I do not think that twisted pair is code, at least not in the US.
15A vs. 20A power cord questions
I rather not upgrade the power cables at this time. I would like to see the effect the dedicated lines and outlets have first. Are there any issues with running 15A power cords into a 20A outlet and line? Would a 20A power cord possibly sound better or is it just a matter of the blade orientation?
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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 |
I would agree, for a 20 power cord.
Again, I would agree with your above statement.
And again I agree. But what if the manufacture of a CDP installed a 20 amp IEC male connector on the back because he believes the 20 amp IEC connectors connection is better than a 15 amp IEC connectors and the FLA on the piece of equipment is, say, 2 amps. If he supplies the power cord for the amp The IEC female connector will naturally be 20 amp and I can guarantee the male plug will be a NEMA 5-15P (15 amp) plug. The conductors of the cord who knows. Could be #14, it could be #16 gauge. Because it has a 15 amp male plug, and the conductors are 16 gauge can you truly call that a 15 amp power cord? See that’s the problem with IEC connectors. There isn’t any real standardization. They are not idiot proof. What happens if the user someday finds it in his odds and ends box and uses it on a big Krell power amp, (he just bought used that didn’t come with a power cord), that has a 20 amp IEC connector on the back of it. Must be ok to use. It plugged in the back of the amp and the plug plugged into the wall 15 amp duplex receptacle. If the cord is 6ft long and the wire is 16 gauge because of the VD + heat that will be generated by the connected load to the hot and neutral conductors add that to a possibly long length of the in wall #14awg branch circuit wiring there is a chance the current passing through the 15 amp circuit breaker may be less than 15 amps. In that case the breaker could very well not trip open.
Well not in the sense power consumption meaning it can deliver more power than the branch circuit can deliver but it is possible depending on the wire size used in the cord and the connected load VD, voltage drop, could be a factor, there in limiting power to an amplifier. Even if the fuse is a slow blow 8 amp fuse it will easily pass short spurts of current draw well exceeding the fuse’s 8 amp rating if the power amp is being driven hard playing high dynamic music. Best regards, Jim |
I am an easily confused old man. My Atma-Sphere MA-1 140 watt tube amps use 5 amp fuses. When I look at these fuses, the wire connecting one end to the other is absolutely tiny. At my age I need reading glasses to see it. Yes it is that thin. This is the conduit through which the electricity flows. All the electricity. The question I have: do you have an isolated ground with this dedicated 20amp service?. This involves running a new wire outside, connected to a new copper rod, and having that rod driven into the ground, deep. |
LOL, there is a lot more to many aftermarket power cords than merely the size of the conductors used. Nothing posted thus far has addressed any of that. >>>>>>>>>>>> Here is a quote from a post from Ralph, of Atma-Sphere:
End of quoted material. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Agon thread Link: <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< As for the use of an isolated earth ground rod, that’s a no, no. The purpose of the safety equipment ground is to provide a low resistive path for ground fault current to return to the source. Mother earth is not a low resistive path. If the earth is used as a path for ground fault current, and there is a ground fault event, the area around the earth driven ground rod works great for hunting fish worms. The earth does not possess some magical mystical power that sucks nasties from an audio system. |
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