Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: jhenders@wimsey.bc.ca (John Henders)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Power Conditioners, Audio Power in general
Message-ID: <13544@uwm.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 91 13:03:21 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Lines: 28
Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

In article <13497@uwm.edu> chrisc@gold.gvg.tek.com (Chris Christensen) writes:
>
>
>If one believes that a well designed amplifier has an efficiency of
>50% that the peak power draw fron the mains would be (in my case) 5200
>watts and that translates to about 42 amps at 125 volts (no power
>factor correction included to keep it simple), so two 30 amp mains 
>circuits work well for me and thats how I get away with it on 
>two 20's......
>

	This calculation assumes a duty cycle off 100%, which very few
amplifiers or speakers are capable of sustaining. As 50% is more the
rule, halving the power spec here would have very little effect on
system performance. This spec also ignores the leveling effect of the
capacitors in the amplifier power supply. The only application where
this much power would be needed that I've run across would be if
you were using Carver amplifiers which don't use filter capacitors,
and as this group is for high-end audio, I wouldn't think Carver would
enter into the discussion. ( Check out the damping factor on a PM1.5a )
	Having a separate feed for the audio system is still a good idea,
and using heavier than normal gauge wire is also a good idea, but using
the larger breakers is a waste of $ and panel capacity.

	John Henders
	Vancouver,B.C.