Nuisance tripping of AFCI circuit breaker by inrush of current when turning on amplifiers

It's not that bad a job, but for me it was time consuming both times I did it, and the second time I dropped some new circuits down to a new location (a couple of years ago) I had learned a lot more than the first time I did it about 30 years ago, so I went back to those original circuits I dropped in to tidy some stuff up, and some of the stuff I had done looked almost scary to me the second time around.  So anyway, I don't think it would be cheap to get an electrician to drop a new circuit in, but the benefit your system might derive from it's own dedicated circuit(s) might be worth it to you.

Anyway, what I meant to say but I forgot, was that I am pretty sure that putting a 20A breaker on a circuit made of wire smaller than 12 gauge would be another  reason that a homeowners company could use to void your policy in the event of a catastrophe.  

If you are going to rewire separate dedicated circuits, please read this from The Absolute Sound. It came out this month and is by Vince Galbo of Galbo Design and input from MSB Technology.  

HIs best advice is: I repeat: Be smart here, give this paper to a licensed electrician and let him do the work.

All the best,    
Nonoise

1- ARC-fault Circuit Breakers (and GFCI) age.

2- AFCI CB’s are often garbage out of the box.

3- replace yours with a NORMAL breaker, NON GF/AF if nowhere near water.

we JUST a month ago  passed final electrical inspection. the day before, the team of electricians finishing up pulled SIX  of the new/improved NEC-tech weenie designed “saving lives” models as, out of the box, they were failing, tripping repeatedly.

Interestingly, a month earlier, ONE of them tripped randomly and it happened to power our home alarm system. So for four weeks we had NO fire/flood/break-in protection. once the battery backup/UPS ran down.

But, NEC tech weenies say “mUh SaFEtee! dErP!”

The MINUTE after the electrician left, new Certificate of Occupancy sticker on the breaker box, I replaced THAT breaker with a NORMAL, NON GF/AF CB.

It’s your house, your decision. Spend another $100 for another AFCI type CB or more. Pays your money, takes your chances.

If you want to further test your equipment on another outlet, you don't have to drag all of your stuff to the other outlet. An extension cord will do.

Could be: 

1. Touchy old AFCI breaker - install new one (same brand), easiest fix

2. AFCIs need neutrals wired back to the same breaker the hot came from. If not, they'll trip all the time. But if a big vacuum cleaner or power tool doesn't trip it, it's likely wired ok.

3. Overcurrent - you need a 20A circuit installed.

Let us know what the electrician says. Good luck!