Fellas, ya' gotta try this. Cheap and effective way to extract more out of your system!

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Gardenstater wrote: »

Here's the back of a 45 yr old or so duplex outlet and the wires I pulled out of it, in a bathroom where they were using a hand hair dryer on a daily basis. They had no clue there was a problem. Do you think they would've heard a problem if this was supplying an amplifier in a high resolution audio system, and it was then replaced with a brand new hospital grade outlet? Do you think the contacts inside an old circuit breaker could oxidize like this, possibly?

Those spring stab backs were known to cause fires from the spring loosing tension from heat build up, they then would arc which as you can plainly see that one was on its way. NEVER USE THOSE!!
My father used those when he built the house I now own in 1989. Over the years while he was alive I'd get a call to come fix an outlet or switch because they were sparking. He was the cheapest SOB, he spent a princely sum of .15¢ on the switch and .20¢ on the outlets. For a dime more he could have bought a much superior switch and outlet. First thing I did when I moved in to take care of my mother was change out every outlet and switch. Trust me not one came from the bulk bin on the bottom shelf at the building store. My mother bulked but I told he I'd never be able to sleep at night knowing I could wake up dead. When I showed her some of her melted switches and outlets she was astonished that the house never caught fire.

stangman67 wrote: »

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Sure you will buddy. Please invest in good smoke detectors and a large fire extinguisher.

Seconded. And a fireproof home insurance policy

stangman67 wrote: »

You keep saying that

ChrisD06 wrote: »

Gardenstater wrote: »

ChrisD06 wrote: »

Well it seems some people can't read and decided to omit the fact I've stated multiple times this is dangerous to do and that I'm putting my 15A back 😂

Anyhow I did my swap. Popped the 15 out and put the 20 in. I did it hot too (NEVER DO IT HOT). Listened to Time, Great Gig in the Sky, Is There Anybody Out There, Comfortably Numb, Telegraph Road, and Money for Nothing.

Wire insulation did not rise above room temperature. No electrical fires to be had (because I was only drawing a couple amps of current).

Put the 15A back in because of code and safety reasons (apparently some people don't seem to grasp this).

Anyhow, I have my verdict on the breaker swap.

Based on the facts, and subjective listening, using the highest quality 20A breaker the electrical department at the hardware store I'm employed at sells, there was zero difference in the sound quality of my system, and I was thoroughly disappointed. If it was really that easy to make a huge difference, I'd have loved to have been proven wrong.

Unfortunately it's simply impossible, and my ears agreed with me.

Reminder to not deal with electrical stuff unless you know what you're doing, it's dangerous and unforgiving. Most breakers also use the same types of metal now.

Maybe I should test a GFCI or AFCI 🙃

Did you clean the copper wire where it is inserted into the new breaker? Devils in the details if you want to try to compare your results with treitz3. Also, you cannot rule out that his breaker may have been higher quality and made better contact to the hot bus and internally than the one you used. Also, his old breaker may have been in a poorer state than your old one.

Breakers are breakers. If his old one was in worse shape it wouldn't be working properly or he'd notice obvious issues with it. My copper wires were visibly flawless so I didn't clean them.

You do realize that 'better contact with the hot bus' is probably the most incredible thing I've ever read. If it made better contact, it wouldn't make a difference because it can handle the power throughput required, if it made inferior contact, it'd possibly cause an electrical fire. The way breakers go into the hot bus is a standard.

If treitz30 posts his breaker make and model, I'd be more than glad to see if mine is higher/equal/worse quality.

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I have never had an issue back stabbing a switch or outlet, what I have found over the years, is the screw coming loose on a couple switches, and you could tell they were sparking, for the record I did not install them.
Also I don’t purchase switches or outlets out of the bottom bin either..

invalid wrote: »

@ChrisD06 you should learn more about amplifiers especially class A and class A/b and how impedance of a speaker changes with frequency. You don't have to listen at concert levels to get voltage drop.

ChrisD06 wrote: »

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Ask any electrician why they're bad. Also just look it up online. It's not a safe thing to do.

No need to look it up pal, I just explained why it's bad in my response to George.

@Toolfan66.

I do not believe the spring back stabbers(Chinese handcuff type)are on the market anymore. Now they do have a new version that actually clamps the wire between copper or brass plates. The same screw that you can wrap the wire around tightens both. Much better than the old spring Chinese handcuffed type.

I missed that. Also they have the Chinese handcuff type ones here in Canada still, but us Canadians are always behind.