AC Power Cord Wire Gauge

And my basic point, I guess, is that having no explanation is far preferable to having an incorrect one. Because the incorrect perspective that can result from an incorrect explanation can negate the value that good science and engineering CAN bring to the table.

Al, I'm down with that! And I'm a big fan of the physicist Richard Feynman, who has said many times that he's comfortable knowing there are things he can't know ;-) Punch him up on You Tube. But some people just HAVE to have an answer, even if it's a bit of a fairy tale. (I think they call it religion or something ;-)

In any case, so far, I've not found anyone who couldn't hear a consistent improvement (in their amplifiers that is) using larger conductors. Other components, maybe not so much (except DACs as I mentioned.)

But I do share your basic position, even though unlike Dr. Feynman, most folks won't be able to live with it.

Neil

Increased resistance in the house wiring, due to smaller gauge or greater length, will produce a voltage loss just as readily as in the power cord. And in fact most likely to an even greater degree (since the combined current draws of multiple devices are likely to be flowing through it, rather than the current draw of just one device, and voltage drop equals current times resistance).

Probably why many advocate dedicated circuits. I would start with dedicated circuits, as short a run as possible from the panel, then an adequate gauge power cord (the same gauge or larger than the romex) that is as short as practical.

Nsgarch, the biggest Fairy Tale in contemporary society is the belief in spontaneous generation of life apart from a causative agent. :)

One conversion I read is that 15 amps X 120 = 1,800 watts.

True in simple terms but there are other factors that come into play. Depending on the type and load placed on the branch circuit can effect the total amount of power, watts/VA that may be available. Just one example would be the voltage drop on the branch circuit caused by the amount of load placed on it.

Using your your formula amps X volts if the voltage drop on the branch circuit was say 5 volts then the total available power, watts, would be 15 amps X 115 volts = 1725 watts. Again in simple terms.

So, the first question is: If you plug a surge protector/power strip/power conditioner into one outlet in the duplex receptacle and then plug, say, four audio components into that "power strip" can they draw the full complement of AC power available..........?

Yes, provided no other loads are connected to the same branch circuit.

If you plug another component into the other outlet does it reduce the power available to the "power strip"?

The branch circuit ampacity rating is determined by the overcurrent device, breaker in this case, feeding the branch circuit. If the breaker is working properly when a continuous load reaches the breaker handle rating the breaker should trip open. Key word should.

Depending on the branch circuit wire size, # 14awg is the minimum size for a 15 amp branch circuit, and the total length of the branch circuit wire plus the total connected load will determine the voltage drop on the line.
In other words if the branch circuit length is long, as a continuous load of say 15 amps is approached the voltage drop could be sufficient to effect the sonics of your audio system....
Again in simple terms.

Some food for thought, in the case of a power amp, the load placed on the AC line can be fluctuating depending on the dynamic demand that is being placed on the amp. You could very well have spikes well above the 15 amp rating of the branch circuit breaker.

Simple terms? Throw in inductance, capacitance, harmonics, and what ever else that may be thrown into the mix and the whole thing changes.
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Check out what this EE has to say about power cords.
Some of Jon's explanations can also be extended to the size of the conductor, wire, used for a branch circuit run when it comes to voltage drop on the line due to the load placed upon it by the power supply/s of audio equipment.

Check out what this EE has to say about power cords.

Interesting writeup, Jea. Thanks for calling it to our attention.

Pretty much all of it rings true to me. And I think that he really manages to get across the notion that the perspectives most of us (both EE's and non-EE's) tend to bring to these issues are overly simplistic. And he provides some good insight into why stock power cords can be usually, or at least often, be expected to underperform.

He does not, by the way, address in any explicit way the issue of the benefits or lack thereof of using a power cord that is heavier gauge than the wiring inside the walls.

Putting aside his extensive technical verbiage, I would summarize his main points as follows:

Most house wiring is either 12 gauge or 14 gauge, while many OEM cords are 18 or at best, 16 gauge. Most OEM cords do not have shielding or any provision for reducing radiated EM fields, do not have premium AC outlet plugs or premium IEC plugs for better electrical contact at these junctions....

As always, the bottom line is: you have to listen for yourself, and see if their is any benefit for you, on your system, with your listening habits....

Some of the cord/cable manufacturers get carried away with using only the very finest materials and assembly techniques, carrying over the technology and costs from their high end audio interconnects and speaker cables. Is this necessary? I don't know, I will not discount it out of hand. Does it make the cords cost a lot? Yes.

Regards,
-- Al