Power needed for Outlaw Monoblocks

[ougrad02]

I am going to be running 3 outlaw 2200 monoblocks to power my front and center speakers. In the area they will be in I have a 15amp outlet on its own circuit that nothing else will be on. Will this be enough or will I need to run a 20amp circuit? Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[speakerman39]

I am going to be running 3 outlaw 2200 monoblocks to power my front and center speakers. In the area they will be in I have a 15amp outlet on its own circuit that nothing else will be on. Will this be enough or will I need to run a 20amp circuit? Any thoughts? Thanks.

Have you tried it yet or are you just speculating? My vote would be to try it out first and see what happens. You may find that it will be fine. However, if you listen at reference levels nearly all of the time it may not suffice. Until then, give it a try and go from there. If it is not enough, then try the 20a and so on. Just be sure the wiring can transfer the current safely. No need to burn your home down. I would also consult with Scott over at Outlaw. He is very friendly and very knowledgeable regarding questions just like this. Good luck.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[ougrad02]

No I haven't tried it yet. Ordered them and they are on their way so I will try them when they get here. I was just hoping maybe someone had tried a similar setup to get an idea of what I was looking at.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am going to be running 3 outlaw 2200 monoblocks to power my front and center speakers. In the area they will be in I have a 15amp outlet on its own circuit that nothing else will be on. Will this be enough or will I need to run a 20amp circuit? Any thoughts? Thanks.

If nothing else is hooked up this circuit (max 1800 watts/15amp) except for the 3 monoblocks (200 watts x 3 = 600 watts), I don't see a problem.

 

[rnatalli]

I believe that amp is about 50% efficient so it would need to consume 400 watts to drive 200 watts to the speaker. 3 x 400 = 1,200 total watts consumed. If your speakers are 4 Ohm, then you're hitting around 1,800 watts consumption. Chances are you'll never hit that peak. You should be fine.

 

[Rickster71]

My 2 cents.
You'll probably never have the volume turned up loud enough to reach the circuit's max ampacity.
You'd blow your eardrums first.
I would check all the connections at the receptacle and breaker, to make sure they are tight. They tend to loosen with use, due to the circuits heating and cooling cycles.
If for any reason you do have to upgrade that circuit, you have to change everything; the wire must be 12AWG for a 20 Amp circuit, along with a 20 AMP receptacle. So, you can't just install a 20 Amp breaker.

Rick

 

[speakerman39]

My 2 cents.
You'll probably never have the volume turned up loud enough to reach the circuit's max ampacity.
You'd blow your eardrums first.
I would check all the connections at the receptacle and breaker, to make sure they are tight. They tend to loosen with use, due to the circuits heating and cooling cycles.
If for any reason you do have to upgrade that circuit, you have to change everything; the wire must be 12AWG for a 20 Amp circuit, along with a 20 AMP receptacle. So, you can't just install a 20 Amp breaker.

Rick

Hey Rick, just a thought. Couldn't the OP just run a second 12 AWG wire as opposed to changing everything? To be honest, I am not 100 % certain, but have seen times when something like that was done. Not sure how safe it was, but my guess it had to be safe enough to meet minimal safety specifications/requirements. Anyways, just curious is all.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Alex2507]

My 2 cents.
I would check all the connections at the receptacle and breaker, to make sure they are tight.

Make sure you have one of those fancy screw drivers with insulation on the shaft. I just wrapped my screw driver with electrical tape and then I was nervous as hell.

 

[Adam]

I'm with everyone here - you shouldn't have a problem with your 15A circuit.

 

[mtrycrafts]

.
If for any reason you do have to upgrade that circuit, you have to change everything; the wire must be 12AWG for a 20 Amp circuit, along with a 20 AMP receptacle. So, you can't just install a 20 Amp breaker.

Rick

Code requires kitchens to have 20A circuits, several as a minimum. I have yet to see a 20A outlet in any kitchen, except in mine that I installed

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hey Rick, just a thought. Couldn't the OP just run a second 12 AWG wire as opposed to changing everything? To be honest, I am not 100 % certain, but have seen times when something like that was done. Not sure how safe it was, but my guess it had to be safe enough to meet minimal safety specifications/requirements. Anyways, just curious is all.

Cheers,

Phil

You can certainly use 12ga wire with 15A outlets. Done all the time to reduce voltage drops in long runs.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am going to be running 3 outlaw 2200 monoblocks to power my front and center speakers. In the area they will be in I have a 15amp outlet on its own circuit that nothing else will be on. Will this be enough or will I need to run a 20amp circuit? Any thoughts? Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about a 20A circuit. You will not run all three amps to their max power at the same instant. Besides, you have caps in there that also helps out in the power task.

 

[ougrad02]

Thanks for all the help. I should have them up and running next week so hopefully it goes smoothly!

 

[PENG]

As ADTG said, it is important to make sure there are nothing else connected to other receptacles on that same circuit you will be fine. If you do have other loads plugged in to outlets on this circuit then you have to included their draw in your calculations if those loads are on when you are using the monoblocks. A 15A circuit typically feeds a number of receptacles.

By the way, as someone pointed out you have to apply an efficiency factor in you final calculations, the 50% number he quoted is not a bad number for a mass market receiver, it will get you in the ball park.

 

[speakerman39]

You can certainly use 12ga wire with 15A outlets. Done all the time to reduce voltage drops in long runs.

Right, I understand that. But what if the OP needed a 20A installed?? Couldn't he just run a single 12 AWG wire along the one already ran in order to not have to re-do everything? I am aware 12 AWG is big enough for 15A, but is it enough for 20A or 30A? Sorry, for any confusion.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Rickster71]

Hey Rick, just a thought. Couldn't the OP just run a second 12 AWG wire as opposed to changing everything? To be honest, I am not 100 % certain, but have seen times when something like that was done. Not sure how safe it was, but my guess it had to be safe enough to meet minimal safety specifications/requirements. Anyways, just curious is all.

Cheers,

Phil

Hi Phil, sorry for the slow reply; I missed this somehow.
Did your question mean to change the 14 AWG to 12 AWG and leave it on a 15Amp breaker?
Or do you mean, run a new 12 AWG circuit with a 20 Amp breaker?
The first scenario wouldn't get him much, the breaker would still trip. (though the OP hasn't tried it yet. I don't think it will trip, as long as nothing else is on that circuit)
The whole new 12 AWG on a 20 Amp circuit is a good idea. If that's what you mean.
I ran two 20 Amp circuits to my HT. Alonf with the original 15 Amp circuit.

I posted what I did earlier, just so the OP wouldn't change his 15 Amp breaker with a 20 and leave it on the 14 AWG underrated wire. That's a code violation.
Regards,
Rick

 

[Rickster71]

I have yet to see a 20A outlet in any kitchen, except in mine that I installed

True, the code allows a 15 or 20 Amp receptacle on a 20 Amp circuit, if the circuit is supplying two or more receptacles. NEC 210.21

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I ran two 20 Amp circuits to my HT.

Rick, can you install just one 50 Amp circuit?

 

[Rickster71]

Rick, can you install just one 50 Amp circuit?

Hi ADTG,
I understand what you're getting at, though the answer would be no.
Plugs and receptacles have certain configurations. See link.
http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardware References/plugandreceptacleconfiguratio.htm

 

[mtrycrafts]

True, the code allows a 15 or 20 Amp receptacle on a 20 Amp circuit, if the circuit is supplying two or more receptacles. NEC 210.21

Yes, thanks. Checked his post and it appears as it is a single use, dedicated outlet, perhaps for some other use in the past. So, yes, he needs to match that up to the wire and breaker installed.