I have lived with my current setup for sockets now for 6 months . I am considering trying option 1 or 2 to compare ,what are opinions on best one .
Kit contains 6 Naim units toroidal power and 4 Linn units smps power .
Have you checked if O2 is tenable within (UK) regs? Intuitively, I can see the logic, but I’m not sure if a Henley block can be used as a splitter, especially as you’d be spurring 6 doubles off a single breaker.
I think a qualified sparks is needed. A Henley block is normally to split the meter tails, hence why it can handle much bigger gauge cabling. AFAIK, you wouldn’t install it running from a CU.
I should not have used the name Henley Block but rather " suitably rated junction box"
Either is a lot of work and expense for an unknown result.
Option 2 is not compliant with uk regs
G’day Keltik,
I think you are in the UK. I am in Oz. I Googled Henly Blocks as I am not familiar with this product.
Then I Googled Star earthed power distribution boards and would recommend this.
There are also 9-way boards.
I would avoid the other options you have presented due to the possibility of earth loops.
Edit: sorry, I am still waking up. After posting I realized you had six double power points and not six single power points.
I do not know the load on your final sub-circuit, as you will have to add up the total amount of power in current (amps), (Amps = Watts/Voltage) to see if you could run two of these units from a single, double power point.
Warm regards,
Mitch in regional Oz.
Thanks for your info . But I don’t want to go down route of multiway extensions.
I apologise for my free hand drawing.
Let’s focus between the current situation each double socket powered via one breaker ,or option two which is in effect a simple domestic ring although in a compact fashion . Thanks
The received wisdom on all this (with Naim kit) is that it’s best for the kit to ‘see’ one feed, with allied earthing arrangements i.e. one socket with a star-earthed block is supposedly optimal. Problem is, most of the quality blocks aren’t star-earthed and run in series with respect to the feeds.
I will say I’ve got a 6-gang CU (feed split via Henley block) which feeds 6 10mm drops/spurs (as non-rings), and some others have similar arrangements too, with dedicated earthing, the latter seemingly more important than the format of the feeds?
How this compares to say one drop and a block, I’ve got no idea – albeit, one day, I might try this.
My appologies I failed to mention that the above power board is star earthed with silver conductors. The other options you present with separate feeds could raise the potential of earth loops.
Warm regards,
Mitch.
I did Google Henly Block and the example I saw had only one earth terminal in the block. If there is provision of an earth strip then option 2 could be doable.
Though all your cable feeds would have to be of the same length or very close tp avoid different volatge drops and hence earth loops.
Warm regards,
Mitch.
In the above pic, if all the earths of the power points go back to a single earth strip/bar inside the MEM box, then it will be fine.
Warm regards,
Mitch.
Yes 6 mm twin and earth back to consumer on each of the six double sockets .Each earth is terminated within the mem all 6 earth’s connected there on bar…As you see each run is ranging from 80 cm to 40 cm length. Is this “star earthed sufficiently”
Yes, I believe you will be fine.
Warm regards,
Mitch in Oz (retired electrician, Australia)/(radio technician Air RAAF).
Naim strongly advised me against running a dedicated mains from more than one breaker on the consumer unit. They were of the opinion that a single cable should be used for the whole system, and that it shouldn’t use anything thinner that 10mm T&E cable.
Chris 10mm and 6 double sockets ,how best to do .?
With 6 double sockets the only options are a ring of 6 radials feeding 6 sockets.
One radial can only have one spur (socket) from that radial.
I empathise with @Keltik here as, from what I’ve read on this matter in general, most of the mains blocks available appear to be wired via daisy-chaining sockets (in series), rather than any star wiring (esp the earths) configuration. IIRC, the Chord M6 unit has bus bars in it, with some clever construction, so it’s not star-wired.
So, looking at things this way, what’s the real difference in dropping (say) 6 x 10mm spurs from a 6-gang CU?
As @ChrisSU states, Naim suggest one feed - but I’m unclear how they split it down, especially if you need to power several boxes?
I am not an electrician but option 2 looks wrong. Effectively it is 6 spurs off a junction box, which is never a good idea.
What you have @Keltik is very good. I am not sure what you are looking for ?
So if you want more flexibility these are my thoughts:
This will then give you the option to consider the sound quality benefits of radial circuits and ring mains. You can then swap things around and compare more easily.
