Will dedicated power lines eliminate ground loops


I am in the process of lining up an electrician to install five dedicated circuits (with Wattgate outlets)for my audio system. Last week I added a BAT V75 SE amp to my system and as happens almost every time a new piece is introduced, I'm having to track down a ground loop or the source of a buzz. Will dedicated power lines help eliminate this problem once and for all? Thanks.
jcambron

Showing 2 responses by glen

Try to use a Commercial electrician, they will have a better grasp on dedicated circuits for your application. Have him run a conduit to your proposed location, have him pull a seperate neutral with every hot(#12 is fine).

Then ask him to pull a dirty ground and an isolated ground. He'll probably ask you if your using I.G. receptacles? (just stare blankly into his eyes).

Explian that your trying to isolate every piece of gear from every other piece. If he's really good he'll ask if you want an isolated ground bar in your panel. Just smile and he'll understand. Then glance over and say, Do you think you can isolate the ground all the way back to the ground rod?

He'll either get a big grin on his face or jump in his truck and drive away cursing.

Personally I ran a 1-1/4" conduit to a 100 amp sub panel just outside my listening room. Then I installed an isolated ground bar and a dirty ground bar at my service panel and the new sub-panel. Next I pulled the feeders between the two panels (2-hots, 1-neutral, 1-dirty ground, 1-clean ground) Then I took six dedicated circuits with dedicated neutrals and two grounds up to my outlets (using smurf pipe). I custom ordered White I.G.industrial grade recptacles to match the decor of the room. (I did not cryo them because I'm lazy) I tied one hot one neutral and the Isolated ground to each receptacle. I tied the dirty ground to the box, hooked it all up and WALA!.

I also upgraded my service to 200 amps and cleaned up some of the house circuitry problems during the course of this work.

I'll eventually connect the Isoated ground bar to the ground rod when I have time.

This is the most bang you'll ever get for the buck IMO and in my 22 years working as an electrician in Silicon Valley.

Good luck!
I've tied the I.G. bar to the panel ground bar with a jumper at my main panel temporarily :^(

This has been an on going project, and I still have a few loose ends to tie up before I can complete the true isolated grounding.

I'm not big on lifting or floating the ground.

But that's just me :^)