Wiring 2 outlets to 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits with a single 10/3 electrical wire.
Here's an idea (and it is code compliant), using one 10/3 romex electrical wire (three insulated conductors, and a bare ground wire - 10 gauge), you can wire two outlets to a double pole breaker (and yes the legs would not be the same, which on a quiet electrical system is not a big deal).
In this situation, 2 hot wires from the outlets would be wired directly to each of the circuit breakers, the neutral would be bridged between the two outlets and then connected to the appropriate spot on the panel, and the grounds for each outlet would be attached to the single ground wire that goes back to the panel. This would all appear within a quad outlet wall panel (ie. Two 20 amp outlets side-by-side)
For a long 70 foot run this seems prudent thing to do, less costly and kosher.
I would agree with that. I try to do electrical the way people who know tell me it should be done even if I don't understand why. |
@rbertalotto said:
Yes to all the above. A true dedicated branch circuit does not share a raceway, (conduit), or cable with other branch circuits. Current carrying conductors from one branch circuit can induce a voltage onto the conductors of other branch circuits. Therein if there is noise on one circuit it could be induced, transferred, onto other circuit(s). Same reasoning is used for keeping parallel running Romex dedicated branch circuits spaced apart, away, from one another. That includes keeping audio dedicated branch circuits spaced away from existing parallel running branch circuits. Especially Lighting branch circuit using dimmers and or LED lights...
It has been an accepted norm for years multiple audio equipment dedicated circuits should be fed from breakers fed from the same Line, leg.
Also for reasons stated in this thread. / / /
FWIW, my guess would be most audiophiles have more than one dedicated branch circuit installed to help decouple the power supplies of equipment from one another. Especially digital equipment from analog equipment. Also SMPS from linear power supply analog equipment. Add up all the equipment FLA, VA, wattage, in most cases the combined total load of all the equipment is less that 8 to 10 amps, 960W to 1200W. 80% of a 20 amp circuit is 16 amps, 1920 watts.
As for this:
I would not deliberately twist Romex. Doing so will change the lay, geometry, of the way the bare equipment ground wire is placed between the Hot and neutral current carrying conductors. Altering the placement of the bare ground wire between the Hot and neutral current carrying conductors may cause a greater chance of an induced voltage onto the ground wire causing 60Hz ground loop hum and or 60Hz buzz. When you read where it is recommended to twist conductors together that is for single Hot and neutral current carrying conductors that will be installed in a raceway, conduit. The insulated equipment ground conductor is installed straight along side the twisted pair. I would recommend 10/2 MC, (Metal Clad) aluminum armored cable over NM sheathed Cable,(Romex). The Hot, Neutral, and insulated green equipment ground, conductors are tightly twisted in a spiral the entire length of the MC cable. The aluminum armor tightly holds the twist of the conductors together. The aluminum armor also helps reject RFI. Integrating Electronic Equipment and Power ... - Ground OneRead pages 11,12, 13 / / / /
A Licensed Electrician is recommended for the installation of MC cable. It’s not for a layman to install. The AL armor must be properly cut to expose the insulated conductors for make up to the box connector. Proper methods must be followed so as to not damage the insulation covering the conductors when removing the AL armor. A red UL approved pvc insulator must also be properly inserted/installed between the AL armor and conductors. Hire an Electrician... . |
it’s the push/pull activity along the hot wires that affects the return of any current to the neutral. Because each leg for the double pole breaker is not in the same phase with the other Circuit it creates a push pull current flow across the outlets. And any imbalance between the current draw from either outlet goes through the neutral - sort of like relieving the pressure I guess. Which basically means you have current flow going to the first outlet along the Hotwire and then current crosses over to the second outlet by way of the neutral wire which connects the two outlets, and then the hot wire from the second outlet has current flow back to the 2nd breaker of the double pole breaker. It is a circular flow back to the panel in this double pole configuration |
mwh777 create I totally disagree with your comment about electricity 101. To say that people should be somewhat educated about electricity before they ask merit filled questions is disappointing. It’s my view the answers should be structured in layman terms. Otherwise how are the common folk people supposed to understand it. It’s still troubling that the flow of electricity through a multi branch circuit is still confused. the nature of how the Circuit flows back to the panel on the second hot wire is difficult to understand for us layman without a better understanding of the push pull activity due to different phases on the circuit panel. Further, when there are imbalances in Energy demand from the two outlets, as there always is, how does this impact the return flow back to the panel in light of the different phases used for each outlet. This can be confusing for us Laymen and while I think I sort of understand it, it is still a little bit foggy. |
