High Current Outlet for Amps?


I am told to plug the power amp straight to the outlet rather than the power conditioner. Since I am remodeling my home so  I am going to have electrician to install the outlet, one outlet per amp and each outlet has individual circuit breaker. Then he asks me if I want 20amp or 30amp since I told him high current.

what do I need? 20amp or 30amp circuit breaker? Thanks. 
gr8av4life

Showing 1 response by handymann

I have two Krell 600 class "A" bias monoblocks, each plugged into a higher quality medical 20 amp outlets.  The cost for the high current outlet is about $20 at any Lowes.  I have seen $200 audiophile outlets advertised, but...that's another can of worms. Each independent line is connected to the same "side" of the breaker box.  This is important, as to assure no added phase problems.  I have all my other equipment going in to the same "side" of the buss, but use conventional outlets, as they are low amp draw components.  If you want to use #10 wire, it's your money and the cost vs #12 is negligible, but #12 should be sufficient, unless the wire run is extremely long.  As wire length gets longer, wire size may need to increase.  A 20 amp breaker will more than suffice and I believe is the largest breaker available, for a conventional single circuit "wall" outlet.  Be sure to always use the screw terminals on the outlet and make sure they're tight.  High amp draw, on a semi loose connection, can cause the outlet, wire and plug to degrade, as well as diminish your sound.  As far as protection of your equipment, whenever a bad storm comes, I physically unplug all my equipment, if I'm home and keep most of it turned off the rest of the time, to protect against possible high current surges.  Having said that, "almost" nothing can protect you from a close lightening strike, if your equipment is "plugged in."  I learned this the hard way.