Dedicated Spur advice please

When I read all the comments that have been made over the years the many topics and forums concerning a dedicated supply I am so thankful that not only do I have an electrician as a brother in law but one that is also a hifi nut ( his system is similar to mine but a newer version)  so I never have to ask anything at all he just does it all for me. If I move house he dismantles and re installs. Lucky me! The one thing I would say is that a dedicated mains supply is perhaps the most important part of a hifi system and even a single socket (I have x8 separate single un-switched sockets) is well worth having. 

Russ Andrews has lots of helpful advice and the dedicated cables, consumer unit etc, to get you going. Worked for me when Thor was unavailable.

I have a 10mm sq radial feeding my system, so I believe in the sonic merits of this arrangement.

but just out of curiosity, can anyone point me to some theoretical works (papers, books, etc) that discuss the electrical differences  (impedance, series/parallel effects, earth etc...) between radial circuit and ring.?

enjoy/ken

Thanks all...may I ask Jasons (and other’s) view - is one double socket enough, or do you use a plugboard type extension/ hydra

cheers

One double socket is enough if you have two plugs to go into it. Maybe that’s not what you are asking though. 

Docv posted:

Thanks all...may I ask Jasons (and other’s) view - is one double socket enough, or do you use a plugboard type extension/ hydra

cheers

You should have enough sockets to allow one for each piece of kit, not forgetting to have at least one spare for future use.

Thanks for all the info, pics and schematics. Very timely for me as I prepare to build a new, dedicated listening room.

anyone have any thoughts re whether my Linn Radikal PS should be plugged into the same ring as the Naim equipment or should I put that on the main house ring, or perhaps even a second dedicated ring of its own?

Mr Hungry...what I was thinking was haven’t we all got more than 2 plugs...I seem to have loads!

Docv posted:

Mr Hungry...what I was thinking was haven’t we all got more than 2 plugs...I seem to have loads!

It looks to me as if you only have two Naim boxes needing a mains power connection. The other components are all SMPS, which have the potential to pollute the supply to your HiFi. Having said that, while the Mac Mini may well have a noisy power supply, the Hugo is probably OK, as not all 'wall warts' are horrible noisy things. Still, it may be that you can get away with just one double socket for your preamp PSU and 250, and keep all the rest on a regular ring main socket where they are isolated from the HiFi stuff.

Docv posted:

Mr Hungry...what I was thinking was haven’t we all got more than 2 plugs...I seem to have loads!

My system needs only two plugs, which was one of the reasons for choosing it. Two Powerlines into one double unswitched socket. 

My schematic just showed a single radial and double socket as that is all I need (and will ever need - been there, done that etc). It was really just to for the OP to show his electrician the basic requirements of a dedicated mains arrangement. As others have said, add as many sockets as needed and run as many radials as needed out to separate sockets from the new CU. Personally I preferred Hydra type arrangements with lots of boxes but others prefer separate plugs - having a few more sockets at the start gives you more options. There are some debates over whether a radial or ring is better, but you're not going to go far wrong with a 10mm/2 radial. As with most things Hi-Fi, you can over think these things

All good...thank you all for the further advice...I think that I will go for x2 doubles with  x2 10mm cables. I plan to move the minimac away from the hifi eventually..hoping to get a NAS and put my  Roon Core on it somehow. I’ve put in a BT mesh Wi-fi system recently and will use one of the discs to supply the internet signal to the mm replacement (? SOTM adapter).

I will post about the impact of the spurs when they are up and running.

DocV

Like everything hifi, they will need to run in for a few weeks to settle and sound their best. As silly as this may sound, hearing is believing.

That’s what they told me when I asked them before installing mine - that a single sour sounds more integrated. If I needed more sockets I’d get them added to the existing spur, rather than running multiples. Or a power block of course. 

I have realised that in the past I had a problem using both plugs on a double socket to power up components in my hifi...it seemed to cause some kind of  “circular” currents which caused audible noise in the system. It was resolved by using a plugboard into one of the sockets.

If I get a single socket  (for the hifi) and a double socket off another spur (for other stuff eg to power the BT Wi-fi kit) would this make sense?

I would need a powerblock - any suggestions?

thank you

Just looked at Russ Andrews site...think I may have answered my own question. I’ve got a Tacima to keep me going ????

Had a spark round tonight for an estimate; he tells me that unswitched sockets are no longer allowed as there must be a local means of isolation. Googling around it seems to be a grey area in terms of interpreting the regs and their meaning. Anyone had any issue with this?

£500+. Stuff that.

Chris,

probably just his way of saying he doesn't understand the point of a dedicated audio main and he won't be doing it.

Need to find another electrician ; )

Debs

Just checked....Screwfix are still selling unswitched Crabtrees 

Still waiting for my electrician to get back with estimate 

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Had a spark round tonight for an estimate; he tells me that unswitched sockets are no longer allowed as there must be a local means of isolation. Googling around it seems to be a grey area in terms of interpreting the regs and their meaning. Anyone had any issue with this?

 

That sounds like nonsense. Pulling the plug is isolation but turning off the switch on most sockets isn’t as they are single pole and only disconnect the live conductor. Isolation is disconnecting both live and neutral. As mentioned above, you need to find another electrician.

Mr Happy posted:

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Had a spark round tonight for an estimate; he tells me that unswitched sockets are no longer allowed as there must be a local means of isolation. Googling around it seems to be a grey area in terms of interpreting the regs and their meaning. Anyone had any issue with this?

 

That sounds like nonsense. Pulling the plug is isolation but turning off the switch on most sockets isn’t as they are single pole and only disconnect the live conductor. Isolation is disconnecting both live and neutral. As mentioned above, you need to find another electrician.

If I was going to use switched sockets, I would only buy DP ones, and I would guess that single pole switches are only bought by cheapskates looking to save a few pence on each one. For HiFi use, though, my electrician was happy to fit unswitched ones. 

ChrisR_EPL posted:

£500+. Stuff that.

Bear in mind that a good electrician will charge £250 a day, or more, plus materials. I paid £200 about 15 years ago. Also bear in mind that a single Powerline costs over £500. An electrician will charge more if they don’t really want or need the work. The important thing is to get someone good. 

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Had a spark round tonight for an estimate; he tells me that unswitched sockets are no longer allowed as there must be a local means of isolation. Googling around it seems to be a grey area in terms of interpreting the regs and their meaning. Anyone had any issue with this? 

There's nothing in BS1363 (plugs & sockets) or BS7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations) prevents unswitched sockets being used.   It's a matter of personal choice or common sense w.r.t. its location & application.