Dedicated circuits

It would appear that many many people on this site, while knowing a lot about stereo equipment, don’t have a real grasp on basic principles of electricity. A circuit breaker is a saftey device that limits the maximum flow of current draw on the individual circuit. A 20 amp breaker will trip if a sustained draw exceeds 20 amps. Its actually suggested a breakers reliable safe constant draw is 80% of it’s rating. 20 amp breaker can safley handle a constant draw of 16 amps without tripping. Momentary spikes well above 20 amps are not likely to cause an issue. The gauge of your wire is rated for the maximum current it can safley handle without overheating and becoming a fire hazard in your home. 12 guage wire is rated for 20 amp srevice. Again, momentary spikes are not an issue. The total current/amperage draw of your total system, running on the same circuit, determines your power needs. Many will be surprised at how little current your system actually requires. Especially if it’s solid state equipment. For example, I have two Hegel H30 mono blocks , 1150 wstts per side @ 8 ohms, two Rel S/812 subs, PrimaLuna Evo 400 Tube Preamp, and either a turntable + phono preamp or an Esoteric SACD player in the mix. I must need at least an 8 guage dedicated line on a 30 amp breaker, or better yet two dedicated 10 guage lines, each on 20 amp breakers? How about one decicated 12 guage line on a 15 amp breaker. The total current draw on my system, playing as loud as you like, is less than 3 amps. There is no momentary draw that is going to starve my amps, which are solid down to 1 ohm, into clipping or failing to perform to thier max. While over building our power supplies may make us feel good, or even make us believe we are hearing better sound, what we know as confirmation bias, the accepted laws of electricity say it ain’t so. Your equipment only draws the current it needs. Having 5 times that amount hypothetically available doesn’t change a thing.

I would like to hear peoples recommendations on duplex receptacles, compatible with isolated ground circuits.

@bigtwin 

+1

Very good comments. I have been an advocate of high quality AC power for audio components for a long time. I have also recognized that the need for ultra high current capability is grossly exaggerated when discussed on audiophile forums. People take it too far and over the top.

You and @dpop provide very rational examples and explanations as to why there’s no need or supportive evidence to go overboard with regard to having sufficient amounts of electrical current available. The “headroom “  argument can be over inflated.

Charles

I, too, waited too long to upgrade the electrical path.  Skeptical of SQ improvement.  Well worth it.  Hearing is believing.  Especially if your system is true to the source.

Voltage drop allowances are not even a NEC requirement, I know I've had voltage drop with my system when I used a carver subwoofer for a short time, even with 20 amp dedicated circuits using 10awg wire.