What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 28, 2016 at 12:09:24
Mike B. Audiophile Posts: 26358 Location: OR Joined: September 27, 1999 Contributor Since: September 1, 1999	Normal run of 5-6 feet, 15 gauge will be plenty sufficient.

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 28, 2016 at 12:28:54
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	The problem is if you have a short circuit in the device and it is protected by a 20 amp breaker in the panel the device will not be protected by the breaker and will go up in flames. That is why there is an electrical code. The 48w has nothing to do with it. I encourage people in doing diy projects but power chords need UL approval Alan

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 28, 2016 at 13:38:58
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	What gauge power cord are you using with your Audio-gd DAC? First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 28, 2016 at 13:47:53

Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002

While large gauge power cords are most often recommended for high current applications, from an audiophile perspective, low current applications also benefit from large gauge power cords, no matter how minuscule the current draw may be. This is to say, even a digital application with low current demand often sounds substantially better when a large gauge power cord is selected vs. a smaller gauge design. So you'll need to ask yourself what matters when choosing a power cord for a low current digital application. From a safety POV, a typical stock 18 AWG power cord will safely deliver AC, but from a sonic POV, a well-designed large gauge audiophile quality power cord often provides substantially higher performance, even for a low current application.

Agreed (nt), posted on January 28, 2016 at 14:17:58
Jack G Audiophile Posts: 9740 Joined: September 24, 1999	.

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 28, 2016 at 14:34:14
Mike B. Audiophile Posts: 26358 Location: OR Joined: September 27, 1999 Contributor Since: September 1, 1999	What the hell are you rambling on about?

OK, but "a typical stock 18 AWG power cord" was not on the list..., posted on January 28, 2016 at 16:31:01
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	Trying to find out what the point of diminishing returns might be for a 48W digital device where we know a 15 gauge power cord would work fineb and be more than adequate for the load. But would a 13 gauge or even 12 gauge be expected to work better? First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

RE: OK, but "a typical stock 18 AWG power cord" was not on the list..., posted on January 28, 2016 at 18:36:37

Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002

What I mean is a typical 18 AWG power cord is sufficient from a safety perspective. The issue to address is not what's adequate for the load, it's a matter of audiophile performance rather than seeking a power cord based on the current draw of a source component.

I use a 10 AWG Acrolink 7N-P4030 II power cord terminated with Furutech FI-50 Gold AC connectors placed on my low current DAC, and find the presentation to sound substantially better than a 14 AWG Acrolink 7N-P4020III in comparison, which was a good opportunity to compare the gestalt of two power cords of identical design other than the gauge of the conductors. That said, for system tuning purposes and budget restraints, there are a number of 14 AWG power cords that perform very well, but often present a smaller scale soundstage presentation than that of a 10 AWG power cord, or even a 12 AWG power cord which is not even twice the cross section of a 14 AWG power cord.

In fact, early findings of folks in Cable Asylum indicate very large gauge power cords can often sound very good for low current digital transports, such as increased image density and bass weight with slam as a result, IME.

UL does not "approve"....they list products that passed their inspection. [nt], posted on January 28, 2016 at 19:12:57
alan m. kafton Manufacturer Posts: 5285 Joined: April 7, 2000	.

UL "approved"., posted on January 28, 2016 at 19:36:11
Duster Manufacturer Posts: 17117 Location: Pacific Northwest Joined: August 25, 2002	It can be difficult to convince some folks that an audiophile power cord design that is not UL tested, is somehow unsafe to advocate within a public forum. I re-terminated the family extension cord with a new AC plug bought from a local hardware store when I was a teenager. That DIY project wasn't UL "approved" ;-) Cheers, Duster

RE: UL "approved"., posted on January 28, 2016 at 21:45:21
alan m. kafton Manufacturer Posts: 5285 Joined: April 7, 2000	If one is using bulk cable that is UL listed, and another brand of connector that is UL listed, then the only issue in question is the build quality or integrity. A bulk, commercial-grade or computer-grade molded power cable is not necessarily safer because it was made by machine....but if someone deems that low quality cable "good enough", so be it.

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on January 29, 2016 at 07:23:45

jea48
Audiophile

Posts: 6770
Joined: January 5, 2005

The problem is if you have a short circuit in the device and it is protected by a 20 amp breaker in the panel the device will not be protected by the breaker and will go up in flames.

Actually the branch circuit breaker is there to protect the in wall branch circuit wiring. NEC code stops at the front face of the wall receptacle and cover plate. Naturally if a connected load overloads, short circuits, or creates a ground fault condition, beyond the breaker's set overload or short circuit handle rating, Hopefully it will trip open.

Cord size only needs to meet the FLA of the equipment it is connected to. Example, a clock radio. 18/2 is quite common. Same for the typical table lamp.

What I should add that addresses the concern you may have about an appliance/equipment cord causing an electrical fire, back in 1999 NEC first introduced the use of AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection in bedrooms. In 2008 and then in 2011 NEC added even more areas where 120V 15 and 20 amp Branch circuits were required to be AFCI protected. (Note, this applies to Residential dwelling units occupancies. Also AHJ, 'Authority Having Jurisdiction', has the final say in your area.)

Fast forward to 2014 NEC code edition ALL 120V 15 and 20 amp branch circuits used in habitable areas/rooms shall be AFCI protected. I hear the new 2017 NEC code will require GFCI protection as well.

http://structuretech1.com/2014/01/new-electrical-safety-requ

RE: UL "approved"., posted on January 29, 2016 at 08:00:28

jea48
Audiophile

Posts: 6770
Joined: January 5, 2005

This can be puzzling. For personal use you can build your own power cord using UL and or CSA cord and connectors. Yes, the components are UL Listed but not the assembly.

IF you are making power cords for sale then technically, in some states, it might say they must be assembled by a licensed electrician or a licensed electrical maintenance person if they will not be safety tested and Listed by a recognized third party. In commercial and industrial facilities electricians and or maintenance personnel make up power cords all the time.

What may come into play is a liability issue in the case of a law suite being filed on the 'non qualified'seller, of the power cord's assembled.

Good example is the power cord below in the link. In some states if it was proven the cord was the cause of an electrical fire where personal injury or loss of life resulted, the maker/seller of the cord could find himself named in a lawsuit.

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/powercord_pre

Problem solved!, posted on January 29, 2016 at 12:17:37
jbrrp1 Audiophile Posts: 483 Location: Minnesota Joined: April 24, 2007	Here ya go! (Who knows? Might actually make it sound very, very good...)

RE: Problem solved!, posted on January 29, 2016 at 21:17:59
cabelok Audiophile Posts: 150 Location: Phoenix Joined: September 9, 2015	Looks like a python is about to devour your HiFi

RE: Problem solved!, posted on January 30, 2016 at 07:36:07
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	Yep, now we know what happened to the cat! First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on February 27, 2016 at 22:50:00
Tweaker456	Couldn't agree more. Bigger is better. Follow Dusters advice. T

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on February 29, 2016 at 04:46:52

beautox
Manufacturer

Posts: 366
Location: New Plymouth
Joined: July 9, 2013

"The problem is if you have a short circuit in the device and it is protected by a 20 amp breaker in the panel the device will not be protected by the breaker and will go up in flames."

I disagree with the 'goes up in flames' comment. A 24awg wire will take 29amps for 10 seconds. A 20awg will take 58amps for 10 seconds. And if your breaker is faster than that, a 24awg wire will take more than 60A for one second. Or were you meaning the 15awg that the OP was asking about? 15awg will take more than 500 AMPS for 1 second.

Also you seem to be simultaneously suggesting that this thin cable doesn't have enough current-carrying capability to trip a breaker, but at the same time can carry enough current to cause something (the device, the cable) to 'go up in flames'.

So what goes up in flames exactly? The device? The wire? How does that happen?

Sounds like fear-mongering to me. And I speak as someone who has tripped a fair number of breakers, so I know what it takes.

RE: Problem solved!, posted on February 29, 2016 at 16:16:05
Tweaker456	Yea, And someone accused ME of overkill for wanting a high current PS for my dac.

RE: What gauge power cord for 48 watt digital audio device?, posted on March 5, 2016 at 01:47:50
Tweaker456	Bigger diameter wire will be better sounding even if it is not of "audiophile" quality. T