Wiring home recording studio

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humhead

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I just recently had the service upgraded in my house to a 200A panel. Most of the original wiring is still in use, except new circuits were run to major appliances to take some of the load off the system.

I also had 4 circuits installed in my studio. These are isolated ground recepticles wiried using MC cable, 2 using 12-2, and the other 2 off a 12-3 line. Now, I have learned that MC is not an approved grounding path. I have also read that iso grounded recepticle systems, when wired or planned incoreectly, can actually pose a greater danger to people and euipment than a standard ground system. My goal is for the A/C wiring in the studio to be a clean as possible, but to also be at exactly the same ground potential at all circuits. The system as it is now seems worse than before. Should I just replace the iso-ground recepticals with standard ones? Will this possibly introduce more RF/EMI into ground because the once seperate conduit is now tied to equipment ground?

Should I just abandon the idea of having multiple cirucits and just get one 30A-40A for everything? (several computers, 4-5 displays, monitor speakers, PA system, guitar amps, bass amps, yaddayadda...)

PS--
EVERY piece of equipment i use in the studio is grounded (3-prong). As an audio engineer, i refer to those grey 3-2 "adaptors" as GROUND LIFTS just so people look at me funny and I go on to explain what they really do and why they are bad.

Thanks for any ideas
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

I suggest you look into a technical power system, as described in the NEC article 647. A change in the 2002 NEC does not allow this in a residential application, but perhaps you could get around this by calling your studio a commerical location.
De a google search for balanced power systems. Its the best way to go for recording studios.
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Humhead, if you have a wood frame house, you waisted your money paying for isolated ground recepts (IGR). If you had used regular NM cable with a dedicated circuit, you would have accomplished the same thing.

The cheapest method is to use dedicated circuits for your studio. This method may still cause some probelms with ground loops from interconnecting grounded cables.

If you want studio quality, I suggest you use the technical power system Tom reccomended. This method uses a isolation transformer that forms a new ground point close to the location of use, and balances the power with respect to ground. I use a Equi-Tech system http://www.equitech.com I suggest you run a 240 dedicated feeder to the unit, then distribute to the studio equipment. It will eliminate all ground noise problems.
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Thanks for the replies. My studio is a combination of cinderblock and metalstud construction, so the boxes are all surface mount. I have seen the equi-tech stuff before, but i didn't know they offered a wall mount panel. This looks like an attractive alternative, however, Tom mentions that this may not be allowed in a residential environment. I have also considered a rackmount version from Furman Sound, but i would like to have hardwired outlets throughout the facility rather than in only one rack.

Can anyone point me to a retailer of the Equi-tech stuff, or do they sell directly to the public? I would only need the 5W that lists at $4,500, but wonder what the actual cost will be. The Furman unit is only $1,500 for the 30A model.

Also, how would I obtain a copy of the NEC? I have seen them for sale online for about $50, but i know contracors who have received code books (radiological) at no cost.

One final note...in my 1st post i mentioned MC cable. Am I correct that this is not suitable for the iso-ground recepts? I read that AC is required, but I am finding a lot of conflicting information.

thanks again
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Tom
I have looked at the equipment that Dereck posted, and I have read over Article 647. I really do not believe that Humhead should be using this equipment in his residence.
You guys have more experience in this arena than I do and I bet you can come up with a better solution.
What about AC cable with metal boxes, keeping them on separate circuits? Then checking the existing circuits to see if they are creating a problem at the panel.
Just a thought.

Pierre
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Pierre, if you are using a black box approach for residential like a rack mount, then the NEC does not have any say about it, only UL. It is like a VCR, TV, or extension cord.

On the other hand if you use the system for distribution like a sub-panel with branch circuits, then by code, you could not use it in residential, only commercial or industrial.
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Dereck
The site you posted shows a rack mount unit. The output was in xxx VCT - what does that stand for?
Is this the 'black box' type you were discussing?
Thanks for the help

Pierre
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Pierre, can you point me to where you are talking about? The model numbers for rack mount units are something like ET1R, ET2R, ET3R and so on.
 
Re: Wiring home recording studio

Pierre, look under "wall cabinet systems". You will see the model 5W. These things are WAY overpriced for what they are and when they start talking about oxygen free copper wire you know why- they are aimed at the "more money than brains" market.

What I would do is to run individual dedicated circuits (not IG) back to the same panel before I considered anything like this. Grounding and hum can be a complex issue in your kind of environment. Do the simple stuff first before spending $$$ and finding that it doesn't make much difference.
 
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