Dedicated Lines - 32 amps possible?


I no electrical expert and am planning to install 2 dedicated lines (220v, 32amps) each. Is this possible or overkill since almost everyone else is using 20 amps.

Here is my scenario:

Line 1 :
- Installed JPS AC power in wall cable (80 ft) from panel and will be used for power amps only.
- incoming power is 230v 63 amps, electrician already installed a separate MCB, ELCB, and i have the choice of installing either a 20 or 32 amp Type C breaker. This is seperate from the main box, he tapped the power out to the separate box.
- this line will run to an isolator near the equipment (basically it is a big ON/OFF switch). At this Isolator, this will split going into 2 x Duplex Furutech Gold Receptacles...
- amps used are McCormack 225 monoblocks and possibly Earthquake Grand Cinenova 5 channel...This amp has a 4kva trans inside which the dealer says, tends to trip breakers due to high current draw during start up..thus the 32 amp question...
- simplistic thought...since this line will split into 2 outlets, if all three amps are on, will the current draw be high enough to warrant the 32 amps or will 20 amps be enough..

Line 2:
- this is just normal Romex wire which is 6mm dia each (I think this is either 12 or 10 guage)...
- this is also running from the separate box that is installed...I have the option of either putting a 20 amp or 32 amp Type C breaker....
- this will also go to a separate Isolator that will go into a Furutech duplex receptacle...
- this outlet will be for the Hydra 8 that will connect the CD, DVD and Pre-amp....

Both lines are running together and because of the plastic trunking, there is a plastic separator between the cables....

So, should I go to 20 amp breakers or 32 amps...

Thanks for your advice.
teck5
You can use 32 amp breakers but there are two drawbacks I can see:

1.) They may not protect your equipment (trip quickly enough) in case of an internal component failure or partial short.

2.) You will have to use very heavy (and expensive) wire in the wall to comply with code requirements for 32A circuits, and then how do you connect 8AWG conductors to standard, even 20A, receptacle hardware?

If you are that worried about your amps tripping breakers, I think it would be more cost effective in the long run to give them each their own 20A circuit. By the way, even with 20A circuits, if you're 80 feet from the panel, there is going to be voltage drop. I suggest you go up one conductor size in the wall (like 8AWG instead of 10AWG) and then reduce it back down to 10 or 12 AWG in a make-up box near the outlets so it can be connected to the receptacles. (Remember, it's only a 20A circuit, so you ARE allowed to reduce the wire size down to code size before the receptacle.)
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the responses so far...Some of the codes may not apply as I am not in the US.

Jea48: i live in Singapore.

Basically the JPS cables are 10 Guage and my "Romex" type cable is also in the same range. These cables are able to take 32 amps....

So am i on the right track on should I just stick to 20 amps...

Thanks for the advice.
Grand Cinenova 5 channel...This amp has a 4kva trans inside which the dealer says, tends to trip breakers due to high current draw during start up..thus the 32 amp


4000 va divide by 230V = 17.39 amps. That amp should have its own dedicated circuit. That is if the amp will be on at the same time as the other amps. And with that said I doubt a 20 amp breaker would withstand the initial inrush current if the primary of the transformer does not have a soft start circuit.

Code in Singapore, I have no idea. In the US the largest breaker that could be installed on a branch circuit feeding a NEMA 5-15R duplex receptacle or a 5-20R receptacle is 20 amps.

What is the current rating for your receptacle, is it rated for 32 amps?

You really need to direct your questions to the electrician that did the electrical work for you.

Hi Jea48,

Thanks for the quick response..

Since I am running a separate box for these 2 lines (note that the main incoming is still 63 amps), my electician says that using 32 amp breakers are okay...this is also okay with our code since all is dependent on the incoming power. Please take a look at the link below...it has photos of the install...hope i downloaded it correctly..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tkchia5/album?.dir=873fscd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

He has installed Isolators near the receptacles, which is a big ON/OFF switch (which has and earth line), this will then run into the US style duplex outlets (115v 20amp)...see link below...a check with Furutech, say's that 230v 20 amps running through is not a problem...

As you can see from the photos....he has not terminated them to the furutechs as I am waiting for them to come...

http://www.furutech.com/produ_2.asp?ProdNo=73

As for the Earthquake amp, please take a look at the specs below...THis amp will be an add on later... have not yet decided to buy it...so if it proves to be too much that I will look for a less demanding amp...

http://www.earthquakesound.com/cng_5.htm

Hope this info helps....Thanks again...