are you ready for some rockiron posting? Just moved in to new house

[rockironwebb]

I Just moved into my new home and over the next few months will be setting up all of my gear again which no doubt will lead to many questions. I will do my best not to abuse the forum.
Issue number one.
POWER
My new home does not have grounded outlets!!!!!!
I have already run a ground for my washer/dryer and fridge. I haven't even touche my studio yet (the wife seems to think the rest of the house is more important!) I use to wire new residential homes so I am capable of running and terminating wires, but I am also a lazy caveman and do not like to do anything unless it is absolutely necessary. I intend on at least running a ground for my PC for surge protector. Could anyone tell what is typical for small studio outlet usage? I've read a little about ground loop, but I don't yet have the ground. What is usually plugged into same circuits and what is usually kept separate?
I need to plug in.
Alesis mixer
behringer mixer
PC and two monitors
400 watt power amp
EQ
boom-box(currently using for playback,,,unfortunately)
guitar amp
guitar amp
bass amp
Television
coffemaker.
Any thoughts?

 

[snatchman]

Do you have the abilty to run a couple dedicated grounded power lines from your panel box to the room(s) you are planning to use for your " studio"..?..If so, I'd do this..Good luck..

 

[mjbphotos]

If the whole house is missing grounded outlets, does the main circuit box need to be replaced? Does it even meet the local codes?

 

[c7sus]

Two 15 amp circuits, preferably on the same phase are plenty for most home reccors.

If you don't have GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bath areas you really should look into that.

Make sure the house plumbing is properly grounded too. IIRC the code says it needs to be bonded within 5 feet of entry into the house.

 

[rockironwebb]

The house passed inspection. I guess when we want to do any remodeling is when the inspector requires updates. The panel is a fairly new, (200 amp). All of the wire in the house is 2 conductor romex, the silver looking crap. I'm guessing the panel was updated when previous owners did away with the gas stove and needed a wire ran for the electric stove, stove wire is the only "new" looking wire into the panel. Lucky for me the room with the panel is just next to my studio room, so I will run some grounds. As for the gfci's, It's on my list.

Thanx for the advice.

 

[c7sus]

That silver looking crap is aluminum and you want to go through the entire house and put copper jumpers from the AL wiring to your devices. You may have to replace outlets as well due to worn out blades inside the outlet.

The fucked thing about AL is when it gets heated up it shrinks rather than expands. Over time this causes the conductor to become loose on the device and this has been the cause of many a house fire.

I also highly recommend getting the kitchen and baths up to code with GFCI-protected outlets at the earliest opportunity.

 

[mjbphotos]

And hopefully the new wires to the stove are copper and not aluminum. I had an 'electrician' put in aluminum (unknown to me) to my stove and after 4 years the place where it had been bent to get it up through the first floor started breaking apart. Thought the stove was defective, but another electrician quickly diagnosed the problem and replaced the whole line with copper.

 

[rockironwebb]

I meant the sheathing of the romex is a silver color. All conductors are copper. I have been looking at how I am going to go about doing things. My studio is on a lower level and three walls are cinder block, the forth wall, the one that goes to the room with the electric panel is also cinderblock that has been framed and paneled. I'm thinkin I will just bust through with one hole to the panel, 1" emt to run two circuits, and then split around the room with 1/2" emt. recessed outlets would be nice, but I don't feel like fighting the block. As for the rest of the house, like I said, it's on my list. We should have a complete kitchen remodel coming up in the next year or two, so I feel safe enough to wait.