Live Wire IEC(F)-3 Prong(M) Power Adapter  

Comments about Live Wire IEC(F)-3 Prong(M) Power Adapter:

This IEC (F) adapter is a great way to beef up the size of your amplifier's power cord. If you take a look at the one you have now, it may shock you (though hopefully not literally) to discover an 18 AWG (American Wire Gauge), unshielded bottle-neck in the lifeline of your master blaster. It is also no mistake that the power cord is only five or six feet long at that smaller gauge.

Essentially, bigger is better with wire size (within reason), in keeping your electronics running cooler, particularly if your electrical supply panel is a pretty good distance away from your amplifier. The simple solution is to make sure you use appropriately heavier extension cords to supply a good power strip, and then use the equipment's existing power cords from there.

If however, you were to need significant additional length between your power strip or wall outlet and the amplifier, I would seriously consider bumping the size of the whole run up to 16 gauge or more, and would omit the 18 gauge cord that came with the amplifier by using one of these IEC adapters. Your amplifier will appreciate the subtle difference, allowing it to stay a bit cooler. (Note: The smaller the gauge the bigger wire diameter... which would suggest that congress must have participated in developing the standard.)

I actually use 12 gauge wire all the way to my amplifiers, but it is no doubt way more than necessary, since, for example, a 300 Watt amplifier on a 120 Volt supply will only draw 2.5 Amps. As long as I am not running 100 feet or more of power cord, the existing 18 gauge would probably be adequate for a single 300 Watt amplifier, but there would definitely be a voltage drop due to the resistance of the smaller wire over the longer run, and everything would run hotter, as a result. It is also a consideration that many believe less resistance in your wire also produces a cleaner sound, so upsizing your supply cord may be well worthwhile, for that reason, too.

Anyway, these adapters are well made with a rugged rubberized molded plastic housing much like your current power cord ends probably are, so they seem pretty indestructible, though I suppose they could start fitting too loosely over the long haul. The socket nature of the male IEC on the equipment would pretty well support even a loose fitting connector, for that matter. I would recommend having a couple adapters on hand, just in case you do want to use a larger gauge extension cord as a direct power cord for your amplifier or other compatible equipment, such as a high end power filter. At this price, it is hard to go wrong, really.