What is a 20 Amp circuit ?




I have ran 3 dedicated lines in my house for the stereo from the panel. I have 200 amp service in the house. Are these lines 20 amp?

I am no electrician , so can you tell me what constitutes a 20 amp line.

Thanks
moonguy

Showing 1 response by putty

The equation is basically Wattage = Amps x Voltage, i.e., a 120v service on a 15a line would be capable of 1800w. Moving up to a 20a breaker would net you 2400w. This is not as easy as swapping breakers as others have said, the wire must also be up to handling the increased load.

In most cases if you are not tripping your 15a breaker, there isn't a whole lot to gain by increasing it to a 20a. The increase in cable gauge, however, would almost certainly help, as it would cut down on circuit resistance.

When going to multiple dedicated lines it is imperative that special attention be paid to the phase of each line and the grounding scheme. Out of phase lines can cause a degradation to the sound (I've read, haven't experienced it though) and grounding problems will cause hums (which I have).

All of this can be easily solved by using a qualified technician.