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 3 responses by kijanki

It depends on the class of amplifier, as randy-11 stated.  With typical class AB amp music power is very low, being only a few percent of peak power (unless you listen to sine waves).   It is because average 50% of loudness is only 10% of peak power, not to mention any gaps.  In spite of low average current demand it is drawn is short spikes of very high amplitude.  For that reason any impedance in series (many conditioners) cause voltage drops and reduction in dynamics.
My power amp is plugged into high current outputs of Furman Elite 20PFi conditioner that is able to deliver 55 amperes peak current.  They call it Power Factor Correction.  It is achieved by huge inductor followed by big capacitor that stores energy.  From the mains it appears as resistive load (current spikes are filtered out - averaged).  I don't detect any loss of dynamics.
Krell recommends minimum 20A circuit. They specify 75W at standby, 350W at idle (whatever it means) and 3000W at max.  Pure class A amp would draw max power all the time, equivalent to 25A on 120VAC supply.
Outlets in my home are 15A style but all circuit breakers are 20A.  All outlets are wired with 12ga wires.  All light fixtures are wired with 14ga wire protected by 15A breaker.