Electrical Checklist and backup question

[Tao_teh_ching]

Dear all,
Remember me, I was the guy who had all those stupid questions regarding floating floors (thanks Steve and you guys for your help and patience). Now I come with a new set of queries.

I am currently working on the general electrical plan of my basement and specially my Control room and the recording floor. However, I have taken a decision that I would rather fabricate the studio area after a month, after my other basement rooms are complete. That way I can personally look over every small detail of the studio area. My architect says that I should have an electrical plan (stabilizers, spike busters, UPS, power backup etc.) ready, so that’s why I am working on it.

Main aim: To have fluctuation free, stable and spike free power supply. At the same time I don’t want to have a high electricity bill (low running cost).

Problems: India is a country where electricians need to be pulled up. So I can’t trust their word on the sort of precautions I should take. People here face problems like bad earthing, spikes, fluctuations, power cuts etc. Stuff like that can ruin my equipment.

Precautions I have taken: I have been reading articles and noted over the internet about what one can do to have a hassle free power supply. Thus I have told the electricians the following points:
1. Good earthing
2. Different phase for the studio area and the remaining basement (pantry, bathroom, office, reception)
3. Fire proof cables, the best in the country (Fenolex, if you guys have heard about it?)
4. Life time warranty and the best available sockets
5. All wires away from audio cables i.e. they comes from the ceiling and fall at a ninety degree angle over the sockets.
6. To eradicate ground loop, my engineer told me that I should put a high powered capasitator. (Any inputs on this)

Doubt and help needed:
1. I need you guys to tell me a way to stop spikes and fluctuations my engineer has given me two options (please give more if possible)
• We have the main power supply then we connect the servo then we connect the UPS and then we have the equipment and the computer system
• We have the main power supply, we connect that to the spike buster then we connect the UPS and then we have the gear and computer system.

The first one, he says, is the ultimate method, but its an expensive option. He says even when the power is not being used, the servo will still consume power and give me a perpetually high running cost. However he says, the second option will only come into operation when we have spikes and thus will give me the same level of safety as the servo but will reduce my running cost. Is this true?

2. Any way to measure my earthing? I don’t want my engineer to take me for a ride.
3. Any other fire proofing precautions I can take?
4. Any other precautions I should, or will there be any other major problems I can face?
5. Any other methods to cut down on running costs.

Please guys I need to your help on this one… defective electrical can kill my gear, I don’t want that. Keep the inputs coming.

Regards
Tao