15A vs. 20A power cord questions

asp307 said:
I have two wall receptacles for him to install. Should each one be on a different breaker? Do you run the 10-2AWG to each wall receptacle?

What were you trying to achieve by doing this? What have you achieved by doing this?

It’s up to you how many dedicated branch circuits you want to have installed for your audio equipment.

You can have just one installed and have the electrician install both duplex receptacles on the single dedicated branch circuit. If you go this route I recommend you have the electrician install a separate wall box for each duplex receptacle even though he will tell you it is cheaper to install both of them in a 2 gang box putting the duplexes side by side.

Problem with the duplex receptacles installed in a 2 gang box side by side is if you have any equipment or may have in the future that uses a wall wart. Most wall warts when plugged in covers part of the receptacle of the duplex receptacle next to it.

Something else to think about is the location of the wall receptacles.

Do you want them hidden out of sight? Problem with that they are a pain to unplug equipment from during a lightning storm, and even a bigger pain trying to plug them back in. Same problems if you want to experiment with different aftermarket power cords.

More than one dedicated branch circuit?

You said you all ready have 2 Furutech GTX-D 20A duplex receptacles.

Gold $234.99 each.

Rhodium $244.99 each.

And from what I have read about the amount of burn-in time required for the Rhodium receptacles a pre cooked duplex receptacle runs $264.99 each.

So the only additional cost for another dedicated branch circuit is the cost of the NM-B cable, the additional 20 amp circuit breaker, and a little more labor. As for the labor the only additional time involved is installing the NM-B cable, installing the 20 amp circuit breaker, and terminating the hot, neutral, and equipment ground, at the electrical panel.

Sounds like a no brainer to me. Install two dedicated circuits. One for each duplex receptacle. Someday you might add some digital equipment to your audio system.

asp307,

The question should be what impact will a 20 amp dedicated branch circuit have on the sound you hear from your audio system.

IF your audio system is now being fed from a 15 amp convenience outlet branch circuit, that more than likely is wired using #14awg wire.

Factors to consider:

Age of the existing branch circuit wiring?

What other loads are connected to the branch circuit? It’s not unusual to see lighting loads connected to the convenience outlet branch circuit as well. Any dimmers on the lighting of the branch circuit?

At what point in the length of the branch circuit run is the wall receptacle connected to the branch circuit? What is the length of the #14 gauge wire from the wall duplex receptacle to the electrical panel?

What is the wiring method used for feeding in and out of each outlet box for connecting the wall duplex receptacles to the branch circuit wiring? Is the in and out hot and neutral conductors jointed, connected, together and then pigtailed out for the duplex receptacle connection to the branch circuit? Or was the receptacles used as the connection junction point for the in and out hot and neutral conductor wiring? Was the side terminal screws used to make the connections, or was quick stab in the back side of the device used? What is the conductivity condition of the connections? Any corrosion?

What differences should you hear with the new 20 amp dedicated branch circuit using 10-2 with ground NM-B cable?

Lower noise floor.

Tighter deeper controlled bass.

Cleaner highs.

Fuller mid range.

More air, open sounding.

Just an all around better sound presentation from the power amp.

NOTE: If you bought the Rhodium receptacles I hope you bought them pre-cooked, burned-in. If not you probably will not like the sound you will hear from your audio system. Don’t blame it on the new 20 amp dedicated branch circuit. It will be the fault of the Rhodium plating on the contacts of the new receptacle not being burned in.

IF you have 2 dedicated branch circuits installed, when the electrician is finished with the job and the two circuits breakers are turned on have the electrician show you at the two wall duplex receptacles branch circuits, (with his volt meter), they are fed from the same Line, leg, from the electrical panel.