Dedicated circuit's' ? or one dedicated circuit?

I have two dedicated circuits but use only one. The Acoustic Revive RTP-6 is essential and too expensive to have two. My amp is the 150 watt Exemplar Statement ss amp. It sounds better into the RTP-6 than into its own dedicated outlet.

An alternative to multiple dedicated lines, and the method I used, is a single 240V line fed to a subpanel and proper use of isolation transformers/power conditioners.

Isolation or step-down transformers can be had fairly cheaply. My big 5KVA cost only $100. Transformers can be tricky and may hum under some circumstances. Mine don't, but they can in some wiring configurations. There's a learning curve involved. Partially wired for balanced AC now.

I don't want to start a discussion about power conditioners but many are built around a transformer, usually toroidal. As I said, not going there.

North American 240V is dual 120V out of phase, which can cause other issues. The galvanic isolation of my TVC prevents most of those. Granted, my system is fairly unique but with nearly 3KW of amplification, it needed to be.

The 240 volt wall outlets are currently not being used for any equipment in the system. In the past they have powered several 240 volt amplifiers.

I'll make another attempt at describing the set up and breakers.

One of the two large (interior) main panels has a 50 amp breaker which supplies the (third) 240 volt sub panel. This 240 Volt panel currently supports only two outlets at the amplifier side of my system.

For only these two circuits, I choose the Hubbell twist-lock 30 Amp male and female, (unplated and cryo treated), which cannot accept 15 or 20 amp (120 Volt) household plugs. This eliminates the possibly of frying 120 Volt equipment.

The 240 volt sub panel has two additional 10 amp breakers, one for each of the available 240 volt wall outlets. All of these panels are Square D brand, commercial grade with copper bar and bolt in type breakers. The electrician used a torque wrench to install the breakers as specified.

If I did not make it clear this time, the VTL's have four separate breakers, one for each amp, and each rated at 20 amps at 120 Volts.

And yes, the two stage turn-on pair of VTL 750's still occasionally trip the breaker at start up. Perhaps I'll look into the longer lag time breakers Jim mentions. That could be valuable since these amps have such huge power supplies and large storage caps.

Actually I have two circuits designed for 240 volt Euro equipment that are wired with a 50 amp breaker. I did not request this, it's what the electrician provided.

Curiosity killed the cat. Could you give more detail?
Are the VTL Amps 240V?

Two 240V circuits wired with a 50 amp breaker.

Each?
Are these feeding two small sub panels?
>>

Even with each of my four VTL 750's on their own 20 amp breaker.

20 amp breakers fed from sub panels? Two 20 amp breakers for two VTL Amps, each sub panel?

Even with each of my four VTL 750's on their own 20 amp breaker, if I switch between first and second click (startup sequence), the breaker will trip.

Depending on the panel manufacture, Square D for one, make breakers with a longer lag time for inrush current. Ask you electrician to check into it for you.
Jim
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But, I am sure VTL recommends that each Amp has it's own separate dedicated 15 or 20 amp circuit.

If the unit draws 1300va then more than likely it came with a NEMA 5-15P or a NEMA 5-20P plug, on the end of the supplied power cord.

Two or more 15 amp receptacles can be fed from a 20 amp breaker, (provided the branch circuit wire is a minimum of #12 awg). A 20 amp receptacle must be fed by a 20 amp breaker minimum and maximum. It can not , I wouldn't, be fed from a 30 amp breaker......

Albert I am sure you did not mean, from your post, that it is ok to feed 15 or 20 amp rated receptacles from a 30 amp breaker. And I am sure that each of your VTL Amps have their own 20 amp dedicated circuit.

Actually I have two circuits designed for 240 volt Euro equipment that are wired with a 50 amp breaker. I did not request this, it's what the electrician provided. I assume it meets code because we got a green tag.

As for the VTL's, the point of my post was to say that even a 30 amp breaker (as wished for by creator of this thread) is inadequate for some systems. Autosports wrote that it was over the top, so I responded.

I have 12 dedicated 20 amp circuits plus the two 50 amp circuits. Even with each of my four VTL 750's on their own 20 amp breaker, if I switch between first and second click (startup sequence), the breaker will trip.

My understanding of electrical code is that the breaker, wire and outlet should be matched.

ONE single VTL 750 amp draws 11 amps, A pair (required for stereo) Draws 22 amps. I use four VTL 750's in my system, even a single 30 amp break would not support the amps, much less the rest of my equipment.
Albertporter

But, I am sure VTL recommends that each Amp has it's own separate dedicated 15 or 20 amp circuit.

If the unit draws 1300va then more than likely it came with a NEMA 5-15P or a NEMA 5-20P plug, on the end of the supplied power cord.

Two or more 15 amp receptacles can be fed from a 20 amp breaker, (provided the branch circuit wire is a minimum of #12 awg). A 20 amp receptacle must be fed by a 20 amp breaker minimum and maximum. It can not , I wouldn't, be fed from a 30 amp breaker......

Albert I am sure you did not mean, from your post, that it is ok to feed 15 or 20 amp rated receptacles from a 30 amp breaker. And I am sure that each of your VTL Amps have their own 20 amp dedicated circuit.

A 30 amp circuit will not trip until the load is so far up there that your equipment at the other end will be by that time toasted.

What if something is really wrong and you have a defective fuse...one that won't burn out?

Uour strip could fail and start a fire.

A 30 amp circuit will not be overkill if you are doing arc welding or running other heaviy industrial machinery. If you are simply running audio components, its way overkill.

Please visit this web site, then rethink your comment.

http://www.vtl.com/pages/mb750specifications.html

ONE single VTL 750 amp draws 11 amps, A pair (required for stereo) Draws 22 amps. I use four VTL 750's in my system, even a single 30 amp break would not support the amps, much less the rest of my equipment.

There are plenty of audiophiles with more equipment than me, not even touching on their HT system.

A 30 amp circuit will not be overkill if you are doing arc welding or running other heaviy industrial machinery. If you are simply running audio components, its way overkill.

how many things are to be plugged in? In my case I have 4 mono amps, digital, analog and electrostatics speakers--Therefore I put in 6 dedicated 20 amp circuits 1 for each amp and 1 for each power conditioner analog and digital.
Overkill but works great. The only need to increase wire size or go to 30 amps is for long runs. You probably can run 2 or 3 20A circuits for the price and hassel of 1 30A.

A 30 amp circuit is an overkill, as I doubt you will every draw anyware near that much current. The only reason to run a 30 amp circuit is to gain from the larger size wire. You can run that size wire with a 20 amp breaker and 20 amp outlets and get the same benefit.

Thanks guys for responding.

Ya, Sufentanil that is my goal - to keep it simple and more than anything - keep the potential for grounding problems to a minimium. That is the main reason I would run one bigger(30 amp)circuit - grounding.

I suppose 30 amps is over kill though, as every power distribution strip, balanced power, power conditioner, etc... is 20 amps. And apparently lots of folks plug all their stuff into one of those units and it works just fine.

I think probably what the guys that are running one 30 amp are doing is running the 30 amp into a 20 amp plug which I'm sure is not to code, but that's got to be what they are doing.

As I am coming to realize - running everything to 30 amp code would be a pain in the ass and a little unrealistic I suppose.

OK then. Thanks again for the responses

30 ampere outlets require very special 30A plugs. They're not common to see on typical audio equipment. I would use 20A circuits with 20A outlets; they are backward-compatible with 15A gear.

As to whether you should wire multiple ones, just keep in mind that different circuits might have a slightly different ground potential, and hence cause a ground loop (hum).

Michael

I agree with Lak ;;;Porter Ports too...I would suggest 3 lines...2 Analog and 1 dig.. You just need to know where and how far apart to make it work well....If you don't do 3 lines you will be kicking yourself later......

No doubt about it in my mind; several separate dedicated circuits to your audiophile quality outlets and keep the digital gear on its own circuit.
There are dozens of other posts asking similar questions in the Audiogon forums. I suggest you do a search.
I would also suggest at least two dedicated circuits and use the Porter port outlets, somewhat inexpensive ($36/each) but well built and cryo’d.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?raccs&1065488253&openfrom&1&4#1