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Dedicated Line ....... my system SUCKS

Hey there , actually my system sucks current. I have a pair of Cary CAD 500 monoblocks, Maggie 3.6 speakers with a Aesthetix preamp. I have had issues with amps shutting down . I am going to create a dedicated circuit for the above mentioned gear . I can do a couple of adjacent locations. Currently have a 15 amp line for the entire room . I am looking to those of you who have incite . what did you do to obtain the maximum amperage from the breaker box to the wall outlet ? did you notice a improvement ? this dedicated line of 10 gauge wire is only 12 feet to the outlet. It seems as if a 20 amp receptacle is the highest rating for a duplex outlet - I was going to install a 30 amp breaker but not sure if I would realize its potential. In closing , a note for those wondering , the amps were checked out by the manufacturer and are fine. the speakers are on 25 foot runs of Kimber 8tc. thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice. PS - I have been known to crank up the volume
lezdam
cathode
72 posts
 
One of the beautiful things about monoblocks is the ability to remove speaker cables from all equations (cost, sound, amp instability, etc). I have mine positioned behind my speakers such that the binding posts line up. Only need two inches of "cable" to make the connection.
lacee
811 posts
 
I use 10 guage romex, about 6 feet from the panel and I use 30 amp breaker.

All this for a two watt amp.

It's not overkill if it sounds great .
hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
417 posts
 
One thing to look at is the actual line voltage into the house.
You might only have 208v service. It is unusual to see such voltage but it is out there.
15amp service at 120v is capable of handling a 960 watt device. At 104v the 960 watts drops to 721 watts.
kirkus
502 posts
 
One thing to look at is the actual line voltage into the house.
You might only have 208v service. It is unusual to see such voltage but it is out there.
208 volts comes from wiring across two phases of 120v 3-phase service, which is only found in commercial buildings or larger apartment/condo buildings.

Of course one should never attempt to power electronics in this fashion. But for a dedicated 120v line, the wiring practices are equivalent (electrically) to residential "split phase" 240v service.
lacee
811 posts
 
Maybe the power amps aren't the best match for the maggies demanding load.

A lot of folks like to run them with high power solid state amps, and yet they were originally partnered with AR tube amps.

Are you running the correct transformer taps on the amps for the speakers?

And of course it could just be that you are not getting all the power you are paying for from the electrical company, especially in the summer months.

If you can, check the voltage from your receptacle (if you don't know how, hire an electrician) and then if it is below acceptable rating, call the electrical provider and ask them to check things out and up the voltage to your house.

Years ago I had a pair of Metner mono blocks that kept shutting down.
Ed fixed then twice, and had me do a check on the voltage and sure enough it was low.
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