It would have been really sweet to run a parallel 10ga Romex and charge for tickets to demos of the improvement...
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?
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@jea48 Look, I don't know how old any of poster's houses are or if they are wired with cloth-covered wire or built in 1930 or whatever, and I am sure there are reasons that exist for some upgrades, etc. in some situations. Also, if you think running a "dedicated" wire of some specific material to your home stereo will help it sound more like a live concert hall experience, who am I to tell you it doesn't? Or adding a voltage regulator or whatever else your electrician tells you to do. I guess if I had a pair of Audio Research Reference 750 SEL amps, I might be tempted to look into the power requirements from my panel to the amps. What happens BEFORE the panel, well, I guess calling FPL down here would get me lots of help (laughing--they don't actually talk to customers). However, as a former dealer, I can tell you that every electron I ever interviewed was non-committal about their traveling preferences along signal or power wires, so I can only base my POV on that. Same for "directional" patch cords made out of elemental silver or titanium with solid gold ends...OK, gold ends do make a difference in corrosion...that cost $100,000/meter are wonderful for bringing out that 3rd chair violin, I am sure. Whatever brings that orchestra into your listing room is fine with me,I guess. I wonder what the rock bands require power-wise in the auditorium where their concerts are recorded live? Not that the recordings are "managed" before they are released, of course... Cheers! |
If the UL listed "whatever your plugging in" draws less than 20 amps 12/2 is great. There will be no voltage leakage from a 50 foot run, 500 feet maybe. It depends on what else is on the circuit Since these are dedicated circuits there is no need to worry about enough amperage or voltage. Cleeds you are wayyyy off base. Whether it is 12 awg THHN in a conduit or 12/2 Romex doesn't matter. If it is a 20amp circuit, 12/2 always meets NEC Code. |
To chime in on an update. I’ve since engaged @kingrex ’s services to spec out my AC lines and other fixes for my electrician to follow. Rex has been doing this for years and as he said above, I’ve since learned that it goes way, way beyond just the gauge of the wire… Here is what Michael Fremer of Stereophile said about Rex working with Garth Powell of Audioquest, when they and others joined forces to resolve Michael Fremer’s AC issues:
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Read p31ff here https://centralindianaaes.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/indy-aes-2012-seminar-w-notes-v1-0.pdf and call us back. |
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