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
I may be wrong but I believe a 20 amp breaker is rated for 2000 watts but the code may only allow a maximum of 1800 watts.

Thanks for all the answers, I am in the know now. I wired 3 direct lines all on their own breakers. 2 runs are 10 guage , the other one is 12. I shall have to open the box and check the breakers for their size./

Timrue, don't worry , it's quite a simple and straight forward process running direct lines , I wasn't sure however what was meant by the term 20 amp circuit.

I would imagine that a high current solid state amp would benefit from a 20 amp circuit on its dedicated line , would that be a safe assumption?
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.
Moonguy, it sounds as if you know what you're doing. I once ran 8 gauge cable for a stove when we remodeled our kitchen That stuff is a real bit&% to maneuver.
Still though, insurance companies can be sticklers if things go south.