Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Surge protector compatible with a 20 amp circuit?

So Jason, you have about 14.3 Amps of reserve.

Cam, using a 15 Amp surge suppressor will pose no problem at all unless you plan on drawing more than 15 Amps. I can't see how you would though.

It's not wired into the panel yet so I will switch it to a 15 amp circuit. People seriously risk plugging expensive equipment directly into the wall "hoping" there isn't a power surge? Does plugging a amp and/or a subwoofer into a surge protector have an effect on its performance? I honestly don't feel safe plugging my equipment directly into the wall. Are there alternatives that anyone else is using? Other than a "whole home surge protector"?

Most high end solid state amp mfg's will tell you to use the wall outlet, or you could sacrifice performance. They also have built in circuitry to protect from surges.

I plug my amp into a 15a Monster power center, no problems.

So, I shouldn't plug my sub (EP500) into a surge protector?

Nope. My EP500 goes straight to the wall. It has a sacrificial fuse that will pop if a large spike gets to it.

Why not? The fuse may not pop with a large spike.

Then it would probably kill a strip, too.

If your sub+amp+everything else overloads your power strip, you're going to be in a whole lot more of a world of hurt than if your sub dies in a lighting strike.

I don't know the correct answer here but I do know that computer power supplies of large size, often on 700W and up, come with a warning not to plug them into surge protectors with other equipment or you risk damage.

My new 20 amp circuit outlet was placed directly beside another existing outlet, so I'm thinking the best scenario would be to get a power bar for each circuit and split up my electronics, that way hopefully everything is safe. I'll use one surge protector for my subwoofer and amp, and the other for my TV, receiver, CD player, DVD player, satellite, and camera/intercom at my front door.

Does a subwoofer draw a lot of electricity?

Now I'm thinking it's probably cheaper to buy a "whole home surge protector". Parables, parables.