Re-wired to 30 amps?

15 amp would be typical. I am pretty sure 14 ga wire can handle 15 amps, 12 gauge wire can handle 20 amps and 10 gauge wire can handle 30 amps.

Most of the upgrades you have seen would have been people installing dedicated lines, with new wire. It is a very, very bad idea to just start swapping circuit breakers, and not change the wire gauge of the circuit.

As far as 30 amp lines go, their really is no reason to install them as dedicated lines. And yes I installed one. 10 gauge wire is fine/up to code but the outlets are only rated to 15/20 amps. 10 pounds of crap in a five pound bag. Plus the "code" plugs for 30 amps are not the neat after market ones you can buy, they are huge locking ones.

Also I really don't know of any 30 amp devices out their. I am not saying they are none, but the biggest I have seen requires a 20 amp line.

Marty

15 or 20 amps is a typical residential fuse rating (other than for large appliances -- my in-wall oven, for example, requires a 30 amp fuse). Bear in mind that, for most residential applications, a single circuit with a 15 or 20 amp fuse will be connected to a number of outlets and/or switches for fans or lights. Most home electronics do not require 30 amps. Dedicated lines to power supplies seldom need to be above 20 amps and even that is generous (of course, I'm doing just that just in case). A 15 amp dedicated line will support about 1,650 watts (110 volts times 15 amps) and that should generally be sufficient for most audio needs. I overkill everything and went for five 20 amp dedicated lines.

Sean makes some wonderful recommendations for a subpanel with a mix of 15 and 20 amp circuits. Bob Bundus (I hope I spelled that right) is extremely knowledgeable as well. Do a search on "dedicated line" and enjoy! Hope that help.

Mitch, check your local codes. Typical residential circuits are 15 and 20-amp for general power and lighting. Almost everywhere I know of you are not permitted to have more than one receptacle on a circuit rated greater than 20-amps. Not only that, a 30-amp branch circuit requires a 30-amp receptacle. Your conventional power cord plugs rated at 15 and 20 amp will not fit in a 30-amp receptacle.

No matter how power hungry your equipment is, they are all UL listed. This means that they are safe to operate in conventional 15 and 20-amp straight blade receptacles. And safety entails operation at peak performance.

Remember, the rating of a circuit is to protect it from overheating to the point of creating a fire hazard. Increasing wire size for a given current draw only reduces the voltage drop along the path. By going from a 20-amp #12 wire to a 30-amp #10 wire, the voltage drop only decreases by 0.024-volts per foot. Even if you have a 100-foot run, thats a 2.5-volt drop to the outlet; something a well designed power supply can handle with no problem. All day long.