6mm or 10mm t&e?

[Artifolk]

Well it will soon be time for me to redecorate the lounge (getting it in the ear). As some of you may already know i will be fitting a dedicated mains supply for the system.
I'm intending to place a new Consumer Unit next to the existing one via Henley blocks and run 8 runs of T&E to 8 single MK 13 amp unswitched sockets in the lounge, the distance from Consumer unit to sockets will be approx 5m's, would i be better off using just 6mm T&E or would there be a marked increase in SQ via 10mm over such a short length.

Look forward to your insights into this.

All work will be carried out by a qualified electrician.

[Artifolk]

Two more question i should have placed in the original thread.
Have any of you notice a difference in SQ with different makes of Consumer unit?

Would i be better using standard MCB's in the consumer unit or go for something like RCBO's for added protection?

[Marco]

Hi Charles,

If you give me until later on this evening, after the scheduled forum downtime, I'll give you my advice on this, as I've done much experimenting in this area!

Marco.

[Welder]

I used twin 30 amp screened cable for mine if my memory serves me and a separate earth fed through steel conduit; mainly in the hope that i could sneak into next doors garden one day and conceal an earth rod and cable somewhere.

The art is to get the electrician not to take the supply from the distribution board feeding your current consumer box but to take a new mains in from the leccy boards outside supply.

MK anything should be fine with the appropriate breaker.
If you can persuade the electrician to sort out a single ground terminal buried somewhere not too dry in your garden this probably gives the best results. Not all electricians are happy doing this. You'll need to get your ground spike made up yourself if you are considering this. 1 metre x 20 mm solid copper rod should do it. Drill the appropriate sized hole in one end and side drill a row of three holes with tapped threads to grip the ground wire.
If you can get the wire welded in so much the better.

[Z-A]

6mm will be ample for each run, the amp sockets you could use 10 but not really necessary. Good move, and as above, try to take the new supply from the meter, split via HB, then to 2x CU's. Be aware that all mcb's and rcbo's etc have a massive detrimental effect on SQ. I use Hager with a simple switch.

[Artifolk]

If you give me until later on this evening, after the scheduled forum downtime, I'll give you my advice on this, as I've done much experimenting in this area!

Marco.

Marco... waiting is no problem, i'm not starting work at present( two weeks time), so your input will be greatly received.

If you can persuade the electrician to sort out a single ground terminal buried somewhere not too dry in your garden this probably gives the best results. Not all electricians are happy doing this. You'll need to get your ground spike made up yourself if you are considering this.

I hadn't even thought about this. I best do some reading up.

try to take the new supply from the meter, split via HB, then to 2x CU's.

This is my initial installation idea, i should have been a little more graphic with my wording in my first post.

[worrasf]

Well it will soon be time for me to redecorate the lounge (getting it in the ear). As some of you may already know i will be fitting a dedicated mains supply for the system.
I'm intending to place a new Consumer Unit next to the existing one via Henley blocks and run 8 runs of T&E to 8 single MK 13 amp unswitched sockets in the lounge, the distance from Consumer unit to sockets will be approx 5m's, would i be better off using just 6mm T&E or would there be a marked increase in SQ via 10mm over such a short length.

Look forward to your insights into this.

All work will be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Hi Charles
Have you considered installing a balanced mains supply at the same time as the rewire? Significant SQ benefits to be gained here for not a lot of dollar - see this thread http://www.theartofsound.net/forum/s...balanced+mains

Best of luck

Steve

[Artifolk]

Hi Charles
Have you considered installing a balanced mains supply at the same time as the rewire? Significant SQ benefits to be gained here for not a lot of dollar

I may look into this later but at the moment this is not my main priority, but out of interest where in the circuit would i place the Balance transformer, between the HB's and new consumer unit or after the consumer unit?

[worrasf]

I may look into this later but at the moment this is not my main priority, but out of interest where in the circuit would i place the Balance transformer, between the HB's and new consumer unit or after the consumer unit?

Between the consumer unit and your outlet sockets.
Steve

[Arcamnut]

Would I be better off using just 6mm T&E or would there be a marked increase in SQ via 10mm over such a short length.
You will struggle to terminate 10mm2 into the sockets,not designed for that size I am afraid.
6mm2 will carry more than enough current for your needs and be cheaper to boot!