Stereophile electrical system improvement article

[dougi]

I must say, probably to be expected, that I found this article frustrating. What could have been an opportunity to objectively evaluate upgrading your home electrical infrastructure had upon the mains quality ended in the usual subjective waffle (with most of it sounding unlikely given ASR measuremetns on mains quality effects). Assuming that the mains hum was reduced, measurements to explain why would have been handy. He seemed to use competent people, so I assume they could have at least measured mains THD.

 

[antennaguru]

I read the article and was surprised that the author (a famous reviewer) didn't have dedicated power for his audio gear from the get-go. Even I have had ONE dedicated 20A circuit in the main service entrance breaker panel for my audio room/electronics for the past 36 years in two different houses. This house has its own dedicated pole-top transformer without any neighbors sharing MY private isolated secondary.

The first thing I did was to run a dedicated 20A circuit to the audio room from the main service entrance breaker panel to ONE outlet, into which all equipment outlet strips and power cables are plugged into. Between the outlet strips and the ONE single dedicated 20A audio room outlet is a Surge Suppressor with a large dollar warranty of protection. Then in the main service entrance breaker panel there is a "Whole House" Surge Suppressor as well, with its own dedicated breaker.

In addition to eliminating any potential ground loops there is literally only one plug to pull when lightning nears. That's the way it's properly done.

Between his 4 dedicated 20A circuits in his audio room there is bound to be some grounding differential, due to differences in the length of each of the grounding conductors. Then he shares a pole-top transformer secondary with several neighbors with all matter of noisy appliances. This from a famous reviewer some people might believe...

 

[audio2design]

The BS is palpable .....

"He also pointed out uncovered outdoor AC receptacles that he said probably "sparked" when wet; that, too, would produce line noise."

 

[amirm]

What is the line in Matrix from the Oracle? "Not too smart?"

Writing an article saying your system had hum and power problems for years and years would be perfect definition of "not too smart." How many times had he talked about black backgrounds and such? How was that possible with all the hum?

As to said consultants, if they said this: "Hungerford's synopsis also concluded that multiple connection points, especially of dissimilar metals, increased impedance and created "inductive vertices" that inhibit proper draining of RF noise. Powell amplified this point." I would have walked away from them as they clearly don't understand the topic. RF circuit doesn't see the impedance of hundreds of feet of Romex but somehow sees that of the junction? And what business does RF have with "draining into" something?

I would have wanted to hear what the first electrical company had to say about their "plan." Shame that was dismissed out of hand.

I hate to think of how many people are going to go and spend money on this to make their "sound better." Yes, the old panel may have needed dusting off but so much junk is spread in that article causing people to resort to wasting money for no good reason.

 

[Robin L]

The response I posted to Mikey's article:

"So it's safe to say your electrical system was sufficiently messed up before this transformation that we should ignore all your previous reviews here?"

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

I watched the video about this 'transformation'. I think he originally was complaining that the cut-out to accommodate his emergency generator was somehow compromising his sound. Fair enough, but why the hell did the listening room need to be in the electrical loop for the emergency generator in the first place? If the power goes out, doesn't he have more pressing issues to deal with than listening to his stereo?

Of Course if this amazing transformation didn't make a whit of sonic difference (or measurable difference!), I'm sure he'd never admit it. UGH.....

 

[JP]

...so I assume they could have at least measured mains THD.

They did.

Fair enough, but why the hell did the listening room need to be in the electrical loop for the emergency generator in the first place?

It's a whole house system - ATS is between main panel and meter.

The meter connections look bad enough that if there was a new issue from the installation, *maybe* that had something to do with it. There was talk about directional ground wires (!). They also said his earth bond impedance was less than half an ohm before they installed the new ground rods, which I find to be rather remarkable, period.

 

[Madjalapeno]

Tsk, amateurs. I have my own flux capacitor, with 1.21Gigawatts on tap for my headphone amp.

 

[Galliardist]

Surely if the regenerators (and specialised power cables) in the system worked as we are told they should, they would have fixed all the issues without resorting to wiring and grounding changes anyway?

 

[anmpr1]

Someone needs to ask Fremer how long he thinks it'll take for all that new wire to 'break in'?

 

[blueone]

I used to subscribe to Stereophile because of Atkinson's measurements. Even though many of his measurements are still relevant, I can't in good conscience support a publication (or a website) that employs Michael Fremer.

 

[DonH56]

Fremer has posted on ASR before, though IIRC mainly to (literally!) cuss people out. I was curious why the transfer switch seemed to introduce all sorts of trouble, noise, whatever, and mentioned way back then that grounding would seem a more likely culprit. I have not read the article yet.

Al wires can be a real problem up to and including fire hazard due to poor connections and corrosion from Al/Cu interfaces. Those issues have been solved for decades, however, and are mainly just at the service entrance itself. We used to kill power to retighten the connections once a year or so.

 

[pma]

I must say, probably to be expected, that I found this article frustrating. What could have been an opportunity to objectively evaluate upgrading your home electrical infrastructure had upon the mains quality ended in the usual subjective waffle (with most of it sounding unlikely given ASR measuremetns on mains quality effects). Assuming that the mains hum was reduced, measurements to explain why would have been handy. He seemed to use competent people, so I assume they could have at least measured mains THD.

The article is a BS not worth wasting time with it. 20 seconds was more than enough. Time is precious.

 

[Koeitje]

Is interference from other equipment really a thing? I've never noticed anything even though I've got my desktop on the same group, and even had my fridge on it a couple of years back.

 

[Hugo9000]

Perhaps the article was necessary for tax purposes in order to write off the expense as required for business? (I am not an attorney nor a tax consultant, etc. lol)

 

[DonH56]

Is interference from other equipment really a thing? I've never noticed anything even though I've got my desktop on the same group, and even had my fridge on it a couple of years back.

Yes, though it often reflects more upon the component's high (poor) sensitivity to noise than the noise source...

Perhaps the article was necessary for tax purposes in order to write off the expense as required for business? (I am not an attorney nor a tax consultant, etc. lol)

In the cost note it looks like much of the consulting was pro-bono (free) to Fremer.

 

[dougi]

Is interference from other equipment really a thing? I've never noticed anything even though I've got my desktop on the same group, and even had my fridge on it a couple of years back.

It can be, but hell, I've got a Homeplug device on the same group of wall sockets as the hifi gear and I have never had any problems.

 

[audio2design]

Yes, though it often reflects more upon the component's high (poor) sensitivity to noise than the noise source...


In the cost note it looks like much of the consulting was pro-bono (free) to Fremer.

If you think of it, if this did come out of Fremer's own pocket, it is a bit of Karma. Snake oil gets sold to snake oiler. I am okay with that

 

[Lambda]

Always fascinated how electrical utility systems around the world look.
Verry different style and qualety they do overseas compared to Germany

 

[Ingenieur]

I have been in the electrical power construction industry for 30+ years.
I have an MSEE and grad cert. in power.
A PE for longer than I care to remember, lol.
Still working in the field. I only share this as background.

It was hard to read, confusing, one single line would have illustrated it.

0.7 Ohm ground bed? No, 50 ' x 100' substation mats rarely get below 1, usually close to 2 when measured at 500', it decreases at distance increases. R = p LA
p soil resistivity
L linear distance
A area, A increases ~ L^2

The transfer switch causing issues:
Its contact R can't be measured with a meter, too low. Must use a MultiAmp current source and put a few hundred amps thru it and measure V drop., <<0.1 V or <<0.4 mOhm, 5' of 12 AWG.
His meter socket R likely is higher, or a snap-in CB. Or the component plug in the receptacle.

Nonsense.
The fact that a contractor he had done business with said '&$@%# no!!'.
A contractor turning down work!?
For a regular customer?