15A vs. 20A power cord questions
A 20-amp power cord must have 20-amp rated connectors on both sides along with #12 or larger conductors. If you have a cord that has #12 or larger conductors (or multiple conductors totaling over 12awg in area) but 15-amp connectors on either or both sides, it is still a 15-amp cord. Manufacturers usually call that a "high current" or "amplifier" cord but they cannot call it a 20-amp cord. If your equipment -- like most equipment -- has a 15-amp connector (C-14 receptacle) then you cannot use a listed 20-amp cord because it will not fit. The power cord will not affect the power consumption or current draw of the amplifier. Your amplifier's fuse will limit the current well below the 80% listed amp threshold for the power cord. |
gs5556 " ... If your equipment -- like most equipment -- has a 15-amp connector (C-14 receptacle) then you cannot use a listed 20-amp cord because it will not fit." Not necessarily - see the post from jea48. Some manufacturers use 20A cords on 15A gear - presumably to get a tighter connection from the 20A connector. ARC has done this. |
Code can be pretty quirky at times. After purchasing quantum tunneled Romex from Synergistic for my OR house job I found out that local code does not allow jacketed cable in conduit so my electrician had to strip the sheath and install the three separate runs, making sure to remember which direction to run the cable! In retrospect I think it would have been better not to install conduit, I understand that in general advice is not to use it in acoustically sensitive jobs. Unfortunately something I found out only after it had been installed. Oh well next time! btw the SR Romex is cheap and well worth considering. In my last room I used JPS labs cable which cost a ton, not sure I can claim to have heard a difference |
