Power Cord Identification

[BMXTRIX]

You can tell if a amplifier uses the ground just by looking at the back of the product itself. I have several amps and AV products which drop the ground.

The way you KNOW this is by looking at where you connect the power cord. There will only be the hot and the neutral pins, there won't be the third pin on the actual product for a ground connection.

While it may seem weird to still use an IEC plug even though there is not a ground pin, this is entirely because of the common form factor of the IEC cord. You can pick them up EVERYWHERE and after you buy a computer or two, you often end up with spare IEC cords stored away in a bin somewhere.

There is absolutely no harm in using a 3 pin IEC power cord with 2-pin gear, because it won't have a pin to make that ground connection.

You also won't be able to fit the 2-pin IEC power cord into a 3-pin product. This is because on the end of the IEC cord, it is filled in and solid where there is normally a hole for the ground connection. So, the ground pin will block that cord from going into equipment which needs the ground.

To your other question: The Home Depot 14AWG speaker wire will work just fine for you. If you want something nicer at some point, you can go on the hunt for something you like more, but really, it won't perform any better.

THIS:

I guess wire is just wire.

This is the mantra which Audioholics subscribes to. For the most part, wire of the same gauge will perform the same as long as the material is the same. Just pick the right one, and you are good to go.

 

[Gmoney]

I thought the thickest was for the sub, but I don't know. I say that's cool and I'll use the thick one for the amp if you guys are confident it doesn't matter. Thanks again.

who told you that? “thickest? but it does matter, you stated you Flipped a few houses . I’m sure you had to have a Certified electrician to do the Electrical. Also Apply for Permit which is Mandatory by any city ordinance to do electrical upgrades in any home. But your post was Answered very well by “BMXTRIX”. A good phase wire for 120v 60hz 3ft to 4ft will do with. 15 amp Minimum breaker in the Electrical box. Will allow you to pull 1800 W. AxV=W

 

[Pik95]

You stated you Flipped a few houses . I’m sure you had to have a Certified electrician to do the Electrical.

Not in the 80's!

 

[Gmoney]

Not in the 80's!

Still, but yeah i’ve done a lot of “outlaw” so to speak elect-work replacing receptacle or a light switch isn’t rocket science just make sure to kill the main breaker at the power box outside. So if I may ask, You made out like a Bandit flipping houses?
That would seem like a good thing to get into
Lots of people become very wealthy with real estate

 

[Pik95]

Still, but yeah i’ve done a lot of “outlaw” so to speak elect-work replacing receptacle or a light switch isn’t rocket science just make sure to kill the main breaker at the power box outside. So if I may ask, You made out like a Bandit flipping houses?
That would seem like a good thing to get into
Lots of people become very wealthy with real estate

I'm actually a real estate agent now. My flipper friends are mostly contractors. They do well now because they do the work themselves. 2020 has been rough obviously for real estate. As for me, my dad flipped houses and we did the work when we were young. I learned a lot. I have always been handy, but I have a bad back now so not as much. Electricity has always scared me. I love music and great sound though. I'm gonna have to conquer my fear.

 

[Gmoney]

I'm actually a real estate agent now. My flipper friends are mostly contractors. They do well now because they do the work themselves. 2020 has been rough obviously for real estate. As for me, my dad flipped houses and we did the work when we were young. I learned a lot. I have always been handy, but I have a bad back now so not as much. Electricity has always scared me. I love music and great sound though. I'm gonna have to conquer my fear.

Well I feel you on being Afraid of working around electrical. Anyone one who doesn’t tell you they have no fear of an Electrical current is full of themselves. Any Electrical repairmen or a Linemen will tell you they have a Working respect of fear around an Electrical current. I have personally seen what it can do to a human when hit with a live current if they are lucky they live like me but most die. Never take anyone’s word that power has been cut off not even a Electrician. Go check yourself down stream and up stream. Pull the main breaker if you have to lock the box with a lock and You hold onto the key to the lock.
Never work on anything in a home that power has Not been locked out by you, breaker box inside a home with the breaker just switched off isn’t a Secure thing to do anyone can come behind you and switch that breaker back to on. One more thing get yourself a “Hot Stick” it’s a simple tool to have you pass it by any Electrical receptacle, any breaker box it will light up if the box or receptacle has live current going to it. Do that even if you know you locked out a box someone can come behind you and cut the lock you put in place throw that main breaker on and Wala your Dead!! or just hire an electrician let him take the Risk of losing his life. Better to be poor and alive than Dead I always say.

 

[Verdinut]

Well I feel you on being Afraid of working around electrical. Anyone one who doesn’t tell you they have no fear of an Electrical current is full of themselves. Any Electrical repairmen or a Linemen will tell you they have a Working respect of fear around an Electrical current. I have personally seen what it can do to a human when hit with a live current if they are lucky they live like me but most die. Never take anyone’s word that power has been cut off not even a Electrician. Go check yourself down stream and up stream. Pull the main breaker if you have to lock the box with a lock and You hold onto the key to the lock.
Never work on anything in a home that power has Not been locked out by you, breaker box inside a home with the breaker just switched off isn’t a Secure thing to do anyone can come behind you and switch that breaker back to on. One more thing get yourself a “Hot Stick” it’s a simple tool to have you pass it by any Electrical receptacle, any breaker box it will light up if the box or receptacle has live current going to it. Do that even if you know you locked out a box someone can come behind you and cut the lock you put in place throw that main breaker on and Wala your Dead!! or just hire an electrician let him take the Risk of losing his life. Better to be poor than Dead I always say.

120 volts doesn't always kill. I received 120v shocks several times in my lifetime. Of course, I was not barefoot in a flooded basement when it occurred. Several years ago, I installed a dimmer on a live circuit but I used gloves to do the work. However, one should be careful when using both hands simultaneously as there is the risk of the current passing through the whole body and that is most likely deadly, I agree.

A long time ago when I was a teenager, the electrician helper who installed light bulb sockets when my father had the electrical installation in a new summer house, for testing them to see if there was juice, he just wet his index finger and put the finger in the socket. He had his answer without a sweat.

 

[Pik95]

120 volts doesn't always kill. I received 120v shocks several times in my lifetime. Of course, I was not barefoot in a flooded basement when it occurred. Several years ago, I installed a dimmer on a live circuit but I used gloves to do the work. However, one should be careful when using both hands simultaneously as there is the risk of the current passing through the whole body and that is most likely deadly, I agree.

A long time ago when I was a teenager, the electrician helper who installed light bulb sockets when my father had the electrical installation in a new summer house, for testing them to see if there was juice, he just wet his index finger and put the finger in the socket. He had his answer without a sweat.

He died?

 

[Gmoney]

120 volts doesn't always kill. I received 120v shocks several times in my lifetime. Of course, I was not barefoot in a flooded basement when it occurred. Several years ago, I installed a dimmer on a live circuit but I used gloves to do the work. However, one should be careful when using both hands simultaneously as there is the risk of the current passing through the whole body and that is most likely deadly, I agree.

A long time ago when I was a teenager, the electrician helper who installed light bulb sockets when my father had the electrical installation in a new summer house, for testing them to see if there was juice, he just wet his index finger and put the finger in the socket. He had his answer without a sweat.

True on 120v I was hit by 120v. messing around with a old TV hurt like hell and left a really nasty burn on my index finger. I was young than in my 20’s. That was my first real fear of an electrical current. Later on in my life at the age of 47 I was hit by a 480 flash in a MCC room on a Production platform in the Gulf of Mexico I took the word of a Electrician that the cubicle I was getting ready to Install a bucket in was powered off, as I closed the door to the cubicle Pow! my life flashed before my eyes. The power of that flash blew me back off my feet. What saved my live was I had all me PPE on in that control room, most time when anyone is working in a control room like that most would have their hard hat off no gloves cause well it’s inside with AC on its one of the cushiest gigs to work. Not me I had everything on Including my Doc Martin work boots and the fact I was Kneeling on the 3 inch rubber matt that lined the floor of the whole room. Two things saved my life that day, I had only One hand on the door when I was closing it and the fact that I was Kneeling on that rubber floor matt.
After my company and a company rep Investigated the incident two thing’s where recorded as Human error, Me for not making sure everything was locked out and tagged out and the other was the Electrician who told me the cubicle was not powered up failed all of the same Criteria’s that almost got me killed. Needless to say everyone That was working on that platform in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico wanted me to whip that Electricians a$$ for telling me that the power was off in that Cubicle. I didn’t I wanted too but I was more at Fault for Not doing my job right in the first place. I had a Hotstick in my front Pocket of my Work uniform I knew I should check All the lockouts I didn’t and he didn’t either I dropped the ball I was The one responsible for My Safety first!

 

[Verdinut]

He died?

No, he was doing that all the time. As a matter of fact, when there's a possibility of handling a live wire, it's safer to use only one hand and making sure that your feet or the other hand are not grounded. Then, for voltages up to 120 AC volts, there's not much of a risk for your life.

 

[Gmoney]

No, he was doing that all the time. As a matter of fact, when there's a possibility of handling a live wire, it's safer to use only one hand and making sure that your feet or the other hand are not grounded. Then, for voltages up to 120 AC volts, there's not much of a risk for your life.

Maybe, don’t totally disagree with your post given the right Conditions anyone can lose their life with a 120v current. Make sure you not standing on a wet floor for one but there are a few other reasons. Like don’t let your wife or Significant other throw a hair dryer in the tub when your taking a bath. Cause you have a 250k life insurance Policy that she took out on you so she and her new lover can lived happily ever after.