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Post by pete on Oct 2, 2022 11:04:17 GMT
I have looked on old threads and cannot see much discussion about dedicated mains circuits so I wonder if anyone has much experience of them. At the moment I have my floor up as I am adding underfloor insulation, pig of a job, if only I had known before I started! Anyway, it gives me the opportunity to add some cabling for a mains circuit easily. My current consumer unit is the other side of the wall to my room. I can add all the cabling and have a friend, who is a sparky, who will connect it up safely. So, my questions are: Has anyone done this and has it made a worthwhile improvement in sound? What cables, RCD and other bits might you have used? Any other tips? I have found this guide which seems useful, from Russ Andrews! www.russandrews.com/images/pdf/MainsWiringGuide030221.pdfThanks everyone |
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Post by karma67 on Oct 2, 2022 11:13:41 GMT
if the floors up and its an easy cheap job then i say yes,why not. then you will see for yourself.
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Post by pete on Oct 2, 2022 11:16:34 GMT
if the floors up and its an easy cheap job then i say yes,why not. then you will see for yourself. Yep that is what I thought, then I can share my successes or otherwise! |
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Post by karma67 on Oct 2, 2022 11:19:24 GMT
well it cant be worse only the same or better.thats the way i look at it.
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Post by firebottle on Oct 2, 2022 11:30:25 GMT
I had a dedicated circuit fitted when the extension was done, can't comment on how it was before because the stereo wasn't installed.
No problems and excellent sound.
Just do it.
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Arke
Moderator
Posts: 1,018
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Post by Arke on Oct 2, 2022 12:02:37 GMT
I'll be doing it for our new music room. Will it make a difference? I don't know.
My thinking is like others here: why not if it's cheap and easy to do.
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Post by antonio on Oct 2, 2022 14:37:57 GMT
It's a great opportunity to do it while you have that upheaval.
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 2, 2022 14:42:19 GMT
No reason not to do it
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Post by gninnam on Oct 2, 2022 16:57:47 GMT
My last house we had a total rewire and at the time I had a dedicated spur added just for the HiFi - did it make a difference you ask? It does as a lot of alien and spurious crap that is generated by other equipment (fridge, washing machine etc) was eradicated and the noise floor seemed to be lower (but was this just in my mind....) Doesn't add much to the cost of a rewire so just do it  |
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Post by pete on Oct 2, 2022 18:21:52 GMT
My last house we had a total rewire and at the time I had a dedicated spur added just for the HiFi - did it make a difference you ask? It does as a lot of alien and spurious crap that is generated by other equipment (fridge, washing machine etc) was eradicated and the noise floor seemed to be lower (but was this just in my mind....) Doesn't add much to the cost of a rewire so just do it Yep, just worked out cost and it will be about £200 for materials plus cost to have it connected to mains supply |
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Post by pete on Oct 2, 2022 20:46:25 GMT
Using the Russ Andrew's guide and doing the set up which I recon will cost me £200 + electrician, RA supplied parts would put it at £2K!!
Obvious which one I am going to choose.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2022 7:29:23 GMT
Russ Andrews will be happy.
I have used a dedicated mains circuit for the last 15 years, so I have never heard my current system on a non dedicated circuit.
Ring mains don’t exist here.
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dt79
Junior Member
Posts: 338
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Post by dt79 on Oct 3, 2022 19:58:42 GMT
I had my sparky mate fit a dedicated ring main for the Hi-Fi when we were redecorating our lounge and also fitted enough wall sockets behind where the hifi was going to go so that i wouldn’t have to use any power strips. Too many changes and too much time passed to be able to make a comparison, but no reason not to do it if the opportunity arises.
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Arke
Moderator
Posts: 1,018
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Post by Arke on May 20, 2023 12:20:09 GMT
Our renovation works have started, and it'll soon be time to decide the specifics of the dedicated HiFi mains circuit... We are definitely putting one in, but there seem to be various ways of tackling it.
I was gonna add a dedicated radial with 6mm twin and earth and have this feed 3 or 4 unswitched double sockets. This would have it's own RCBO (or similar).
Tony has suggested a dedicated 4 way consumer unit for just the hifi. Each RCBO would be connected to 1 unswitched double socket by 6mm twin and earth. This obviously gets a fair bit more pricey. The cable runs could be reduced by placing the 4 way hifi consumer unit in the music room and then the cable runs from each breaker to each double socket are shorter.
Any thoughts or views anyone?
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Post by misterc on May 20, 2023 13:06:57 GMT
The last one I put in with 4 double switchless sockets, 6mm T^E, 4four 32amp MCB's 100amp main switch & RCD surge protection is now required by law 100m of the T^E some tucking and 100amp tails from the meter came in about £420ish before cryoing Something like this will do
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Arke
Moderator
Posts: 1,018
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Post by Arke on May 20, 2023 13:41:42 GMT
The last one I put in with 4 double switchless sockets, 6mm T^E, 4four 32amp MCB's 100amp main switch & RCD surge protection is now required by law 100m of the T^E some tucking and 100amp tails from the meter came in about £420ish before cryoing Something like this will do
thanks Tony. I Assume the 4 way CU could be placed local to the hifi sockets? |
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Post by rexton on May 20, 2023 16:36:35 GMT
Ive got dedicated mains circuit and belt'n'braced it with a PS Audio P10. I did this 10-16 years ago and never worried since.  |
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Post by misterc on May 20, 2023 17:44:09 GMT
The last one I put in with 4 double switchless sockets, 6mm T^E, 4four 32amp MCB's 100amp main switch & RCD surge protection is now required by law 100m of the T^E some tucking and 100amp tails from the meter came in about £420ish before cryoing Something like this will do
thanks Tony. I Assume the 4 way CU could be placed local to the hifi sockets? It need to go very close to the meter with the shortest tails you can get away with personally I would use 100 amp.
You could also use a Balanced power unit right by the meter which feeds the dedicated outlets you are about the most
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Arke
Moderator
Posts: 1,018
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Post by Arke on May 20, 2023 17:56:01 GMT
Sounds like I need to research more. As with all builds, the budget is already stretched to the max! I may just have to ensure the essential cables are laid through the house to the hifi and worry about any fancy balanced stuff or regen later on.
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Post by gninnam on May 20, 2023 19:49:06 GMT
Last house we had I rewired it before selling and had a dedicated fused spur for the 'music room' - just the one and the radially to about 3 double sockets - I thought it made a big difference so well worth going that route.
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Post by pete on May 21, 2023 8:03:40 GMT
Since starting this thread I discovered that the ring circuit in my room only supplies that room. Nothing that was set up for listening, just the way it was wired by the sparky. Perhaps he could foretell the future!! It is fed by the main consumer unit though, so there is definite opportunity for improvement in the future. But I am sticking with what I have atm as I have just too many projects going on!!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,109
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Post by Bigman80 on May 21, 2023 9:55:54 GMT
Since starting this thread I discovered that the ring circuit in my room only supplies that room. Nothing that was set up for listening, just the way it was wired by the sparky. Perhaps he could foretell the future!! It is fed by the main consumer unit though, so there is definite opportunity for improvement in the future. But I am sticking with what I have atm as I have just too many projects going on!! If it's on it's own ring, it is a doddle for a sparky to put another CU in and just connect that ring to it. That would give you a nice dedicated ring (which is all you need IMO) |
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