The problem was finding 30 AMP receptacle for a regular IEC-320-C13 3 prong cord to plug into, which is normally used for 15 AMP or 20 AMP circuit. I could not find one. I don't think they even make one. So, I decided to get an L14-30P 4 prong circular receptacle that will push 30 AMPS so that two S4's can be put on one circuit.
One S4 is 1400 watts. Two S4's would be 2800 watts. 240 volts or 120 volts is not what is important. The amperage is what is important in this application. Each AMP can push 120 watts of power. 1400 watts divided by 120 watts per amp = 11.6666667 AMPS for one S4. 2800 watts divided by 120 watts per amp = 23.3333333 AMPS for two S4's.
With a 30 AMP circuit, yes, this would leave 6.6666666 AMPS remaining for the circuit if I was powering two S4's. However, I do not want to push the circuit and the wiring to its limits. I want to keep the heat down and have less chance of tripping the breaker. I have approximately 800 watts per setup of two S3's with one 860 watt PSU. Just because it can push 860 does not mean I'm using 860. Theoretically, I could have 3 sets of S3's (6 of them) with three (3) 800 watt PSU's on a 20 AMP circuit. 800 watts x 3 = 2400 watts. A 20 AMP circuit x 120 watts per AMP is 2400 watts. That would be pushing that 20 AMP circuit to its max which would heat up the wiring more.
The way I feel we need to look at it is this way:
Push your circuits no more than 75 to 80 percent [if you can help it] to keep from heating up your inside wiring, especially, in a residence. I have 240 Volts coming into the house to the main breaker. The main breaker panel is 200 AMPS. However, we split up our amperage in our residence/business with breakers. We don't have all 200 AMPS on one circuit in our house. We split it up according to what is required for the equipment/appliances.
I have a choice, run multiple 14/2 wiring with 15 AMP breakers having only one 15 AMP circuit for each S4. Doing so would require me to spend more money on wire and more time with labor to run the wiring and wire up each receptacle. Why? If I want eight S4's, that would mean eight runs of 14/2 wiring going into eight 15 AMP receptacles. Lot more money and labor.
A 20 AMP circuit with 12/2 wiring capable of 2400 watts leaves me 1000 watts of un-used power. That did not seem like the right thing to do. It was basically the same as a 15 AMP circuit with the same problem of running more wiring and hooking up more receptacles. 20 AMPS was not able to power two S4's.
A 30 AMP circuit with the potential of running 3600 watts (30 AMPS x 120 watts per amp). Two S4's [2800 watts] from 3600 would leave 800 watts left over instead of 1000 watts like it would with a 20 AMP circuit. I'm using 77% of my amperage in a 30 AMP circuit with two S4's on that 30 AMP circuit. Also, I'm spending less money on wiring and wiring up fewer receptacles at the wall [less labor].
The voltage did not matter in this case. The S4 is made for 120 volt or 240 volt circuit
AT 30 AMPS. So, what mattered most was the amperage. What also mattered was how much money I spend on wiring and receptacles and how much labor I expend to install the wiring and receptacles.
It made more sense to me to have four (4) runs of 10 AWG wiring going to four (4) 30 AMP receptacles. Then, have four (4) cords to split from a 30 AMP circular plug in to two 15/20 AMP 3 prong female plug in's going in each 30 AMP receptacle. That would give me a total of eight 15/20 AMP 3 prong female plug in's to plug in eight S4's.
The splitter cord I'm purchasing will also break down the voltage from 240 to 120. How? It will use the Red/White for one 15 AMP/120 Volt circuit and the Black/White for the other 15 AMP/120 Volt Circuit.
As for waste of amperage or wattage: there is very little waste here. We have to consider what we are willing to spend on wiring and what is available at the other end of the wiring to plug our equipment into. We also need to consider the amount of labor involved when installing the wiring and plug (receptacle) we plug into. Unfortunately, there is no 30 AMP IEC-C13 3 prong outlet. The max it goes to is 20 AMP; that I could find in the U.S.A. If we go anything over 20 AMP in the U.S.A. we have to use a specialized outlet other than C13 3 prong outlet.
30 AMPS was the OBVIOUS choice for two (2) S4's to run on. Since it is the obvious amperage for two (2) S4's to run on, I needed to look at what 30 AMP outlets were available for me to use. These are what is available in the U.S.A. :
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/Electrical-Outlets-Adapters/Electrical-Outlets/_/N-1z0yt2j/pl?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1#!&N%5B%5D=1z0v8l3&N%5B%5D=1z0yt2jNow, if you see what is available, you understand the dilemma I was in. I needed to get something to break down to a regular 3 prong C13 plug. That's when I found the following:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IUHA28/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 That was the ticket.
So, I will use 10/3 wiring to a 30 AMP receptacle to split with a special cord to power two S4's. That was the cheapest, easiest and safest way to do it in my opinion. However, I'm open to other opinions.
If you say, "Amperage or wattage is being wasted," actually it's very little compared to 20 AMP circuit. Yes, I could have had multiple 15 AMP circuits. However, they would have powered only one S4 and I would have spent more time with labor as well as more money on multiple runs of wiring to those receptacles.
David
