Dedicated mains x 2

I've not tried it but I can't see any logical reason why it wouldn't work perfectly well. The dedicated supply is just for Naim gear, nothing with smps. It won't matter that it's for different systems in different rooms. As for the consumer unit, just get a larger one if you need it. Ive had a 5 way one installed for my system. (Nothing plugged in to it yet as the room still isn't ready). 

Finkfan posted:

I've not tried it but I can't see any logical reason why it wouldn't work perfectly well. The dedicated supply is just for Naim gear, nothing with smps. It won't matter that it's for different systems in different rooms. As for the consumer unit, just get a larger one if you need it. Ive had a 5 way one installed for my system. (Nothing plugged in to it yet as the room still isn't ready). 

I'm sure it would work just fine, and maybe I'm overthinking it! Just wondered if I put something moderately power hungry like a Nova on one circuit, and the main system on the other, this would work optimally. There will no no SPMS, they will be on the regular house ring main which I am also replacing. Mind you, I do have an N-Sub too, haven't quite figured out how that will fit in. It's currently running on a spur off the kitchen ring, which is maybe not the best!

I actually have 3 dedicated audio rings - each one with it's own dedicated circuit breaker. Works well. At least all the audio is separated from the rest of the flat.

So Chris - just go for it.

While you're at it - wire the house with LAN. For every socket you can think off - add a spare one. They come in really handy. One advantage is that you can use the LAN sockets for regular phones - just re-patch them differently at a central patch-panel.

We did exactly that last year. A separate CU in the garage with two circuits,  one for the main system in the lounge and one in the kitchen for the Muso. Seems a bit overkill for a Muso but is future proofed in case I ever upgrade the kitchen system. 

Hi Adam, I don't really have space for more than one small extra consumer unit, so I'll probably just go for that anyway. Just need to sort out what is the best spec. for MCBs etc. Just had an exciting Friday night working out how to squeeze two 10mm cables into the same connection in an unswitched MK socket!  I'm lucky to have an electrician who will allow me to tinker like this and will still check and certify the installation once he's inspected it.

The LAN stuff I have pretty much sorted. I installed an optical network last year which works very well, just need to run an extra cable up to the new listening room for a streamer connection.

stuart posted:

in case I ever upgrade

Surely not!! 

ChrisSU posted:

. Just had an exciting Friday night working out how to squeeze two 10mm cables into the same connection in an unswitched MK socket! 

2 10mm won't go Chris. 6mm to the second socket may work though. It'll be tight. 

Finkfan posted:

ChrisSU posted:

. Just had an exciting Friday night working out how to squeeze two 10mm cables into the same connection in an unswitched MK socket! 

2 10mm won't go Chris. 6mm to the second socket may work though. It'll be tight. 

Or you could install a second 10mm cable from the same MCB to the second socket. 

Finkfan posted:

stuart posted:

We did exactly that last year. A separate CU in the garage with two circuits,  one for the main system in the lounge and one in the kitchen for the Muso. Seems a bit overkill for a Muso but is future proofed in case I ever upgrade the kitchen system. 

 

Does the Muso smps affect your main system Stuart? 

Doh -  didn't realise it had smps!!! 

I haven't noticed but generally don't play them at the same time. Main system is cd based so Muso is powered down when I'm listening in the lounge.  

What is "smps"?

Switch Mode Power Supply 

Hey guys,  don't get all negative about SMPS.  everything everywhere has them these days, its easier to list what doesn't,  TV & all its attached boxes, your PC's, laptops, chargers,  phones & wireless hubs to name just those I would guess every forumite has connected right now.  Linn have used them for quite a while now & as new models from other audio brands come out  so SMPS will become common in audio.  The bad press with SMPS comes from the cheap wall wart type of applications going back a few years,  regulations have since enforced some degree of control over emissions & miniaturisation means a lot more sophistication can be crammed into wall wart sized box.   A well designed SMPS is not a bad thing, correctly designed & applied they are quieter than a linear PS                         ......  although I guess someone will tell me I'm oh so wrong,  oh well.   

Mike is so right - a well designed and implemented SMPS can be a very effective device indeed providing extremely efficient low noise power. However in mass consumer electronics they tend to be used as they can be made  cheaper than non switched supplies and in the world of ever reduced costs, corners are cut and the bare minimum compliance to EMC specs, if achieved at all, are the order of the day and give the SMPS a bad name... but as Mike says it is totally possible to have a hight quality extremely low noise switcher - its just they tend not to be so cheap and used more in quality or professional installations.

Mike where I differ from you is the enforcement of specs - its now really easy for non compliant devices to come through - CE marking or not - and  other than the type testing at pre production stage its down to trading standards to enforce who just don't have the resources. One of the engineers I work with  wrote some of the EMC compliance specs several years back and he told me this week that not much substantive has changed for manufacturers for many years now.

I guess a SMPS can't be that bad if they've put one in the Statement preamp.

Finkfan posted:

ChrisSU posted:

. Just had an exciting Friday night working out how to squeeze two 10mm cables into the same connection in an unswitched MK socket! 

2 10mm won't go Chris. 6mm to the second socket may work though. It'll be tight. 

Want a bet? 

Simon,  CE mark should not be seen as a mark of quality.  I used to do some of this in a previous life,  write up what it is & what regs it complies to, how you control the mnftg process & thats you applying a self certified CE mark.       

[@mention:36201736949470193] how did you manage that? 

Mike - absolutely one should not confuse CE with quality - its a case of of mandatory compliance of design, build and use to relevant  EU directives. Thats my point the fact a device has a CE mark - which it needs to have in Europe - does not mean its actually a good quality device - it simply means its design and build pattern has been self certified as legal within the EU

Mike-B posted:

Simon,  CE mark should not be seen as a mark of quality.  I used to do some of this in a previous life,  write up what it is & what regs it complies to, how you control the mnftg process & thats you applying a self certified CE mark.       

Mike, did much the same here CE has little bearing on the quality of a product.

Finkfan posted:

[@mention:36201736949470193] how did you manage that? 

Persistence, mostly! I straightened out the slight twist in the copper strands, put the two together, and squeezed them hard with a crimping tool to get them into a single bunch. I'd post a photo, but the offcut I used for trial purposes was one brown and one blue into the same connection, and I rather suspect that such a picture would be moderated!

Of course, doing it with an offcut is one thing. Doing it crouched on your knees with the short lengths sticking out of a back box is always going to be more awkward. 

Pcd posted:

Mike-B posted:

Simon,  CE mark should not be seen as a mark of quality.  I used to do some of this in a previous life,  write up what it is & what regs it complies to, how you control the mnftg process & thats you applying a self certified CE mark.       

Mike, did much the same here CE has little bearing on the quality of a product.

I agree, a CE mark is not a quality mark. I remember when it was introduced that many saw it as a form of EU protectionism. I used to deal with a couple of Australian companies who were keen to get into the UK market, and we had a very enthusiastic customer base looking for their products. When they looked at the hoops they had to jump through for CE, they simply packed up and left, as they couldn't justify the time and cost of it as a relatively small manufacturer.

Of course, the cost is the same for an EU based manufacturer, but for them, most or all of their market is within the EU, so it's easier to justify.

Anyway.....I seem to be hijacking my own thread here. I'm off to fiddle with some more wires.