In thread on linear PSU for NAS, mains noise is discussed and I mentioned my dedicated mains radial. Blackadder asked for info on the project.
I don't particularly want to get into a debate about the merits of doing this at all - it's my money and it's done and there are other threads you can read if you think it's all foolery! - but wanted to share the info to save others time investigating cable specs, cable trunking, consumer boards etc.
Please excuse refs to two other forums, save me much typing. And apologies for any weird fonts as I've cut and pasted to collate this on my phone as my chauffeur/wife negotiates the traffic jams en route to Kendal.
Extract from an initial post I made on AVForums:
It seems there are 3 basic ways of improving the source of whatever system one may have. There are nuances to each of these I'm sure but this is a complex enough topic so bear with me if I simplify. In ascending order of impact:
1) Replace standard switched sockets with hospital or industrial grade unswitched ones, eliminating an unnecessary link in the chain (the switch) and getting a tighter grip by the socket on the plug. (A sub-option here is to to runs spur off an existing socket to give you 4 or 6 such higher grade ones but the electricity is still shared with the rest of your house in the same way).
2) Run a Dedicated Radial Circuit from existing Consumer Unit (typically the thing with fuses in it which comes just after the meter) using similar high quality unswitched sockets. This moves any "contamination" from other domestic apparatus as far away from your hi-fi as possible and thereby minimises the impact at the business end.
3) Install a dedicated Hi-Fi Ring Main which starts with a dedicated Hi-Fi Consumer Unit wired after the meter (of course!) and in parallel with domestic Consumer Unit. This is described and drawn on the following page from Russ Andrews: Fitting a Hi-Fi ring main. In theory this completely isolates your system from any mains-transferred noise, leaving any contamination to come more locally through poor location of cables, inappropriate shielding or whatever.
Does this basically make sense as a ranking?
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And later post same thread:
An update. My dedicated mains was installed last week: Schneider consumer board/components, 4mm cable throughout, routed externally in galvanised shielding into two radial (one for AV, one for HiFi) unswitched silver plated double sockets.
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See also post #50 in this thread on HiFiWigwam which even includes extract from the invoice for the bits...
http://hifiwigwam.com/forum/index.ph...F&share_type=t
Nigel