Amps and Dedicated Circuits

[Pensacola Hi-Fi]

I have two MPA 3250 amps, a line conditioner and surge protector... along with all the other commons items, HDTV, PS3, CD, Receiver, etc... Def Tech BP7001sc for the fronts. I have two outlets on each side of my entertainment center.

I am looking at getting a dedicated circuits for for the amps but looking for advice: should I put the amps on one and everything else on the other. What about the line conditioner.... what would best to run thru it... thinking the TV, PS3 etc... but not for sure. Probably would get another surge protector for the other outlet.

No experience with dedicated circuits besides what I have read on this forum. Thanks for the help.

 

[skers_54]

I was down in Pensacola not too long ago. Great beaches!

I think the amps should definitely go on their own circuit. I would run 20 amp circuits since you're running new wire. As far as surge protection, I'd use your line conditioner for the TV, PS3 and processor and the surge protector for the amps. The conditioner may limit current to the amps, which defeats the purpose of dedicated circuits. The conditioner should have surge protection built into it so you don't need to get another one.

 

[highfigh]

Just have a dedicated circuit installed for the whole system. If the amps are on one circuit and it's not the same phase as the rest of the equipment, it can be a problem, in many ways. If everything is on one circuit, there's no chance of having resistance between two circuits on the neutral and that means you won't have ground loops.

 

[lsiberian]

Just have a dedicated circuit installed for the whole system. If the amps are on one circuit and it's not the same phase as the rest of the equipment, it can be a problem, in many ways. If everything is on one circuit, there's no chance of having resistance between two circuits on the neutral and that means you won't have ground loops.

Ground loops are very annoying. So always keep a star topology(one line of power for interconnected components. A 20 amp line is nice, but doesn't net an audible improvement in amp output since it's only 33% increase in power. So it may not be necessary. Most good power strips have a couple high current outlets which should be used for the amp/receivers.

 

[highfigh]

Ground loops are very annoying. So always keep a star topology(one line of power for interconnected components. A 20 amp line is nice, but doesn't net an audible improvement in amp output since it's only 33% increase in power. So it may not be necessary. Most good power strips have a couple high current outlets which should be used for the amp/receivers.

High current outlets do nothing when the circuit itself is being pushed to its maximum, though. If enough amplifiers are on that circuit, the voltage drop will be significant, so a second circuit should be run, both on the same phase. Also, some power supplies aren't as well-regulated as others. A tube amp designed for 120VAC that ends up on a circuit that is only delivering 110VAC may see a 30V drop on the power transformer secondary and it could lose more on the B+. That will affect the bias as well as the plate voltages. Not much of a problem unless the amp is designed for 110VAC and it ends up on a 120+VAC circuit- the power supply caps may not be able to handle the >500VDC B+ when the caps are rated for that, or less. This would only apply to old equipment but it can still be a problem.

I would rather run a new circuit than try to share one with a large group of equipment, lamps, etc.

Also, for those who aren't familiar with "star grounding", it isn't a physical thing, it's purely electrical. It means that the ground reference for all pieces in the system are equipotential. Potential refers to Voltage, since voltage is 'potential energy' and equipotential means there's no voltage difference between the pieces. This shows up as zero measurable Volts between the chassis of each piece and any other.

 

[lsiberian]

High current outlets do nothing when the circuit itself is being pushed to its maximum, though. If enough amplifiers are on that circuit, the voltage drop will be significant, so a second circuit should be run, both on the same phase. Also, some power supplies aren't as well-regulated as others. A tube amp designed for 120VAC that ends up on a circuit that is only delivering 110VAC may see a 30V drop on the power transformer secondary and it could lose more on the B+. That will affect the bias as well as the plate voltages. Not much of a problem unless the amp is designed for 110VAC and it ends up on a 120+VAC circuit- the power supply caps may not be able to handle the >500VDC B+ when the caps are rated for that, or less. This would only apply to old equipment but it can still be a problem.

I would rather run a new circuit than try to share one with a large group of equipment, lamps, etc.

Also, for those who aren't familiar with "star grounding", it isn't a physical thing, it's purely electrical. It means that the ground reference for all pieces in the system are equipotential. Potential refers to Voltage, since voltage is 'potential energy' and equipotential means there's no voltage difference between the pieces. This shows up as zero measurable Volts between the chassis of each piece and any other.

Well stated. I hadn't thought of the issues with too much on one circuit. It would certainly make sense to not have lamps and other stuff on the circuit.

 

[Pensacola Hi-Fi]

Thanks for the responses.....

Sorry, I am in a realm that I have no experience in. Are you saying to have one dedicated circuit for the system (minus the rest of the room) or have two dedicated lines - one for the amps and one for the rest of the connected components - both seperate from the rest of the room and seperate from themselves?

I appologize... I am slow... type slow and I should comprehend!!!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Well stated. I hadn't thought of the issues with too much on one circuit. It would certainly make sense to not have lamps and other stuff on the circuit.

I don't have a circuit problem with 1 15A breaker and I have a few amps on it and a pj.

 

[highfigh]

Thanks for the responses.....

Sorry, I am in a realm that I have no experience in. Are you saying to have one dedicated circuit for the system (minus the rest of the room) or have two dedicated lines - one for the amps and one for the rest of the connected components - both seperate from the rest of the room and seperate from themselves?

I appologize... I am slow... type slow and I should comprehend!!!!

If you have a lot of equipment, it's best to have its own circuit. If you can't avoid sharing, make sure you don't use a lot of energy hogs, like high wattage lights, window air conditioners, toasters, etc. Anything with a motor or pump can cause power surges and should be avoided like the plague.

 

[Rickster71]

Is this an existing system or a new one? If existing, have you tripped breakers before?
Do you have 15 or 20 amp breakers now?
Don't those amps have an input voltage meter and two output meters?
What's the voltage drop when you listen at high volumes now? Are you driving 4 Ohm speakers?
If it's a new system, I'd go with the dedicated circuits. It's not that you couldn't put both amps on one circuit; what you want to avoid is too drastic a voltage drop.
I'd go with a dedicated circuit for each amp.