Electrical and wiring

This section gathers forum discussions on the electrical infrastructure of home and project recording studios, with an emphasis on grounding, wiring, and power distribution. The most active topic is star grounding, a scheme for connecting audio equipment safety and signal grounds back to a single point to reduce hum and noise; multiple threads work through its principles, practical wiring, and points of confusion for newcomers. Other threads cover related power questions, including whether a single-phase electrical service is adequate for a separate studio building, how to size circuits and calculate amperage for equipment loads, and how to wire isolated circuits with dedicated ground lugs. Additional posts address the physical routing of cables, such as passing lines between isolated rooms without compromising sound isolation, terminating snake cables for multi-room I/O, and running headphone feeds to multiple spaces. A general resources thread collects external links on studio wiring and installation. Together these threads reflect the concerns of builders wiring a studio from scratch: minimizing electrical noise, meeting power demands safely, and organizing cable runs between rooms.

Introduction drafted with AI assistance from forum posts.

1. Start hereStar Grounding System Question 88 replies, 2004–2012. Started by Hi Def in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly, giles117 and Aaronw.
2. Start hereTechnical Resources & Information 8 replies, 2004–2019. Started by Aaronw in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly and AVare.
3. Start hereSingle Phase 30 replies, 2008–2009. Started by lilith_envy in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020, John Sayers and TomVan.
4. Start herewiring question isolated circuits 16 replies, 2004. Started by chunger in Studio Construction. With knightfly and Aaronw.
5. Start hereCable Pass-throughs? 25 replies, 2004–2012. Started by barefoot in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, knightfly and Sen.
6. Welcome to a new forum 6 replies, 2004–2012. Started by John Sayers in Installation and Wiring. With barefoot, knightfly and Sen.
7. Solar powered studio 21 replies, 2009–2014. Started by lilith_envy in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers and Soundman2020.
8. another take on star grounding 28 replies, 2009–2010. Started by cporro in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers, Soundman2020 and lilith_envy.
9. Help with headphones 12 replies, 2009. Started by lilith_envy in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers and Soundman2020.
10. star grounding questions 21 replies, 2005. Started by copper in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly, Aaronw and sharward.
11. OK what to name this topic..?? ..Amperage needed to run... 27 replies, 2004. Started by Sen in Installation and Wiring. With giles117, knightfly and Aaronw.
12. Wall Plates & cable advise 11 replies, 2009. Started by hally in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers and lilith_envy.
13. Tie Lines - Microphone lines - patches ... best/most-used ? 26 replies, 2004. Started by DeadPoet in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and giles117.
14. detailed grounding and power questions 18 replies, 2011. Started by sound_music in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020 and gullfo.
15. Homemade Snake Terminations 18 replies, 2005. Started by len-morgan in Installation and Wiring. With giles117, Aaronw and sharward.
16. Conduit Issues!! 10 replies, 2009. Started by NativeLuv17 in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers.
17. $2500 later and my guitar still hums 34 replies, 2006–2014. Started by chrisgraff in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, Soundman2020 and Ro.
18. > Faraday Cage Design 19 replies, 2008–2011. Started by Howardk in Studio Design. With AVare, John Sayers and gullfo.
19. Should I add a Ground Bus Bar that connects to the earth? 9 replies, 2014–2015. Started by afavreau in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020 and John Sayers.
20. Is this overkill? Studio AC wiring layout 30 replies, 2005–2006. Started by koberlin1 in Installation and Wiring. With sharward, knightfly and Aaronw.
21. Live Room Wall Plate to Control Room Wall plate 13 replies, 2010–2011. Started by vakis in Installation and Wiring. With lilith_envy, John Sayers and Aaronw.
22. main power distribution earth and proprietary grounding 21 replies, 2011. Started by delfin in Installation and Wiring. With BriHar and rod gervais.
23. RF interference help 16 replies, 2006. Started by mikedaul in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly and Aaronw.
24. Idea for Running Conduit Between Rooms 12 replies, 2009. Started by NativeLuv17 in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020, lilith_envy and Aaronw.
25. Fuse Box Question 14 replies, 2010. Started by Pinhedgtr in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020 and John Sayers.
26. Help- Gtar Hum is just to bad!!!! 9 replies, 2006. Started by JohnGardner in Installation and Wiring. With guitardad72, John Sayers and Aaronw.
27. Halogen beamers causing buzz... 10 replies, 2004. Started by Jack Luminous in Studio Design. With Aaronw and John Sayers.
28. Installing Autotransformers (aka variacs) 18 replies, 2006–2008. Started by lunatic in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and Ro.
29. "Switched" Isolated Ground receptacles... 12 replies, 2013. Started by camistan in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020.
30. Max' Studio - First impressions & questions 35 replies, 2008. Started by matthiasmax in Studio Construction. With Ro, xSpace and rod gervais.
31. Ya'll help the ol' man..IG receptacle & Romex receptacle mix 11 replies, 2013–2014. Started by camistan in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020.
32. Air gaps in electrical boxes 7 replies, 2004–2005. Started by gdgross in Studio Construction. With Aaronw, rod gervais and z60611.
33. Coaxil cable, air handler interference... 11 replies, 2006. Started by guitardad72 in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
34. Economy in Building Snakes 20 replies, 2005. Started by phyl in Installation and Wiring. With AVare, knightfly and Aaronw.
35. Star grounded and it still hums!!!! 32 replies, 2007. Started by Ross H in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and kendale.
36. Guitar to amp wiring 19 replies, 2004. Started by Guest in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly and Aaronw.
37. Weirdest wiring issue ever: level changes 7 replies, 2009–2010. Started by Marc Alan Goodman in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers, Aaronw and TomVan.
38. Questions on In-Wall Wiring 18 replies, 2008. Started by smallstonefan in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, xSpace and knightfly.
39. Will my box of wire work? 19 replies, 2004. Started by bigdaddyd in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and knightfly.
40. Studio Wiring Advice Sought 20 replies, 2004. Started by dbluefield in Studio Design. With Aaronw and knightfly.
41. Mystery Machine Studios - Noise/Electrical question 16 replies, 2007–2008. Started by infiniteposse in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, knightfly and JohnGardner.
42. Real life lighting tests 3 replies, 2010–2019. Started by adam in Installation and Wiring.
43. A quick&specific star grounding question 12 replies, 2005–2006. Started by Hashbrown in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly, Aaronw and sharward.
44. Extending connections and compatibility 13 replies, 2010. Started by sonolink in Installation and Wiring. With Soundman2020 and gullfo.
45. Question about audio and power cables 4 replies, 2009. Started by jbassino in Installation and Wiring. With John Sayers.
46. wiring a wall box with xlr's and headphone sends 9 replies, 2006. Started by JohnGardner in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
47. Monitor RF interference 16 replies, 2004–2006. Started by pharao in Speaking of Speakers. With knightfly, AVare and Aaronw.
48. Electrical/Lighting 9 replies, 2003–2004. Started by cfuehrer in Studio Construction. With rod gervais, John Sayers and giles117.
49. Wall Plate Installation 16 replies, 2006. Started by soupkitchen in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
50. Distance between conduits? Shielding? 22 replies, 2005. Started by the dreamer in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly and Aaronw.
51. The best way to deal with cables passing through walls? 13 replies, 2009–2010. Started by Magickman in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, lilith_envy and Soundman2020.
52. how many outlets? 8 replies, 2005. Started by hugo_inside in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
53. KRK RP-6 constant buzz 15 replies, 2006–2008. Started by bakus in Speaking of Speakers. With knightfly, kendale and xSpace.
54. Upgrading from 15amp to 20 amp 13 replies, 2006–2007. Started by octatonic in Installation and Wiring. With sharward, guitardad72 and Aaronw.
55. Questions on mic wiring 15 replies, 2004–2010. Started by Guest in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and giles117.
56. Receptacle Box With Pink Insulation and Panel Box Enclosure 17 replies, 2006. Started by nec0 in Studio Construction. With sharward, len-morgan and knightfly.
57. Quad Outlets and Power Strips with home run wiring 14 replies, 2006. Started by Velvet Elvis 2 in Installation and Wiring. With knightfly and Aaronw.
58. Soldering Mono Connectors 9 replies, 2010–2011. Started by prkm123 in Installation and Wiring. With gullfo, lilith_envy and Aaronw.
59. Electrical Conduit Installation 12 replies, 2004. Started by Riad in Studio Construction. With Aaronw and knightfly.
60. Multicore Stage box for connecting control and tracking room 6 replies, 2003. Started by Peter in Studio Design. With John Sayers.
61. Guitar and line cables in the recording room... 8 replies, 2005. Started by hugo_inside in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and knightfly.
62. RUNNING WIRING BETWEEN THE ROOMS 13 replies, 2006. Started by studio911 in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and sharward.
63. how to properly wire(bridge) Neutrik combo(XLR/1/4") co 12 replies, 2005–2006. Started by Armando in Installation and Wiring. With len-morgan, Aaronw and knightfly.
64. Ground Hum 5 replies, 2009. Started by MattAvis in Installation and Wiring. With lilith_envy and John Sayers.
65. Is this an Electrical problem or something else? 17 replies, 2008. Started by Andyman in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
66. in wall cable for computer monitor 10 replies, 2010. Started by Teflon in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, NativeLuv17 and Soundman2020.
67. Wonderful - I've create a radio!! :-( 7 replies, 2006. Started by len-morgan in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
68. Ground Loop ?? Please help ! 20 replies, 2008. Started by philthyphil in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw.
69. Can a 20A/125V Duplex be converted to L5-20R?? 15 replies, 2005. Started by Armando in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw and AVare.
70. Electricity in studios!!?? 9 replies, 2003. Started by Sen in Studio Construction. With knightfly and Sen.
71. How to deal with breaker box and conduit 20 replies, 2007. Started by studio_drums in Studio Construction. With sharward.
72. Control Room Cable Termination 6 replies, 2005. Started by len-morgan in Installation and Wiring. With Aaronw, AVare and gullfo.
73. XLR Plates to Patchbay? 5 replies, 2008. Started by NativeLuv17 in Installation and Wiring. With AVare.