Running Electric Wiring new studio

[MusicDon]

Hello All,

I am building a studio, approximately 12X14 room (not exactly though, to avoid the standing wave issues.)

Question is: How would you recommend running the wires for the electricity considering the following ?

I was thinking of a separate circuit for the DAW, then two other circuits to split the various audio equipment ? one circuit would be on the right half of the room, the other on the left. (not alternating between each outlet). All three circuits would be dedicated to the studio only - with no additional loads connected from other parts of the house.

I want to put on a household surge protector then use point of use surge protection with special outlets designed for this (they are a blue outlet switch from one company).
I want to plug in directly to the raceways and avoid lots of extra extension cord/surge protector strips if I can.

Then I want to add in a RFI suppression device, to take out the 60hz interference, especially from the H2O heater, refrigerator and air conditioner when they go on and off.
This one company (large company - begins with a "T" - and HomeDepot carries their line) has a whole house surge protector which has a built in RFI suppressor/filter. Can anyone recommend this or any other RFI filter product ?

I am running all wires externally, in raceway/conduit so there are no extra holes in the walls. The problem is, my service breaker box is is this room ! I will have a challenge trying to make up some means of soundproofing around this. I plan to build the soundproof wall and then mount the breaker box externally just like I will mount the switch boxes. I will probably make an additional casing around it, with a removable workspace panel/door (per building codes) just as if it were mounted inside the wall. The point of entry for the wires which come down from ceiling/joist bay and into the box will be another challenge, I will build a channel around them, and fill with mastic sealant caulking such as owens corning's sound caulk. Above the wires, inside the joist bay I will put multiple layers of drywall, various thickness-to isolate the sound which gets through the wires.

Wiring begins tonight on other parts of the basement - I will save the studio for last.

Thanks in advance for any help.

MusicDon

[howie15]

MusicDon,
I'm not a huge electronics man, although I just took a Studio Maintenance class from an absolute genius when it comes to studio wiring and such. When I read your post a question and issue came to mind.
You said you were thinking of 3 different circuits...are they sharing a "master" or earth ground?? or will each have their own?? if they have their own for each rack of gear and such....be very, very careful and prepared for ground-loops. Just my small query. You've probably got that covered already though. http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif
Howie

[mixont70446]

In general when I design a studio I only wire one 30amp circuit to the control room. Studio equipment only uses a small amount of current. Then use a ups as a line conditioner, you may have to use a couple according to placement of equipment, but this will condition the power and eliminate ground loops and brown outs plus gives you a way to monitor voltage use because most ups have load indicators (which should reflect about 1/2 to 3/4).

[bubba freaktree]

listen to mixon man.

everything to one circuit.

you can put your lamps and computer monitor on another if you want.

[tripnek]

I run my whole studio on one 15amp circuit. I run 3 small UPS (APC) units on this circuit. I've yet to have any problems. Sorry, can't help with the RFI.

[bubba freaktree]

one circuit. one outlet with some zip strips is fine. seriously.

people sometimes think studio equipment is "powerful". it's not. it's completely wuss.

heaters, hair dryers and lights take wayyyyyyyy more juice. a computer with a couple of mic preamps and some other stuff is a freakin' joke. remember computers and mic preamps often run on battery power for the portable crowd.

what you can do is run your computer monitor, air conditioner system, and light bulbs on another outlet/circuit. those have nothing to do with the audio path and will not cause ground loop hums.