15 amp vs 20 amp - how do they interchange

[Bikeman71]

I'm going to expose my complete lack of understanding in regards to basic electricity and it's relationship to audio, but this is my first venture into using 20 amp.

Situation:

I have a 15 amp Running Springs Haley on the way with 6 outlets. After reading a few other power related threads on here, I started to recognize the results possible with dedicated 20 amp lines. I went out to our circuit breaker and found that the microwave has a dedicated 20 amp line. The cool thing is, the box is located inside the cabinets above the range hood....and the kicker...the box is perfectly located on the same wall (other side) to my system. So, it would be as easy as punching a hole through the hidden drywall on the kitchen side, dropping a 3 meter cord straight down, punching a hole in the listening room side, and plugging it into the Haley. I can plug the microwave into another 20 amp socket (although not dedicated) and voila, I have a dedicated 20 amp line in a rental house without having to call out the electrician.

So, the questions:

Any issue with plugging the 15 amp Haley into the 20 amp outlet?

If the above situation is a non issue, How would you configure my MC275, C2300, and MVP 881? All into the Haley? Or maybe get a high quality power strip that is getting the feed from the direct 20 amp and plug the Haley into it. Then the 2300 and 881 go into the Haley and the 275 goes directly into the power strip.

Ignore the equipment in my signature, it's all in a state of major overhaul.

Thanks in advance!

Brent

[Mikado463]

punching holes, running cords through walls (absolute no-no), all of which I'm not sure of what you're trying to say.

Here's the simple answer, get a qualified electrician and run a dedicated 20 amp service from your breaker box to your audio……..while your at it…run two !

[jdandy]

Brent.......The idea has merit, unfortunately what you want to do is against the National Electrical Code which requires a fixed appliance (microwave) to be on a dedicated circuit, not a shared circuit. In addition to that code requirement, any power cords installed inside a wall must be rated for such installation.

You may remember my comment about liability from adding a circuit to property that does not belong to you. You are increasing your exposure with additional liability by performing any electrical work that does not comply to NEC requirements or flagrantly violates these regulations. Ask yourself this, can I personally pay for any damage to this apartment or the entire building? Furthermore do you wish to be held directly responsible for any loss of life should a catastrophe take place from the electrical alterations you performed? It would not take a savvy insurance investigator long to figure out the cause of a fire from a jury-rigged circuit if it should go up in flames. Electricity can be very dangerous and destructive. Only a qualified licensed electrician should be allowed to make changes or additions to an electrical system.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Brent.......The idea has merit, unfortunately what you want to do is against the National Electrical Code which requires a fixed appliance (microwave) to be on a dedicated circuit, not a shared circuit. In addition to that code requirement, any power cords installed inside a wall must be rated for such installation.

You may remember my comment about liability from adding a circuit to property that does not belong to you. You are increasing your exposure with additional liability by performing any electrical work that does not comply to NEC requirements or flagrantly violates these regulations. Ask yourself this, can I personally pay for any damage to this apartment or the entire building? Furthermore do you wish to be held directly responsible for any loss of life should a catastrophe take place from the electrical alterations you performed? It would not take a savvy insurance investigator long to figure out the cause of a fire from a jury-rigged circuit if it should go up in flames. Electricity can be very dangerous and destructive. Only a qualified licensed electrician should be allowed to make changes or additions to an electrical system.

Great advice, Dan.

The NEC is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) so what Dan is saying about a fire catastrophe caused by non-compliant wiring rings the bell.

[Bikeman71]

Thanks, guys! I knew this was the right place to ask. I guess my mistake was not seeing the difference between a 3 meter WW silver cable on the floor as opposed to having a section in-between the drywall.. What about the common practice of TV power cords being run into the wall at the unit and back out near the floor to hide all the cords. Is this also a no-no?

So, what about the 15 amp RS Haley plugged into a 20 amp socket. Benefits?

[cma29]

Originally Posted by Bikeman71

Thanks, guys! I knew this was the right place to ask. I guess my mistake was not seeing the difference between a 3 meter WW silver cable on the floor as opposed to having a section in-between the drywall.. What about the common practice of TV power cords being run into the wall at the unit and back out near the floor to hide all the cords. Is this also a no-no? So, what about the 15 amp RS Haley plugged into a 20 amp socket. Benefits?

Plugging a 15-amp device into a 20-amp socket should be ok. Essentially you'll have spare current capacity which is fine. Think of amperes as the amount of water flowing through a pipe. With 20 amps the "pipe" has a bigger diameter and thus can carry more water even if you don't need all of it.

What you don't want to do is to plug a 20-amp device into a 15-amp socket because the circuit will overload and in a worst case scenario, overheat and possibly cause a fire.

[jdandy]

Brent.......An alternative has come to mind. If the circuit to the microwave junction box is in conduit back to the panel, you could have an electrician fish in an additional circuit through that conduit to the microwave junction box, then have the remaining length of the dedicated circuit routed from their to where you need it using metal clad wire (MC cable) to the dedicated outlet location. MC cable is rated for in-wall installation. You will still be adding a circuit to an apartment that is not yours but at least the installation will then meet code.

[kamiraa]

Originally Posted by cma29

Plugging a 15-amp device into a 20-amp socket should be ok. Essentially you'll have spare current capacity which is fine. Think of amperes as the amount of water flowing through a pipe. With 20 amps the "pipe" has a bigger diameter and thus can carry more water even if you don't need all of it.

What you don't want to do is to plug a 20-amp device into a 15-amp socket because the circuit will overload and in a worst case scenario, overheat and possibly cause a fire.

In regards to safety, that's what breakers are for. If you plug a 20 amp device into a 15 amp one, you MAY trip the breaker. It just depends how much current the 20 amp device is actually going to demand upon startup and use. Overall, its just a bad idea, but if your breakers are sized per the wiring you will not have a safety concern.

Now as for plugging a 15 amp device into a 20 amp outlet. It's a GREAT idea. Here is the reasoning, your 20 amp circuit needs to be wired with higher gauge wiring from the service breaker box. So you will have higher current capacity on that wiring for peak demands.

The same way a lot of people spend THOUSANDS of dollars for cabling from the wall to the audio device, you should think about the other side of the circuit (behind the wall).

The outlet to breaker (behind the wall) should be comprised of cable greater than or equal to the power cord you are installing from the outlet to device, or you are just wasting your time.

For example, if you go install a very nice power cord that is 10 gauge effective size, you should make sure your wiring behind the wall is 10 gauge or bigger (8, 6, etc). Otherwise the benefit is diminished.

I've seen a lot of people run these massive cords in older style homes which it's guaranteed the in wall cabling is junk (small gauge or bad material).

One of the best things anyone can do to establish their audio system is have an electrician come out and run new and extremely thick gauge power cable as a "home run". This means direct from the breaker to the room, with no intermediate paths. Finish up the termination with a higher end outlet to maintain the integrity of the electrical path. Then use higher end cabling.

Such a small change can make a massive difference to your electrical integrity.

If you want to go one step further, you can install a new sub-panel, and keep all noisy loads (fans, air conditioning, microwave, refrigerators, lighting, etc) off it.

[rlw3]

My new 20 amp line sounded bad when brand new. I used a big fan while at work for several hundred hours because it was easy to do

[Allan W.]

Do yourself a favor. If you have a questions regarding your homes electrical system consult an Electrical Professional, such as a local Licensed: Electrician, Electrical Contractor or Electrical Engineer.