We are installing our first home with a technology closet (head-end). All of the low voltage wiring will head-end in this closet. It sits right behind the entertainment center.

How much electrical power would you suggest we put into the room?

Thanks,
RedDirt

If you're not feeding high-power audio amplifiers and the like, a single 15-amp circuit is plenty.

If you do need more power available, make sure the electricion wires both outlets on the same phase; the circuit breakers should be side by side, not one above the other.

While I've only experienced insurmountable noise from an out of phase situation in the Pro Sound area, I'm always cautious in the home enviorment because of the potential for a massive 'ground loop' that will really test the excursion of your subs.

...as well as your patience in finding the source of hum bars crawling up your plasma or projector image.

Try to get the other audio and video power feeds on the same circuit if possible. If there is a plasma or projo in another location, follow the guidelines from another thread here about extending outlets from the rack out to those locations.

Since this is so close to the entertainment center, it would make sense to use the closet as the distributed audio head as well, if that may ever be the case, ask for two 20A outlets.

This message was edited by 2nd rick on 02/20/05 05:16 ET.

When we have a very large system, we spec that the electrical contror places a sub panel at the rack. 100 AMP will be more than enough. Just imagine a 7.1 receiver with 7 descrete 120 watt amps, and two 12" subs with a 2500 watt amp in each. Dont forget your plasma/projector and screen, oh and lighting system too. You can never have too much A/C. But in most of our homes, we request a Dedicated 20 AMP for the theater with a 12/2 jumper from the rack to the plasma or projector, a dedicated 20 AMP for whole house, and a dedicated 15 AMP non GFI for security.

Never happen. I would recommend a MINIMUM of a 20 amp even with a simple system.

To answer more specifically, what equipment are you using?

A good 16 channel amp can draw 1,800 watts alone. 500w for the plasma, 1,000w+ for the receiver, a 1500w sub doesn't draw that much but can draw lot. A 15 amp circuit should onlly be asked to continuously supply 80% of the maximum available. 15 amps X 120v = 1,800 watts TOTAL. 80% = <1,500watts. I usually run 3 20 amp circuits to cover DA. simple theater, SW & plasma

100 Amps!!! Geez, you CRAZY American's.
I just about fell over when I saw this but then remembered you guys have to deal with 110 volts. In Oz most of the circuit breakers in domestic apps are 16amp, and the "average" system uses less than half.

Now, if you look again, I said "If you're not (italics mine) feeding high-power audio amplifiers and the like..."

I'd definitely call 4300 watts to be a little more like "high-power audio amps", wouldn't you?

I took Red's "...a technology closet (head-end). All of the low voltage wiring ..." to mean, say, an amplified cable amp/splitter (DA), a broadband modem and network router, telephone hub, etc.


While I think that a 100-amp subpanel is overkill, I did run a 50-amp sub-panel to my HT closet, and have six 15-amp circuits for the equipment (plus two more for lighting).

In my own system, I have 2200 watts of audio and a CRT projector. (See system page, below.) I think I'm covered.

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 02/21/05 00:05 ET.

I have Sparky run a dedicated 30 Amp to the rack. and 12/2 from the rack to the display. I then run it all through a power conditioner.

Yeah, I'm a brit in America - you should see some of the crazy power issues they have here. I nearly fell over in shock the first time I ran a toaster oven and a microwave at the same time, and the power went out. lol