No problem. A 20 amp circuit is 2400 watts. What are you going to plug into the outlet? I doubt it would use more than 2400 watts!
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I’m trying to evaluate the benefit of having 2 20 amp circuit breakers feeding into a double outlet positioned behind a quad outlet plate (ie, a multi branch circuit) vs. Modifying it to a double outlet being fed by 1 20 amp circuit breaker. Do I lose that much by making this change in terms of reduced noise benefit? In light of the multi branch circuit not really being 2 dedicated circuits, does it matter very much if I power of those double outlets with one 20 amp circuit breaker versus a double pole configuration (ie. 40 AMps total). I don’t really need 40 Amps of power and while 2 dedicated circuits would be highly preferable I’m not sure existing multi branch configuration I have is achieving anywhere near what 2 dedicated circuits would achieve. So why not free up panel availability by just having one circuit breaker Power the double outlets. I still have 10 gauge wire feeding it so the benefits of that are still there. Then I could take the leftover 20 amp circuit breaker and wire to another location in the house which also has a listening room and create a new dedicated Circuit into this room. |
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Until quite recently I was using three 20A circuits to fed three duplex outlets with four pieces of gear on them. I did the experiment of putting all four pieces of gear on one 20A circuit & tripped the other breakers to ,off (when I listen there is nothing else operating on that leg of the breaker panel) and although it is not a kick-in-the-balls change, I do believe I prefer the single 20A system. Prior to performing the above experiment I was not predisposed to believing I would like one more than the other. As a matter of fact I was hoping that I would like the three 20A system better. Of course, you didn’t ask about three circuits vs one circuit, you did ask about two vs one, and I did not try my system on two. |
Immatthewj I'm a little confused on this point. You had all your gear on one dedicated line versus having it spread around to 3 dedicated lines. I understand not much of a difference which may speak to nature of the gear and your system and overall electricity quality. But I think most might prefer the three dedicated line approach if you can do it. |
@jumia , I was inclined to think along those same lines. I read the thread that I am going to paste below and that is what got me interested in experimenting with one versus three circuits. In all fairness to the multiple circuit school of thought, JEA has previously provided advice on how the circuits should be routed and segregated from each other in the attic, wall, and panel, and in all honesty, I did not meet his criteria when I was stringing the Romex. But here is the thread I was talking about, and then I'll find the thread that JEA explains how he advises running multiple circuits.
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@jumia below is another thread in which I believe JEA talks about how he suggests running Romex. And deviating from his advice may have an effect on the sonic result of multiple circuits. You did mention how gear might have an effect on what I heard when doing 3 vs 1 experiments, and maybe it would, I don’t know. I am running a Cary SLP-05 in front of a Cary V12, in front of a pair of B&W 805s supplemented with an old M&K powered sub, interconnects by Kimber Silver Streak and biwired (I think, but it was a long time ago) Kimber 6TC and 8TC.
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That seems to be the main argument for having multiple dedicated circuits. In the first thread I pasted, MC doesn't subscribe to that logic. In the second thread, Eric Squires suggests one circuit but with a device to isolate digital. (I haven't done that yet.) I had thought that having separate circuits would better isolate them, their power draw, from one another. Again, MC refers back to what they all share in common--the neutral/ground bar at the panel. I don't have a good enough grasp of electricity to understand the theory involved, but I do feel I recognized an incremental improvement when I put all four of my components on one duplex. |
. . . oh, but the answer to this would be ’yes.’ You could use a strip, a power conditioner, or you could connect your two duplexes (which were on the same 20A circuit) with Romex. (And I see no reason that one 20A circuit shouldn't be able to handle all your gear.) |
It's not about availability of power to meet all the needs of the audio gear, which is generally not very much. I had 2 600 W mono blocks, a 5 channel amplifier, tv, AV processor, preamp, Power conditioner, a few lights, modem, router, weather station and a couple network switches all living off of a 15 amp circuit with lots of room to spare I believe. Sounds good. Then I added 2 dedicated circuits with 10 gauge wire for all the audio gear and it has been noticeable in a very favorable way. It's about the clarity and isolation of the electricity and making sure less restricted Power availability is always there which is enhanced with a higher gauge electrical wire.
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I have not once made any claims whatsoever to have a real tight grasp on this subject, and when I ran three dedicated lines it was because I perceived things as you stated above. However, there does appear to be two points of view on this subject, and one of those POVs seems to feel that what happens at the neutral/ground bar with multiple circuits is not desirable. In my own recent experience, I believe that I am preferring what I am hearing by only using one circuit. However, with that typed, I do intend on listening on all three dedicated circuits again to see if I actually do hear degradation, no change, or an improvement. But not tonight. |
. . . and it might not be the multiple circuits and the 10 gauge wire that made the improvement . . . it might be all the crap that you got off of the audio circuit(s). |
But @curiousjim , I must ask: how DO you know this?? @jumia , now I am the one who is confused. This, below, indicates that you have two multibranch circuits, not two dedicated circuits?
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Yes, you can do it. Wiring one quadplex outlet on one branch circuit is the same as two duplexes on one branch circuit. The quad give you the convenience of plugging everything at one location and, more importantly, at one ground point. A dedicated circuit means the circuit is dedicated to the audio gear -- not the receptacle. Multiple receptacles on one dedicated circuit has the disadvantage of having multiple ground points, increasing the chance of ground loop hum. This is why it's not a good idea to have one receptacle for each piece of audio gear. A point to keep in mind is that standard receptacles are rated for 15-amps. This is why continuous loads such as space heaters and hair dryers are rated at 1500 watts, or 12.5 amps, because it's 80% of the receptacle's 15-amp rating. Non-continuous loads such as audio amplifiers go over 1500 watts but it's okay to use a 15-amp receptacle because the time at the higher amperage peaks doesn't heat up the receptacle parts. A true 20-amp circuit has a 20-amp receptacle, which has a different blade configuration so a standard (15-amp) plug won't fit into it. You can recognize this receptacle as having a cross on the neutral blade -- to fit the up/down 15-amp plug neutral and the horizontal 20-amp plug neutral. So don't obsess over the "20-amp" circuit rating, because it's not 20-amps since the 15-amp receptacle is the weakest link. Plugging everything into one quad is fine. Removing the tab on the quad to install two circuits is a waste of money, unless you have a high power amp. Plugging a high power amp into it's own circuit ensures optimal performance into low impedance speaker loads and has no other advantage than that. |
Are we talking about the US? A 15A plug will fit into a 20A receptacle. The opposite is not the case.
There are many potential advantages to dedicated lines, regardless of speaker loads. |
Yes, absolutely. Audio Research, D’agostino, others. It’s not necessarily that they need the full 20A at 120VAC, but that the manufacturer recognizes the advantages of a 20A line, such as minimizing voltage drop. ARC used to ship preamps with 20A cords - obviously, no preamp needs a 20A line. Power conditioners and iso transformers often come with 20A cord and plugs. |
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If you had your choice between using 2 20 amp circuit breakers to power a Multi branch outlet configuration involving 2 duplexes, and a single 20 amp circuit breaker to power those same 2 duplexes, is there any benefit in having a second 20 amp circuit breaker involved? This assumes you don't need the additional power. Because a multi branch configuration is not really 2 dedicated circuits, why not just use one dedicated Circuit breaker to power the two duplexes. I am planning to remove one of the 20 amp circuit breakers and eliminate the multi branch configuration because I see no value in thie Second circuit breaker being used. Best to use it for a truly dedicated circuit elsewhere. |
I am not an electrician, but you have lost me on this: "Multiple receptacles on one dedicated circuit has the disadvantage of having multiple ground points" If these outlets are on one dedicated circuit, they all connect to the neutral/ground bar, at the panel, on the same equipment ground wire and on the same neutral wire. Right? If you had multiple dedicated circuits (one for each outlet, which is what I was doing in the past) THEN you would have "multiple ground points" (as you put it) AND multiple neutral wire connections. Right?
So what are you saying the option is? Some kind of strip or a power conditioner? Aside from the possible benefit of ’power conditioning’, how are either of those any different than having "Multiple receptacles on one dedicated circuit"?
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