What type of wire for dedicated 20A AC lines?


I’m about to have two 20A dedicated lines installed. What type of wire should I use? I know there are differences of opinion on whether to use 10 AWG or 12 AWG, however the link below makes a great case for using even 8 AWG solid core copper on longer runs like mine will be (50 ft), to ensure a lower resistance, lower voltage drop over the long run, and therefore more access to instantaneous current for my Gryphon Diablo 300. The wire would need to be stepped down to 10 AWG to connect with the receptacle. The article actually states that the thickness of the wire is more important than the fact that it is dedicated…

Assuming I want to follow this advice, which again makes sense to me, where would I find such wire to give to my electrician?

 

nyev

Showing 1 response by hilde45

I got some very good advice about dedicated lines, including from members here and from Chris Venhaus at VH audio. Here's a compilation of some of that advice.

If there are multiple dedicated outlets...

Wires between the breaker panel and the dedicated outlets:
same type
same size
same length
be continuous (ie, no splices). 
Identical wire lengths ensure that each outlet's ground path is identical and that no ground loops are created. 

Wire must be:
copper, not aluminum
be 10 AWG or thicker

If you run a Subpanel it should be:
powered by a single phase from the main panel
wiring between the main panel and the subpanel should be 8 or 6AWG

Breakers in subpanel feeding audio lines:
should be silver-tungsten (not copper) contacts
Use silver paste on the breakers' screw terminals
Use silver paste on the contacts in the AC outlets that attach to the wire
McMaster #1219K57 silver paste is ideal

All contacts between breakers and wire should be clean, tight, and treated with silver paste