2. tech-talk
  3. 1292118655

AC Power - two circuits better than one?

Reorganizing my system starting from the wall receptacles (rewiring is not a possibility) but quickly ran into a conundrum. Is it better to source power for my audio system from several different circuits or one dedicated circuit?

More info: I have three possible options. Two 15 amp circuits (1 shared with a couple of lights the other with several wall receptacles including a pc) & one dedicated 20 amp circuit (but with only one single duplex outlet). I have mono blocks, power amp, preamps, digital & analog audio sources, & digital HT gear.

Should I distribute my system across these three circuits or try & source them all from the single dedicated 20 amp outlet? If distribute, what kind of break down makes sense?
salmonsc
jea48
4,393 posts
 
I would assume that circuits 1 & 3 would be on leg 1 because they are odd numbers while circuits 2 & 4 would be on leg 2.
12-13-10: Puerto

Is the power that feeds your home 120/240Vac?
If yes do you have any equipment or appliances that use 240V? If yes check your panel you should see 2 pole breakers for the 240V equipment. (2 pole breaker takes two spaces.)

If that is the case then every other space down each side of the panel is the other Line, leg.

Line
L1 (1)......(2) L1
L2 (3)......(4) L2
L1 (5)......(6) L1
L2 (7)......(8) L2
ect.

Note: Twin breakers (slim) changes the ball game for the above example.
>>>>>>>>

What's the weather like?
COLD and snowy here in the Midwest!

.
salmonsc OP
66 posts
 
Jea48 Thanks, I don't want to get into the details but it's not possible - the outlet that's most convenient is part of a circuit that extends upstairs. In any event, it's not my house so reorganizing circuits on the breaker just isn't an option. I am going to load up the 20amp circuit as much as possible & divert the remainder to the cleanest 15amp circuit.
puerto
372 posts
 
Jea48: We do have 120/240 servicing the house. Our A/C units use 240V with 2 pole breakers. Thank you for that input, now I can figure out how to get the pair of monos and the APC power conditioner/battery back-up on the same leg.

Weather here is chilly at night in the low 60's and gets into the mid 80's during the day! It is definitely "sweater weather" once the sun gets low in the sky.

Thanks again to Salmonsc for the informative thread. I hope others can benefit from the comments above.
puerto
372 posts
 
Jea48: As a follow-up, you are correct, I checked voltages and circuits 1 & 2 are one one leg while circuits 3 & 4 are on the other leg. The question now is what is the best configuration for plugging in. I have three power cords (pair of monos and the APC) that must be plugged in. Right now I have the monos on circuits 3 & 4 (same leg) and the APC on circuit 1 (other leg). Is there a better way? I figure that the APC is so incredibly sensitive that having it on the opposite leg would probably be OK. Each circuit is 20 amp with only one receptacle.
puerto
372 posts
 
salmonsc: FWIW, I took the advice of Jea48 and switched the wires on one pair of breakers in the main panel box and that action put all of my equipment on one leg of the incoming power. It took about 10 minutes. You only have to switch the hot leads, not the neutral or ground wires because they are secured to common bars within your box.

Thanks for your thread and thanks to Elizabeth and Jea48 for their useful input.

Just thought you should know that switching circuits is not all that difficult. Just be sure to turn the WHOLE BOX OFF before making any changes.
More to discover