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Dedicated Circuits - Subpanel importance?

My system is no more. Sold everything. Starting from scratch. Thanks to you and seven months of experience I am doing the following, which is taking care of the number one component, the room:

  1. Treating. The full GIK order in October is starting to arrive.
  2. Running one or more dedicated circuits.

I am addressing #2 in this post. There are extensive discussions here and one can spend hours if not days trying to wring-out the critical details needed for a DIY solution. I have spent hours and there a few things I need to confirm before I proceed because I was unable to find definitive answers.

I am doing this myself. I do not want or need lectures on only having a licensed electrician do this work. I have been doing my own electrical work for many years and am very comfortable doing so.

  1. Does a subpanel help? Is it required? Subpanels are typically supplied from a breaker off of the main panel's bus, so I'm guessing there is no advantage in terms of SQ? Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?
  2. Opening up my walls is not an option, so I need to use conduit. This may restrict the number of lines if the wire should not share the same conduit? If I am restricted to Romex 8 or 10,2 versus metal-clad, is it okay for two runs to occupy the same conduit?
  3. How much better is metal-clad? Is it required vs Romex? Will metal conduit accomplish the same result with Romex?

Answers to these questions will complete my plans and I will go forward at speed. Hopefully this discussion helps others as well even if it's to know what to have their electrician setup for them.

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

izjjzi
cleeds
6,067 posts
 

izjjzi

Does a subpanel help? Is it required? ... Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?

There's no advantage to a subpanel, imo, unless perhaps it can be located close to your system and simplify the rest of the install. As for grounding, all grounds must be bonded together at the main panel and only at the main panel to ensure a fault to ground will trip the breaker.

I have also done my own electrical work with good result. I do recommend getting a permit if required (it was in my case) and then having your work inspected. It's cheap insurance.

goose
720 posts
 

There has been a lot of audio chatter about grounding.  Michael Fremer did an extensive electrical upgrade and has a YouTube video that may be helpful.  I have an audio friend that also did a sub panel addition as well as install a new ground system for his home.  It was based on a three rod grouping that went very deep (30 feet) into his rocky soil to get the resistance as low as possible.

 

erik_squires
16,574 posts
 

Does a subpanel help? Is it required? Subpanels are typically supplied from a breaker off of the main panel’s bus, so I’m guessing there is no advantage in terms of SQ? Perhaps if I can independently ground the subpanel it might make a difference?

 

The big advantage of a subpanel is the heavy gauge wiring to the main panel as well as the convenience of short local circuits. The heavy gauge will reduce any possibility for voltage drop that you would get from running 12 or 14 gauge wiring given the same current.

Always follow the National Electric Code for grounding, which means NO independent ground.

Do put in a panel surge suppressor on your main panel and sub panels.

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