Surge protection and wiring

jayman_1975

Hi. I'm redoing my basement and building my theater room the way I have wanted for years. I have a quick question about the best way to run wiring.

I plan on running a 12guage wire off a 20 amp breaker for my components which will be aways from the tv in their own built in wall rack. I have a ps audio quintet that will be taking care of the surge protection for equipment in this rack.

The cord for the tv is too short to reach the surge protector therefor I planned on running a separate 14guage on its own breaker solely for the tv. The receptacle will be mounted halfways up the wall to be hid by the tv which will be hanging alone on the wall. Naturally I don't have room to stick another surge bar in behind the tv so I was thinking one of two options, a surge protection breaker, or surge protection receptacle (if either such units exists). What would be the best option here? Thanks

tonyb

Ps audio soloist, inwall surge/conditioning. You can find them for around 100 bucks on Audiogon. I'm sure others make them as well.

SCompRacer

Another option is Hubbell. They make both a 15 and 20 amp duplex (double outlet) isolated ground outlet with surge suppression. I use a Hubbell 20 amp outlet in my two channel system.

jayman_1975

I'm having trouble locating a ps audio unit. Can you tell me where you got the Hubble ?

SCompRacer

ebay is one place. Or search for Hubbell HBL8262S at one of the big home improvement/electrical supply stores.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubbell-HBL8262S-Hospital-Grade-Surge-Suppression-Receptacle-15-Amp-125-Volt-/230695235374

ibewbrother

You can get surge protection for your whole house...but I don't have any idea of price, and you might have to have a shunt trip main breaker. Depends on your needs, wants, and bank balance.

I worked in a building once that was directly struck by lightening. The arrrestors exploded...taking both sides of the gear with it..but nothing was damaged. Other than the arrestors and the gear of course.

I've seen some that were nothing more than a black box with 3 lights hooked up to the main.....It sees a weird frequency....Boom.

unc2701

I use leviton hospital grade surge outlets:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Leviton-BLUE-SURGE-Suppressor-Outlet-Protector-/350551125257?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519e79ad09

However, they are MOV based; I'm a fan of series-mode surge protection- search for SurgeX.

jayman_1975

Ok. Thanks for all the help. Now I guess I need to back pedal a tad and ask this. What is te benefit of running a 20 amp breaker for your dedicated line? If I run the 20 amp breaker do I need to use a 20 amp receptacle? If I run a 20 amp receptacle do I necessarily have to use a 20 amp cord? I ask all this cause I have a very good and a tad pricey to replace 12 volt main cable for my ps audio quintet. I would like to continue to use it, so am I wasting my time putting in a 20 amp breaker?

SCompRacer

I have a 20 amp outlet on a 20 amp dedicated circuit cause 15 amps wouldn't be enough when I want to really rock my world and lose a bit more hearing. 20 amp circuit needs minimum of 12 gauge wire. IIRC you can put a 15A outlet on a 20 amp circuit, but you shouldn't put a 20 amp outlet on a 15A circuit. Reason being someone might plug a T shaped plug 20 amp device in it thinking it is 20 amp circuit but it is only 15. Someone more familiar with code will correct me if I steered you wrong there.

jayman_1975

Ok that helps. I did indeed run a 12 gauge wire and plan on having my electrician wire it into a 20 amp breaker. I guess I was just wondering if all of that is pointless if I'm plugging a 15 amp cord into my 20 amp outlet.

ibewbrother

You can't ever Oversize wire....but you can Undersize it...

unc2701

jayman_1975 wrote: »

Ok that helps. I did indeed run a 12 gauge wire and plan on having my electrician wire it into a 20 amp breaker. I guess I was just wondering if all of that is pointless if I'm plugging a 15 amp cord into my 20 amp outlet.

Yes and no. Having a clean circuit w/o other garbage on it will probably matter as much as having the extra juice on hand. Your amp is going to have an internal fuse that's a little under 15amps (and a cord to match), but a big transient or a power-on rush to charge the caps might pop that (my brystons will occasionally pop a 15amp breaker). Going to 20amp circuit should prevent that and give you a little more overhead.

wolfman1138

I used a power inlet:
http://www.amazon.com/MIDLITE-4642-W-Single-D%C3%A9cor-Recessed/dp/B002XDQAA6/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

I ran 12ga romex from a recessed socket behind the TV to this "reverse" plug in the equipment closet. I then use a normal extension cord to feed my line conditioner to the TV. This is a very clean (and legal) way of doing it. I can change out the power conditioner anytime without worrying about MOVs, etc. Personally I wouldn't want to unmount the TV and swap out the socket every few years.

VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT make a suicide cable (an extension cord with two male ends.) It is very tempting because NEMA sockets are cheap and plentiful, but as the name describes, they are not safe for anyone. Ever.

Good luck!