AC Power - two circuits better than one?

Salmonsc,

If the circuits are fed from the same leg you will measure zero volts from the hot slot contact of one branch circuit receptacle to the hot slot contact of another branch circuit receptacle. If you measure 240V between the two measured branch circuit hots, they are fed from opposite legs.

I doubt you will find that all 3 branch circuits are fed from the same leg. Might be though.... Good chance 2 will be. Use the dedicated 20 amp branch circuit as the starting reference point. Measure from the hot of the 20 amp dedicated circuit to each hot of the two convenience 15 amp branch circuits.

You can use a drop cord to extend one lead of the volt meter. Note the smaller length slot of the two slots is the hot conductor. You can verify by measuring from the smaller slot (hot) to the equipment ground (round hole) contact. You should measure 120V.
.

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?

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.
>>>>>>>>

What's the weather like?
COLD and snowy here in the Midwest!

.

I took the advice of Jea48 and switched the wires on one pair of breakers in the main panel box and that action put all of my equipment on one leg of the incoming power.
12-17-10:Puerto

Puerto,

Not sure exactly what you did..... With a 3 wire multi conductor circuit, (2 hot conductors, 1 neutral conductor), you cannot put both hot conductors on the same leg. They have to be on opposite legs.

With a multi conductor branch circuit only the unbalanced load returns to the source on the neutral conductor.

Example: If two identical loads were connected to each hot to neutral of, say, 5 amps each zero amps would return on the neutral conductor. The two loads would be in series with one another.

Example: If the two loads were 15 amps each, again zero amps would return on the neutral conductor to the source.
But if both hots are connected to the same leg, (two 20 amp breakers), 30 amps would return on the neutral.... That's a no no......

http://openbookproject.net//electricCircuits/AC/AC_10.html#xtocid139960

These circuits have three wires each - Hot, Neutral and Ground.
12-18-10: Puerto

Puerto,

If that is the case then you have 4 dedicated circuits.....
Each circuit has its own hot, neutral, and equipment ground.

Each of the (4) duplex receptacle has its own hot, neutral, and equipment ground conductors.

Total numbers of wires from the electrical panel to the audio equipment receptacles:
(4) hot conductors
(4) neutral conductors
(4) equipment grounding conductors

Correct?
.

Louislovesemy,

Sounds good except use 20 amp breakers instead of 15 amp.
Most audio grade receptacles are 20 amp. (NEMA 5-20R). Technically per NEC code a 20 amp receptacle can not be installed on a 15 amp branch circuit.