Why Expensive power Cables when Romex behind Wall?

OK, guys. I can stifle my comments about some of the arguments presented here but this "hospital grade" stuff is over the top. How many of you really know what "hospital grade" means?

Simply put, "hospital grade" refers to:
(1) Current carrying capacity--not required to be excessive, just consistent with the power demands of the device to which it is connected. I.e. a "hospital grade" outlet on a 20 amp circuit must be capable of carrying 20 amps at a 100% duty cycle without overheating.
(2) Strain relief--sufficient to assure that if the plug is jerked from the outlet by pulling on the cord the wires will not detach from the plug and create a shock hazard.
(3) Freedom from leakage--microshock is a major concern when dealing with pacemakers (for example) thus leakage must be very, very low.
(4) Adequate grounding capacity--which many audiophiles then turn around and defeat.
(5) Assurance of power transfer from outlet to plug--accomplished by wide plug blades and outlet contacts with sufficient spring loading to assure that the contacts make tight contact with the blades. No gold, no silver, just good honest brass.

Nothing, repeat NOTHING about the "hospital grade" designation bespeaks any kind of rfi or emf protection, filtering capability, exotic capacitance or inductance characteristics, "oxygen free" copper, special conductor configurations, rocket-science dielectrics, or other esoteric properties claimed for high end power cords. The sole concerns are safety, reliability, abuse tolerance, and durability.

"Hospital grade" in audiophile circles is primarily a marketing mantra. Just wanted to clear the air a bit.

will (with 30+ years in healthcare)

References:
Underwriters Laboratories Standards UL 2601-1, UL 1778, UL 1363, UL 1449
National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code 101

With respect, Sugarbrie, your observation is (1) not correct and (2) not directed to the point I was making. There is no legal or regulatory definition of the term "hospital grade." The way that one COULD get into difficulty would be to advertise that a cord met the various UL or NFPA standards that I mentioned when, in fact, it did not. I suppose it is remotely conceivable that one could face a suit for false or misleading advertising based on the common usage of the term but for someone to bring such a suit against an audiophile vendor would be hugely improbable. De minimus non curat lex.

But that wasn't my point. My point is that the term "hospital grade" implies nothing of audiophile interest other than heavy wire and good quality terminations. It has nothing to do with the esoteric properties often claimed for audiophile power cords.

I'm NOT talking down high-end power cords; don't get your knickers in a twist about that. I'm just informing people of what "hospital grade" means. And, perhaps more importantly from a sonic perspective, what it does not mean.

As to the Taiwan cords, ignore their use of the term "hospital grade" and see if, in the small print, they assert that the cords meet the UL and NFPA standards. That's what really counts.

will

Different wire guages, certainly, and different types of insulation so that some must be run in conduit, other run in open, etc. depending on local codes.

We're absolutely in agreement on this point: Buy what you can hear.

will

Psychicanimal,

Would you please provide references/documentation for this statement: "It's in the very last feet that the electric particles/waveform gets shaped prior to entering the audio component."

Don't hear more than I'm saying. I'm not challenging the statement, I just want to know its scientific basis, as opposed to the opinion of the individual that makes and sells the cords.

Many thanks,

will