Really good home electrical wiring.


I am building a new HT room with 9 dedicated 20-Amp circuits and am planning on using WATTGATE's flagship 20-Amp receptacles. The one thing I am still unclear about is what type of electrical wire should be run to the HT room. I am most familiar with Romex because it is the standard for basic electrical wiring. I've been told that THHN Strand is much better than Romex. Finally I just have found out about the 8-gauge AC wire the JPS Labs sells. I am investing a ton of money into this room and want to use the best electrical wire. What do ya'll recommend?
sbearden

Showing 4 responses by sbearden

Well after speaking directly with some of the industry's most respected professionals, here is what I believe to be the best answer to my own original question: 1). DEDICATED CIRCUITS: 20-Amp Circuits, 2). WIRING: Silver Plated Copper (Stranded) Teflon Insulated 10 Gauge, 3). RECEPTACLES: 20-Amp Leviton Hospital Grade w/ Isolated Ground (model no. 5362-IG-I ), 4). CONDUIT: Non-metallic blue flex conduit for each dedicated 20-Amp circuit. I hope other find this helpfull.
Wow! Thanks for all the good info but I must admit that I am unsure of what isolation transformers and line balancers are or why I would need one? Also if I have dedicated circuits on the same phase, why do I need a dedicated ground? Lastly I've been told by a pretty well respected individual that I should use THHN Strand because it is better than Romex; Any comments? Here is a list of my current system (in case it may help with understanding my situation and what I should do with the electrical: HERE IS MY CURRENT* SYSTEM CONFIGURATION- (1) 65" Rear Projection TV: (the new 2001 Toshiba 65H80) (1) HDTV/DSS Receiver: (Toshiba DST3000)* (1) DVD player: (Toshiba SD9200) (1) VCR: (Mitsubishi HSU-82) (1) PVR: (Philips HDR612)* (1) Digital Cable TV box: (GI DCT-2000) (1) AV Pre-amp/processor: (Linn AV5103) (7) AV Amplifiers: (Linn AV5105) -(3) Stereo Power Amps: Front L/R (Aktiv Tri-amped) -(1) Stereo Power Amp : Center (Aktiv Bi-amped) -(3) Stereo Power Amps: Rear L/R (Aktiv Tri-amped) (2) Front Channel Speakers: (Linn AV5140) (1) Center Channel Speaker: (Linn AV5120) (2) Rear Channel Speakers: (Linn AV5140) (1) Front Channel SUB: (REL Studio II) (1) Center Channel SUB: (REL Stadium III) (1) Rear Channel SUB: (REL Stadium III) (1) Dedicated LFE SUB: (Velodyne ULD-18 II) (9) Dedicated 20 Amp Circuits (9) Wattgate AC Outlets* (10) Richard Gray's Power Company (model 400s) * Will be ordering soon.
Albert-I have not made a decision yet on the outlets. I was planning to put in Hubble, and then found Wattgate's web page and was intrigued so I called them. I was surprised when I learned whom I was speaking to on the phone; it was Ray Kimber (Kimber cable). Ray told me that they take the Leviton (which he felt was slightly better than Hubble, but said both were very good) and improve upon it. He said no matter what I did (Hubble, Leviton or Wattgate) I would be happy but said the Wattgate was the best choice if I could afford them. In addition, Ray is the one that recommended THHN in lieu of Romex, he said that it was what he was using. OTHER: I am living in a relatively new home (six years old) and I believe that we are the only ones “on” the transformer. Have you tried the Richard Gray Power Company? I have ordered (6) of them so far, but was planning to buy a total of (10).
Recres-The "stranded" THHN was recommended to me by Ray Kimber (Kimber Cable), he said it was what he was using. Have you ever tried (or heard about) the 8-gauge wiring that JPS Labs sells for wiring your home?