground to make it isolated ground.
@erik_squires can you please recommend a few power conditioners. I am also looking into power distributors. Pros and Cons?

Have you heard of Puritan conditioner which does not limit transient peak currents unlike other power conditioners.

Thanks
Nanda

I have the ability to run 240V. I contacted CARY to see if the CAD 211FE can be run on 240V. Any advantage to 240V for the power amps.