Circuit Breakers
Not all breakers are made equal. The internal components as well as the frames of each breaker vary in quality and performance. Some breakers are more robust, dense and heavy. In our experience, some are able to damp 60 cycle vibrations as well as RF pollution better than others.
GHB frame circuit breakers are rated for 480 volts. These breakers have superior insulation, strength and weight as compared to a 240 volt CB.
The stumbling block for power panels feeding premium audio systems is NEC 210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupters (AFCI).
Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15 - and 20 - amper branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in dwelling unit kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected....
A dwelling unit per article 100 of the NEC is: A single unit, providing complete and independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, cooking and sanitation.
What does NEC 210.12 mean in layman terms? It means in any room outside your bathroom, garage, unfinished basement and outdoors, all branch circuits feeding duplex receptacles shall be fed by a AFCI type circuit breaker. If your stereo is in a room inside your home, all 120 volt receptacles feeding your equipment fall under this requirement. If your equipment is in an outbuilding without a kitchen, you do not need AFCI breakers.
What is the rub with AFCI breakers?
I have started listening tests with AFCI breakers. In my system, I believe I hear a little softening of the dynamics. I have not done a blind test. We will continue to determine what sort of sonic changes come from using an AFCI type breaker as compared to a basic thermal/magnetic. Even if AFCI breakers do have a small impact, what does have a profound impact on the ability or your electrical system to deliver low impedance, low noise, stable voltage that is easily heard, is the whole of the electrical infrastructure feeding the system.
Boutique Circuit Breakers
Gigawatt G-C16A. For starters, these breakers are not legal for use in the USA. The Gigawatt is a thermal switch only. As current rises, temperature increases to a point it opens the switch. A circuit breaker must also contain a magnetic sensor which the Gigawatt does not have. A magnetic sensor opens when there is an instantaneous rise in current. Circuit breakers are intelligent enough to not open when a motor starts or a transformer is powered up. But not always (nuisance tripping). My guess is Gigawatt designed the breaker for industrial motor and control applications. And someone said let's sell it to audiophiles. Don’t use it. It's not legal and dangerous in a home.
Is a Gigawatt even better than a circuit breaker? A gigawatt still has a set of contacts and internal wire structure the same as a circuit breaker. It has opening elements in it just like a Thermal/magnetic circuit breaker. So why do people say it sounds better?
A Gigawatt does not mount on a common electrical bus. It mounts on a din rail. That means it is fed by a bare copper wire. A very good, clean connection. I like it.
The residential loadcenter reviewers are comparing a Gigawatt to are generally built with aluminum bus. That is not near as good a conductor as a bare copper wire. I don’t like it.
Our panelboard bus is manufactured with pure copper, silver flashed over the top, or bare copper bus bar. It's your choice. Our bus is formed with 1”x1/4” bars of copper. Our Circuit breakers are bolted directly to that bar. Potentially a far better contact that a single 12 AWG wire in the top.
The Gigawatt is only 16 amp. Our CB are 20 amp. The internal components of our CB are heavier gauge.
I would argue a quality SqD or Eaton CB in a real panelboard far exceeds the performance of a Gigawatt breaker. And ours are all UL, NFPA70, NEC compliant.