Tweakers' Asylum

Posted by mschneider (D) on February 11, 2010 at 12:55:22

Multiple choice quiz for dedicated ac for audio(/video) systems

Lots of questions/issues to consider, and not all of them are discussed in any one thread, so I thought this would be a good way to get all (or at least all of the questions I can think of) together in one thread, in an easy to answer fashion. Very few things seem universally agreed on, e.g. do a 20 amp circuit, clean all connections, use good outlets….

I am interested in sonics, but also safety, and meeting code (in Chicago—NO ROMEX!!!!!!!) Real experience and licensed electrician’s opinions especially welcome.

Thanks for responding! In no specific order:

1. Wire a. solid or b stranded
2. Wire gauge a. 10ga b 12ga c larger than 10ga
3. outlet box: a. metal or b plastic
4. outlets a. regular ground or b isolated ground
5. conduit a. metal b. flexible, aka bx, c. plastic
6. subpanel a. yes b no
7. breaker brand: fill in blank
8. multiple dedicated lines, i.e. hot an neutral for each…. A.yes b.no
9. grounding: a. use conduit and metal box, standard grounding outlets. B use green wire and metal box, standard ground outlet c. use isolated ground outlet and separate ground wire with plastic box
10. for multiple lines: a. run in same conduit b. run each in its own conduit
11. wire “brand” a. standard thhn b. audiophile wire vendor



Short essay question: Lacking unlimited funds, and using two power conditioners, one for amps, the other for source components, which of the above considerations are most important. What, for example, would I give up running only one circuit? My amps, btw, have huge cap banks, and run cool to the touch when playing loud.