Power cords

[Peeved T-40]

most power outlets in a standard US home are on 15 amp circuit. that means (roughly) any given circuit can handle 1,500 watts (it's actually a bit more so if you stick to this rule of thumb you should be fine). Unless you're running extremely long cords (like over 100 feet) you should only need a 14 gauge cord which is a pretty common size. But remember, that's only if you're running a full 1,500 watts on that cord. most of us aren't using anywhere near that kind of power. you could run a 1,000 watt amp on a 16 gauge cord and be fine. You really don't have anything to worry about.

 

[MikePlaysBass]

It really depends on the length of the cable. The longer the cable, the more benefit you’ll get from a heavier gauge. On a short cord, it shouldn’t make a difference, but I still use a lower gauge (bigger wire) anyway, since if I think it sounds better, then I’m more likely to think that I’ll sound better. More doesn’t hurt and in cases where the power source is on the low side it could help. Just don’t spend a lot on oxygen free copper, etc… Lower gauge has more power capacity regardless.
It’s still a weakest link issue. If you’re plugging into a wimpy extension cord, then the size of your cord can’t pull more than what it’s plugged into. I always bring a heavy duty extension cord just in case. In the end, though, a bad connection between the plug and jack is more likely to be a problem than the cord itself.

 

[OogieWaWa]

I used to work on large M-G sets for electroplating, the G side was rated at 5000 amps at about 5VDC. There were 48 brushes about 1-1/2” square on a commutator 24” in diameter!

Main Generator: 25,000 amps, 25,000 volts, 3θ. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. But 5KA DC is still frightening!

Was this changing the turns ratio, or the core reactance? If the turns ratio was changing, it would be more of a variac setup.

It physically moved more (windings) of the secondary in and out of the core, so yep!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I know this is a bass forum…

but I grew up playing Cowboy Chords.

Given the current discussion, I assume that was a typo and you really meant Cowboy Cords? Andy probably has some familiarity with those?

 

[logdrum]

I recently was selecting IEC power cords in a most unorthodox manner. I stopped in at my dad's place a few weeks ago, and I found him in the garage, one of his usual places. He had a huge box of IEC power cords, and he was hard at work chopping the ends off the cords.

It seems a friend of his who had retired from the military gave him a box of cords, among some other junk, so he picked out what he wanted, and was going to cash the rest in for scrap copper. Fortunately, I arrived before he was halfway through the box, and I fished out some very nice power cords that were made in Switzerland, and had very nice, supple insulation on them.

One of my beefs with many of these cheaper cables, is the hard thermoplastic insulation that even in hot weather does not flex very well, and in cold weather becomes downright rigid. These Swiss cables probably were supplied with some premium gear, and are very flexible indeed.

As long as these Swiss cords' insulation does not have some EU eco rating like the ones they have on Mercedes spark plugs that are supple but made of soy that rodents like. My landlord in San Diego had a Merc E-vehicle and they chewed through the high current lines and cost him a lot of money to replace. Another option that are rodent safe yet supple are the ones that are hospital grade. Really nice cables and I got some from the flea market.

And folks, just because I said hospital grade IEC cables, do not go and start swapping cords next time you visit or if you work at a hospital.

 

[Ken Morgan]

Correct me if I’m wrong please…

but shouldn’t the electric supply on the other side of the socket play into these things as well? I mean we can invest (heavily) in AC connection cords that are plugged into a 50 yr old cheapie wall plug attached to near 100 yr old wiring. Seems THOSE factors would weigh much more than 16 vs 14 ga wire

 

[byacey]

No, these cables look like they were never used. They still have approval approval bands on them, one from Italy and Switzerland, one CSA and one UL. The tags state they are rated for 10A @ 120V .

 

[Jeff Scott]

As long as these Swiss cords' insulation does not have some EU eco rating like the ones they have on Mercedes spark plugs that are supple but made of soy that rodents like.

Emergency rations?

 

[agedhorse]

Main Generator: 25,000 amps, 25,000 volts, 3θ. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. But 5KA DC is still frightening!


It physically moved more (windings) of the secondary in and out of the core, so yep!

This would have been about 1800KVA, larger than most entire power plants. What was the application?

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Since nobody asked, I will---what gauge is best for metal?

 

[agedhorse]

Given the current discussion, I assume that was a typo and you really meant Cowboy Cords? Andy probably has some familiarity with those?

Cowboy cords usually become attached to running cattle…

Correct me if I’m wrong please…

but shouldn’t the electric supply on the other side of the socket play into these things as well? I mean we can invest (heavily) in AC connection cords that are plugged into a 50 yr old cheapie wall plug attached to near 100 yr old wiring. Seems THOSE factors would weigh much more than 16 vs 14 ga wire

Yes and no. The limitations of the electrical system are a very real issue. The age of the copper doesn’t matter, fortunately the copper atoms don’t wear out!

 

[brianrost]

From my experience, I'm less worried about the power cords for my amps and more concerned about the cords for my toaster and hair dryer

 

[chadds]

"With power cords if your technique is correct, meaning your hand is truly above your head at half the rotation, you receive tax breaks from the govt. because the windmill effect simulates renewable energy sources."
- Don Pete Townshend Quixote

 

[CryingBass]

18 gauge is plenty for most amps, because of how the audio signal translates back through the power supply to the power source.

But larger gauge power cords regardless of merit ( or lack thereof ) can’t hurt an amp or the resulting sound, right?

BTW you had to have enjoyed that recent appreciation thread, eh?

 

[agedhorse]

But larger gauge power cords regardless of merit ( or lack thereof ) can’t hurt an amp or the resulting sound, right?

BTW you had to have enjoyed that recent appreciation thread, eh?

heavier gauge cables generally can’t hurt, but the exception to this is where the
weight and stiffness put excess stress on the IEC connectors.

 

[40Hz]

It doesn't hurt to use a heavier extension cord, especially if it's of any appreciable length. The wire resistance of #18 adds up to a considerable amount if run over any distance, especially if the same extension cord is used to power any other devices, simultaneously.
A #16 cable's safe current handling is roughly equal to two #18s, or a #14 is equal to four #18s.

I agree. My extension cords are all 16s. But at this point I'm not worried about length considering the size of the stages I've mostly played on. I'm lucky to have a place for my amp and to stand most tmes. I don't think I have any cord longer than 12-15 feet in length.

 

[40Hz]

heavier gauge cables generally can’t hurt, but the exception to this is where the
weight and stiffness put excess stress on the IEC connectors.

WIth my bands, we've always used the manufacturer supplied power cables for the devices themselves. Those we plug into GFI equipped 4-outlet power boxes sitting on the floor. Something I learned how to properly wire up from an electrician back in the day when I was involved in scene lighting for stage plays. The wires feeding those boxes are heavy gauge however.

Does that sound like good sense to you?

 

[agedhorse]

WIth my bands, we've always used the manufacturer supplied power cables for the devices themselves. Those we plug into GFI equipped 4-outlet power boxes sitting on the floor. Something I learned how to properly wire up from an electrician back in the day when I was involved in scene lighting for stage plays. The wires feeding those boxes are heavy gauge however.

Does that sound like good sense to you?

Yes, because the wires to the box (branch wiring) may be much longer and also must comply with the NEC codes which generally require 14 gauge for a 15 amp branch and 12 gauge for a 20 amp branch (there are a few exceptions based a combination of length, conduit fill, insulation type and ambient temperature.

 

[byacey]

heavier gauge cables generally can’t hurt, but the exception to this is where the
weight and stiffness put excess stress on the IEC connectors.

They can actually be quite beneficial, if you're running a washing machine or two on stage.

 

[byacey]

These cables I mentioned have a separate molded plastic insert in the IEC end.