Dedicated power circuits


I’m having some electrical work done including a whole house

generator, surge suppressor, and a new panel box. I am also going to have two dedicated power lines run for my stereo. I’ve read a lot on here about how this is a really nice upgrade and would greatly appreciate any advice to help me along on my project. Right now the plan is two 20 amp circuits with 10 gauge wire. One for my amp and one for my preamp and sources. My equipment is a McIntosh MC 452, a C47 right now but a C22 in the future, Rega P8, Rose hifi 150b,  McIntosh MR 74 tuner and Aerial 7t speakers. I’m also replacing my panel box with a new one. It’s a brand from a company that’s out of business and the quality and safety is suspect plus there are no new breakers available.

 

So starting with the breakers, then the wire and finally the receptacles what should I be looking for? The electrician that just left here is planning on the new panel being a Cutler Hammer brand. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

128x128gphill

PS - Most linear amplifiers use power supplies which are filtered but not regulated. That is, the DC voltage at the power rails is at the mercy of the incoming voltage. A long term change in the incoming VAC will be proportionately reflected in the VDC at the rails.

All the low voltage gear (DAC, preamp, streamer, tuner, etc.) however is always filtered and regulated. A wide difference in the incoming VAC won’t affect the voltage that feeds the circuitry.

Jai, I replace MC because of ground issues.  I experience it in the field.  I really could care less about EMF issues.  You can deal with that in the field.  More EMF issues arise behind your rack than in the wall.  If you know how to run wire.   EMF is teally one of your lesser issues.  

AQ, Shunyata, Isoteck, Torus are all filters with their own technology.  And Voice.  I was pretty pissed when TAS did an article on power conditioners and failed to mention an isolation transformer.  Isolation transformers are in most every recordijg studio around the world for 2 reasons.  One they work.  2, Art kelm who specifies that work finds they work best and uses them.  I like them as I have never heard one do negative things.  Only positive.  And I can feed any amp.  I always am aware what any of the other filters are doing. 

If you hear noise out a speaker, that is ground or equipment issues.  Its not dirty power.  You deal with the issues in different ways.  

If you read Arts site, you will see he calls out metal wire and isolated grounds in his cable runs and associated panels.   There are reasons to like metal.  IMO, its not about geometry or performance.  There are other reasons to like it.   But the positives of metal can easily be overcome in NM when installed correctly with the rught materials.  .  And you don't end up with ground issues.  NM reliably works.   Filters are doing a job that addresses noise on the power line proper wiring or metal encased wire do nothing to address.

@kingrex,

Arthur Kelm said:

 . When I design a room, I try to place all electrical within steel conduit and twist the hot and neutral wires together to cut down on EMF fields.

See article below:

 

 

Kingrex said:

 

I replace MC because of ground issues. I experience it in the field. I really could care less about EMF issues. You can deal with that in the field. More EMF issues arise behind your rack than in the wall. If you know how to run wire. EMF is teally one of your lesser issues.

 

You are the first person that has raised ground issues with MC cable, at least on the audio forums I follow.

Could you expand on the problems you have experienced? If it is ground loops, it’s not the MC cable itself causing the ground problems. From what I have read is the audiophile that had MC cable installed are happy with the MC dedicated branch circuit(s).

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I really could care less about EMF issues..

Where did that come from??? Not from my above post. 🤔

 

The subject matter of my post is about induced voltage by the magnetic fields generated by the Hot and Neutral current carrying conductors onto the EGC of the branch circuit wiring.

Therein, NM cable vs MC cable. If you read the two Links I provided it is proven, by measurements, MC cable does a better job of preventing the magnetic fields generated by the current carrying Hot and Neutral conductors from inducing a voltage onto the EGC.

 

FYI, The bigger the connected load on the branch circuit conductors the bigger, the greater strength, of the magnetic fields. So it would stand to reason a big hungry power amp connected to one dedicated circuit would draw more current than say a CDP on another dedicated circuit.

The EGC of the branch circuit with the power amp would be more susceptible to the chance of an induced voltage onto the EGC of an NM cable branch circuit that an MC cable branch circuit. (Especially long branch circuit runs). Therein with MC cable there would be less of chance of a difference of potential between the two EGCs of the two branch circuits than NM cable. YMMV...

 

The worst branch circuit wiring method would be to loosely pull conductors in a conduit. Worst yet is more than one dedicated circuit with conductors loosely pulled in the same conduit. Sure fired way to create ground loop hum problems.

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