power?

Systems
Systems Posts: 14,873
edited June 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
So I am finishing my daylight basement (house is 2 years old) which will become my home theater. Im at the point where I can do electrical work. You can see my equipment below but I plan on adding one or more amps and a heavy duty front projector (Sony). The rooms lights and electrical sockets are already running on 2 separate circuits (one was going to a sum pump that we didn’t need to put in). I’m seriously thinking of having an electrician drop a break off box down there and run 60 amps to it (3 circuits). 2 would be dedicated to the theater and one would go to a heavy 4500 Watt in wall heater.
Mind you that I will probably be adding a few computers down there (server). I also want a pinball machine and maybe a few more arcade games (stand up).

You think that over kill?
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Comments

  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,623
    edited June 2007
    Nope, I did exactly that when I finished my basement. Ran a 60 amp wire and put in a 100 amp sub panel in the basement.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited June 2007
    In a word.

    Nope. In fact I would try and keep all the HT on its own circuit or two, just keep them on the same side of the sub-panel box to prevent phasing issues.

    Enjoy, I am presently doing the same thing.

    RT1
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited June 2007
    Not overkill. I'd recommend a 50-60A subpanel just for the HT equipment, especially if you have a high-current draw front projector.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited June 2007
    Doesn't seem overkill to me, you never know what you will need in the future.

    From your post, it sounds like you disconnected the sump pump? If so, I would definetly reconnect it. You may not have problems with water entering your basement, but other things can happen. Mine's been flooded twice, once when the water softener malfunctioned, and once when the water heater burst, and it was only 5 years old. My basement is not finished, but if it were, I would be putting in a pump tommorow.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Doesn't seem overkill to me, you never know what you will need in the future.

    From your post, it sounds like you disconnected the sump pump? If so, I would definetly reconnect it. You may not have problems with water entering your basement, but other things can happen. Mine's been flooded twice, once when the water softener malfunctioned, and once when the water heater burst, and it was only 5 years old. My basement is not finished, but if it were, I would be putting in a pump tommorow.


    No pump was installed since we told the builder not to put in running water (bathroom and such) to the basement.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited June 2007
    I see. Most houses have the hot water heater, and softener (if needed) put in the basement. And the water main or pump will pipe into the basement as well, keeps them from freezing.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    I see. Most houses have the hot water heater, and softener (if needed) put in the basement. And the water main or pump will pipe into the basement as well, keeps them from freezing.

    I could see having a problem like yours some day where some kind of water pipe broke or something. If out Wter heater broke (in garage) it could leak down there. Now you have me worried. We dont really need to worry much about freezing in the NorthWest, its to mild.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited June 2007
    If the water heater is in the garage, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I wouldn't worry about new pipes bursting either, especially if they can't freeze.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited June 2007
    How about rain water? Where I live, it is common for people having their basements flooded because a malfunctioning sump pumps in rainy seasons......
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    Alright, the deed is done. Just got a quote for friggen $3000 to run a new 60 amp panel down there. I will get 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits out of it (note, there is already 2 down there running lights). The 3rd will go to 2 Cadet in wall heaters. Included is a ton of other mis electrical items including bigger items like running cat5 cables from my bonus room (where my servers are now) and some B channel speakers going outside to the patio...

    Oh man, Imagine the amp's I can eventually get down there with 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits!
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  • BaggedLancer
    BaggedLancer Posts: 6,371
    edited June 2007
    $3000!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

    I had one dedicated 20 amp and I just ran another 20 amp dedicated and a 15 amp dedicated while redoing my area. Cost me about $150 for 200 feet of wire, switches, work boxes and recepticles. Put the 2 in an empty 60 amp panel we had from when we had electric heat.

    You didn't want to run any of the wire yourself to offset the cost? It's really easy......
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,623
    edited June 2007
    $3000?, It cost me $100 for the 60 amp wire (100 feet), $50 for the 100 amp subpanel, maybe $75 for the breakers (five circuits) , a 1000 fooot roll of CAT5 $80. Of course it probably took me 20 hours to figure out how to to it and then another 40 hours to actually do it. I've got more CAT5 drops than I know what to do with.

    Buy the Black and Decker complere guide to home wiring for $20 - a couple hundred in parts and you're set.
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  • KG Audio
    KG Audio Posts: 79
    edited June 2007
    I also want a pinball machine and maybe a few more arcade games (stand up).

    When's the PARTY??? :D
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    Polkitup2 wrote: »
    $3000?, It cost me $100 for the 60 amp wire (100 feet), $50 for the 100 amp subpanel, maybe $75 for the breakers (five circuits) , a 1000 fooot roll of CAT5 $80. Of course it probably took me 20 hours to figure out how to to it and then another 40 hours to actually do it. I've got more CAT5 drops than I know what to do with.

    Buy the Black and Decker complere guide to home wiring for $20 - a couple hundred in parts and you're set.


    The guy down the street did just that part himself. He has the exact same basement. He ran a separate panel himself and his material cost alone ran him $500+. $3K seems a lot but I am NOT an electrical guy. I’m in IT by trade and I big a lot of jobs for Data. We have a data job in our Portland office that included complete rewire of 2 buildings at about $50000. This guy was a little spend but we are asking a lot of stuff from him. Things such as ripping out some extra switches and replacing them with 1 switch (including dry wall repair). Some stair way lighting, moving around of a lot of existing electrical. removal of some existing lights. Moving of some existing wires. Hardware to finish the ceiling lights and of course showing up later to finish it all after drywall, etc... etc...

    We actually got quotes for the entire room a few months back and they all came in about that. This might even be cheaper because those didn’t have the panel added.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    KG Audio wrote: »
    When's the PARTY??? :D


    After I get me a nice fancy 7 man poker table down there and a good bar setup, Ill broadcast :)
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited June 2007
    I did electric for a while. That bid is way to high! Find someone else!

    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited June 2007
    We actually got quotes for the entire room a few months back and they all came in about that. This might even be cheaper because those didn’t have the panel added.

    Why do you need another panel?
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited June 2007
    I have wired whole ranches for $5000 new construction. I can't see the prices being that high. Wish I were closer.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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