Dedicated power lines

Thanks, I have breakers, is there any higher quality breakers available to use? Removing outlets from the audio path is something I am doing, so guess not much else.

I’ve not found any high quality breakers for home Eaton panels but there is a German company making one, type F. I don’t think it’s available yet.

https://www.doepke.de/en/news/for-maximum-listening-enjoyment/

Prices:

DFS 2 040-2/0,03-F Audio two poll: 498,20 EUR

DFS 4 063-4/0,03-F Audio four poll 699 EUR

1 Like

If you have a Power Plant or something similar I absolutely recommend this. If you DIY not hard or expensive. Just be sure you know how to do it and not “think” you know how to do it. As a botched job can be deadly. If an Electrician does it, it is costly but not too bad. If you live somewhere that has EMT(conduit) it is a breeze to do. I would recommend you take out your entire panel and get Square D “QO” AFCI if you do not already have it. It is not really required unless your home is older than early 80’s. That, you may want to call an electrician. As the main breaker is a serious job. I would get 200 Amp service. If your transformer is big enough. Anyways, just 10AWG to a hospital grade receptacle should make a big difference in sound. This is science, not voodoo. You are allowing more current capacity. Although absolutely do not put larger than a 20 amp OCPD(breaker).

1 Like

Interesting topic… my breaker panel is 8’ away from my stereo so this wouldn’t take much at all to do… the only issue I have is that the box is full (200 amp service and still a full box…). Would using a tandem breaker negate the benefit of a dedicated line?

No problem. A tandem breaker is skinnier double breakers, but is still dedicated for each skinny breaker, which means one wire from the panel to your outlets, same as full size breakers.

Be careful, some local codes will not allow the use of tandem breakers. My village and the City of Chicago prohibit them. Have no idea if the data justifies their prohibition. Just check your local electrical codes. I wouldn’t rely on a contractor to know either.

It might also be good to do a load calculation to make sure you’re not overloading your panel since you did say your panel is full.

1 Like

Unless the house is 5,000 square feet with 3 or more condensing units, a 200A, 240V, 1-phase, 3-wire service is pretty sufficient for nearly everyone. Just my experience. I have designed 400A services for a few houses, but it’s very, very rare.

Install a sub-panel is you have room (will depend upon where the panel is). Put 60A-2 Pole breaker in to feed the new panel. Move 2 single pole circuits taken up by the new 60A breaker. Use a new 12 Pole panelboard, you’ll have 10 poles of new space. Go bigger if you want. Panelboard breaker space and capacity aren’t directly related.

5 Likes

Especially with all the LEDs and low power appliances these last 10 years or so. Perhaps the electrical design was ultra conservative.

Chicago is different. Must be all EMT(conduit) and now all AFCI. We have 2X800 2x400 1x200. We have a 80 ton chiller. Of course this is not normal. If you are on romex you can most certainly add a tandem box. Just check your local NEC to be sure. Plus be sure you can do it. If the box is full it may be at capacity.

The main electrical switch to the compound!

2 Likes

Nothing like that lol. I will tell you, even when I was younger I could not throw the main breakers for the life of me. I am not sure how they do it.

I have a feeling that picture is multi phase thousands of amps. I am not even sure what that is.

A 3-Phase bolted pressure switch rated to carry large loads (2000A or more) continuously. Holds the contact points under pressure. You have to charge the system by “pumping” the handle before closing.

Yeah, nothing like that. it is all center tap staggered residential. The chiller I think is actually real 3 phase but I am not sure how they wired that. I bet that is only a few hundred amps though if that. They are just larger than usual cabinets. The 800’s are maybe 60 space. None of the cabinets are filled. I don’t even go down there anymore.

I find that interesting that you have to pump it. Honestly that scares me. I know about arc flash.

amsco, I just wanted to commend you on knowing a trade. That is something that deserves recognition.