Dedicated lines: use isolated grounds? Subpanel wiring?

[lem321]

Hey Dan,
Thanks for that information.

The twisting of wires in the branch circuit is based on one of Bill Whitlock's white papers on grounding as you probably know. He found that merely twisting L-N wiring to dramatically lower induced voltage vs. random wires in a conduit which had the highest induced voltage. Romex and MC cable were intermediate. Not sure if twisting Romex has any positive effect.

[lem321]

Talked to my electrician and he says local code would require installation of another ground rod and use of AFCI breakers. Anyone know if these AFCI breakers would affect sound quality vs. standard breakers?

[jdandy]

len321.......Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers perform just like regular circuit breaker for delivering full rated current and protecting the circuit from overcurrent. AFCI circuit breakers monitor for the instance of arcing when something is unplugged under load and will trip the circuit breaker under that circumstance. Your audio gear won't know the difference between a standard circuit breaker and the arc fault breaker.

[lem321]

Originally Posted by jdandy

len321.......Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers perform just like regular circuit breaker for delivering full rated current and protecting the circuit from overcurrent. AFCI circuit breakers monitor for the instance of arcing when something is unplugged under load and will trip the circuit breaker under that circumstance. Your audio gear won't know the difference between a standard circuit breaker and the arc fault breaker.

Dan, thanks for that information. Looking at some of the subpanels such as those made by Eaton (Cutler Hammer), they have built-in surg protection and silver plated(?) copper at the bus bars. Are these worthwhile features?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by lem321

Dan, thanks for that information. Looking at some of the subpanels such as those made by Eaton (Cutler Hammer), they have built-in surg protection and silver plated(?) copper at the bus bars. Are these worthwhile features?

len321.......That is not silver plating, it is a tin plating over copper bus. Fairly standard fare. I favor Square-D panels. Having a panel mounted surge protector is always a good thing. You can add one to any panel.

[SCAudiophile]

I have a big Cutler-Hammer panel on the house itself with tin over copper-plated bus bars; when I went looking for a SquareD box to put in my sub-panel in July 2014, I found all of the available-locally stocked SquareD panels had non-copper (i.e. aluminium) bus bars so I had to restart my search. Given time crunch at the time, my electrician suggested I look at what has turned out to be an excellent 100+ amp GE in-wall breaker box with tin-plated copper bus bars or special ordered a small CH as there were none locally with copper busbars. I can get the model number for the GE sub and CH Main panel boxes I have if someone still needs them.

I did add Environmental Potential EP-2050 Surge Suppression/Wave-Form Correction via a dedicated device from EP installed into my main house panel. I also installed EP2750 Ground filters on my dedicated circuit/subpanel and line to the living room on which we have a Tara AD6C, Charter HiDef Cable Box, Oppo105D and Samsung UHD4K LED panel installed. Not only did my audio jump up in terms of performance and ultra quiet black backgrounds, etc....my video for CATV, DVD and Bluray viewing in the living room was noticeably better.

I stuck with one ground on the house itself BUT took an electrician-audiophile's advance and installed brand new, dual 8-10' solid copper "big" ground rods separated by a good distance with a single 4gauge ground lead tying them together with a "CADWELD" kit to bound the ground lead to the rods and ensure a great connection all the way to the main panel input of the house. Amazing results happened with this sub $1000 modification; I've been very happy and not thought about installing anything else ever since.....