AudioNervosa
Electro Stimulation Ward => Signals and Noise => Power Cables => Topic started by: jessearias on April 01, 2016, 05:23:02 AM
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What is the maximum amp capacities for your American Series cables 7, 10 & 12?
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According to the electric codes, 12 ga cable is rated for up to 20 amps and of course that means that the larger ones are rated for more. Therefore it would seem to me that the limiting factor on there cords would not be the wire itself, but the plugs on the end which would be rated for either 15 or 20 amps, and would be chosen based on what kind of IEC socket is installed on the piece of equipment you would be powering with the cord.
Now keep in mind that this would just be the capacity set by the National Electric code for safe operation. Nobody would be buying one of these cables just for safe power delivery (a $3 stock cord would do that.) We buy them because they provide us with better sound quality form our systems. As such Pete may have a recommended amp range within which each cord performs best and this could be very different from the maximum capacity at which it could be safely used.
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Tom (tmazz), an electrical engineer, is correct, when it comes to your house wiring NEC codes. 12 AWG - 20 amps, 10 AWG - 30 amps, 7 AWG - ~47 amps.
However, the continuous Current Carrying Capacity of the wire & dielectric I utilize can handle quite a bit of current (amperage) before melting either the wire or insulation (from laboratory testing) as follows -
12 AWG - 45 amps
10 AWG - 58 amps
7 AWG - 90 amps
The above are somewhat crazy numbers and tmazz is correct again that the limiting factor is the connectors themselves. I have personally load-tested my cable line-up with my copper-based connectors with a steady 20 amp load (continuous over 6 hours) and both the cables & connectors remained cool (at ambient temperature) "to the touch". At the time, I also tested some "off-brand" audiophile rhodium plated connectors. The rhodium-plated connectors were very warm "to the touch" with the cable itself remaining cool (at ambient temperature). Kind of makes sense since rhodium is considered a poor electrical conductor.
The maximum instantaneous current (~ 800ms) will be > 200 amps for all of my power cable products...
I hope this helps...
Cheers,
Pete
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Doesn't the length of cord also come into play?
Don
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Doesn't the length of cord also come into play?
Don
Don,
Not at the relatively short lengths of audio power cables we're talking about...
Cheers,
Pete
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Doesn't the length of cord also come into play?
Don
It will using long shitty 14 gauge extension cords on power tools. That is probably what you are thinking. Most gear does not need the constant power like a table saw. So therefore a long extension cords end up being unsuitable for power tools and will burn them out. Where in audio they will run and not suffer sagging power issues since most power amps run only a couple amps constant
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Length is always a factor in power cabling. What limits the current carrying capacity of a given power cable is the temperature rise that will occur at a given current. Of course the biggest concern is a wire heating up to the point where it can cause a fire. The rise in temperature is a function of the current carried by the wire and the resistance of the run. And since resistance is a function of the length of the wire is is only logical that the length of the run is critical to sizing the gauge of the wire. The amp capacity that you see on a romex package or or in some of the NEC charts for home wiring have built into them an assumed maximum run length based on typical home construction. You can usually find those details in the footnotes of the charts and if the application you are using fall outside to the maximums in those footnotes you must adjust your wire sizes accordingly. Back in my younger days I did a lot of power engineering for telephone switching plants and in an industrial situation like that the normal home assumptions went out the window and we always sized power cables based on both load requirements and length.
Now that said in industrial situations power runs can be 100s of feet long and thus taking length onto account was very important. But Pete is correct, when you are taking about the kinds of wire gauge we typically use in premium audio power cords and footages that are generally in the single digits the length of the cable is a complete non-issue as the our circuit breakers will trip long before those cables get dangerously hot.
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Now you can audition some. PM me or Pete. :roll: :rofl: :rofl:
charles
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Pete and Rollo,
Thanks for the answers. I am familiar with the NEC wire ratings for household and industrial wiring, but should have phrased my question differently. I was trying to get a better gauge on the applications for the wires.
The Seven and Ten are pretty strait forward in their applications.
It is the Twelve I am curious about. I have a set of Golden Ear Tritons with a 1200W powered sub built in. I was wondering if the Twelve would be an ok cable for this application or would the Ten be better?
ANOTHER QUESTION
I see the cables come in a maximum length of 6 feet. Can they be made longer? Like 9 feet? I am familiar with the voltage drop factor due to resistance the longer you go and that you need to upsize the conductors. The reason I ask is that I have a 1200W sub that needs a longer cord (9ft) and trying to see if a longer cord is available and which cord (10 or 12) would be appropriate for the application.
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Anything meaningful in sonics will be had concentrating on the male and female connects (and your outlets). Over a 10 or 12 gauge comparison.
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Pete and Rollo,
Thanks for the answers. I am familiar with the NEC wire ratings for household and industrial wiring, but should have phrased my question differently. I was trying to get a better gauge on the applications for the wires.
The Seven and Ten are pretty strait forward in their applications.
It is the Twelve I am curious about. I have a set of Golden Ear Tritons with a 1200W powered sub built in. I was wondering if the Twelve would be an ok cable for this application or would the Ten be better?
ANOTHER QUESTION
I see the cables come in a maximum length of 6 feet. Can they be made longer? Like 9 feet? I am familiar with the voltage drop factor due to resistance the longer you go and that you need to upsize the conductors. The reason I ask is that I have a 1200W sub that needs a longer cord (9ft) and trying to see if a longer cord is available and which cord (10 or 12) would be appropriate for the application.
Standard power cord lengths are 5 feet & 6 feet. I can & have made much longer power cords, including one that was 25 ft. long! Fabricating a 9 foot long power cable is not a problem whatsoever...
I recommend the "Ten Plus" for your 1200W sub. The "Ten Plus" will provide a bit more "tight slam & authoritative" bass response than the "Twelve Plus". The "Ten Plus" has been used with great results on a variety of subwoofers, including the ones used at many audio shows I've participated in...
If interested, please PM for more details regarding a 9 foot long subwoofer power cable.
Thanks,
Pete