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AC Power - two circuits better than one?

Reorganizing my system starting from the wall receptacles (rewiring is not a possibility) but quickly ran into a conundrum. Is it better to source power for my audio system from several different circuits or one dedicated circuit?

More info: I have three possible options. Two 15 amp circuits (1 shared with a couple of lights the other with several wall receptacles including a pc) & one dedicated 20 amp circuit (but with only one single duplex outlet). I have mono blocks, power amp, preamps, digital & analog audio sources, & digital HT gear.

Should I distribute my system across these three circuits or try & source them all from the single dedicated 20 amp outlet? If distribute, what kind of break down makes sense?
salmonsc
salmonsc OP
66 posts
 
Thanks again for your input folks! I will endeavor to load as much as I can onto the 20amp outlet & the remainder onto the 15amp outlet. The difficulty is just physical connection - too many things for too few outlets (in the wrong places!). At a certain point daisy-chaining power strips - & running long power cords - starts to get problematic. That's why I was considering connecting the TV & DVR into the out of phase 15amp outlet.

I was planning on connecting the audio gear via a Monster AV2000 SS & the HT gear via a Monster HD3650. I would prefer to connect the mono blocks & power amp directly to the 20amp circuit via PS Audio duets to avoid the power limitation problems of surge protection/conditioning...
Post removed 
salmonsc OP
66 posts
 
Actually, I had an electrician in on Friday - but as I wrote in my original post, rewiring is not a possibility. It's a very old house & not mine.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,700 posts
 
You should use the 15 amp circuits for all your gear with no problem.The 20 amp cicuit was used for something that draws higher current most likely A/C,clothes dryer,etc.A 15 amp circuit is about 1700 watts,no way does your gear come close to that much.
puerto
372 posts
 
Salmonsc: Thanks for this thread - I never realized this issue could arise. Without taking over your thread I would like to ask your respondents to comment on my situation - similar to yours.

I have 4 dedicated 20 amp circuits for the equipment including a pair of monos and an APC Power Conditioner for all the rest of the stuff. Circuits #1 and #3 are on one leg of the circuit breaker box and Circuits #2 and #4 are on the other leg of the circuit breaker box. The power conditioner is on Circuit #1 while the monos are on circuits #2 and #4 respectively. Have I created a potential problem for myself? Perhaps the monos should be both plugged into circuit #3?
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