AC Power - two circuits better than one?

Salmonsc: Thanks for this thread - I never realized this issue could arise. Without taking over your thread I would like to ask your respondents to comment on my situation - similar to yours.

I have 4 dedicated 20 amp circuits for the equipment including a pair of monos and an APC Power Conditioner for all the rest of the stuff. Circuits #1 and #3 are on one leg of the circuit breaker box and Circuits #2 and #4 are on the other leg of the circuit breaker box. The power conditioner is on Circuit #1 while the monos are on circuits #2 and #4 respectively. Have I created a potential problem for myself? Perhaps the monos should be both plugged into circuit #3?

Circuits #1 and #3 are on one leg of the circuit breaker box and Circuits #2 and #4 are on the other leg of the circuit breaker box.
12-13-10: Puerto

Puerto,

Most if not all electrical panels made in, at least, the last 25 years have the odd number breaker space on the left hand side of the panel and the even numbers on the right hand side.

If that is the case for your panel then 1 & 2 are connected to Line 1 (leg). 3 & 4 are connected to Line 2.
You can verify at the receptacles with a volt meter. (See above post.)

Line 1 and line 2 alternate down each side of the panel.

Are you sure you have (4) dedicated branch circuits an not (4) separate circuits?

Dedicated branch circuits have their own hot, neutral, and equipment grounding conductor.

Where as for a single phase electrical panel found in most houses two separate branch circuits can share a neutral and equipment ground. In this case the two hot conductors must be install on opposite Lines, (legs).

Did you install the 4 circuits or did you hire an electrician? Were 4 dedicated branch circuits installed?

Example, four 12-2 W/ground Romex (NM-B) or two 12-3 W/grd Romex?

Actually, I had an electrician in on Friday - but as I wrote in my original post, rewiring is not a possibility. It's a very old house & not mine.
12-12-10: Salmonsc

Salmonsc,

It really would not technically be considered rewiring. All that would be done would be to move a wire from one breaker space in the electrical panel to another space.

12-12-10: Elizabeth
Usually it is not problem to have video equipment on the same outlet, as most folks are not using both at the same time.
(Though I watch some Sunday football games with the sound off while listening to my stereo)
I have a huge pile of stuff on one 15 amp outlet, and do not have a problem.
IF I were you, I would put ALL the amplifiers/preamp/ receiver? on the 20. and everything else on the 15 and skip the last out of phase outlet.

Sounds like a good idea...... No doubt the 20 amp dedicated circuit will supply the best clean power possible. The 15 amp convenience outlet circuit the least....

Jea48 Actually I have 4 separate circuits (not dedicated branch circuits as you described). I live in Mexico and had an electrician do the work. I would assume that circuits 1 & 3 would be on leg 1 because they are odd numbers while circuits 2 & 4 would be on leg 2. Here they use multi-strand wire, not romex so I had them pull three 12 gauge multi-strand wires from each respective breaker to the corresponding receptacle. The three lines were for hot/neutral/ground. The ground is grounded directly to the (USA) standard 200 amp panel which, in turn, is grounded to 8' of copper rod with #8 gauge wire.

I would assume that circuits 1 & 3 would be on leg 1 because they are odd numbers while circuits 2 & 4 would be on leg 2.
12-13-10: Puerto

Is the power that feeds your home 120/240Vac?
If yes do you have any equipment or appliances that use 240V? If yes check your panel you should see 2 pole breakers for the 240V equipment. (2 pole breaker takes two spaces.)

If that is the case then every other space down each side of the panel is the other Line, leg.

Line
L1 (1)......(2) L1
L2 (3)......(4) L2
L1 (5)......(6) L1
L2 (7)......(8) L2
ect.

Note: Twin breakers (slim) changes the ball game for the above example.
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