Guidelines for Electrical Power

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Users assume responsibility when implementing any information from this site.

Guidelines for Recording Environment Areas Served by Technical Power

1. All wire shall be minimum #12 copper stranded THHN/THWN, # 10 minimum on long runs.

2. Technical power to be on dedicated panel(s) with isolated ground buss. All other loads to be fed off separate panel(s).

3. Isolation transformers serving technical power shall be K-13 rated and U.L. listed.

4. Technical power circuits shall have a dedicated insulated ground conductor run in the same conduit with tech-power conductors. Ground wire to be same size or larger as conductor.

5. Ground rod(s) serving technical power shall be of a chemical nature such as Lyncole XIT or equal. Connection of ground rod to bus should be made with wire size equal to the total amount of ground wires.

6. Fluorescent lighting fixtures shall not be used in technical areas unless the ballasts are remotely mounted.

7. Dimming of lighting fixtures in technical areas shall be accomplished by using Luxtrol variac or Lutron Grafik-Eye 4000 or greater dimming units. ****Note: Variac or Grafik-Eye systems are expensive. They are recommended here because they are known to be the most quiet, reliable method. However, if care is given to obtain power from panels other than the audio supply, we have had success using solid state dimmers with halogen lamps. Solid state dimmers are electronically controlled, not the type with levers or sliders.

8. Electrical conduits shall be mounted a minimum of 18” away from audio lines and conduits. If audio and electrical lines must cross they should do so at right angles.

9. Conduit penetrations of multiple laminations shall be angled and sound caulk sealed to minimize sound/vibration transmission.

10. Technical power receptacles shall be isolated ground type. Avoid more than three locations per circuit.