For all of you "crack rackers" out there

[MaxCrunch]

How many "nodes" will the typical home/apartment wiring support per circuit? I'm thinking about getting in on the latest craze and putting together a crack rack, but am concerned that the wiring/breaker box might not be up to the task of handling any more than 6 nodes, for example. Any ideas here? I really don't want to keep adding nodes to the point that the breaker starts popping...

Thanks!
MaxC

 

[thorin]

Go look at the panel and see what the rating is on the breakers then calculate the max load each system would draw and don't exceed the max you read off the breaker.

Thorin

 

[office boy]

Well an average wall outlet circut is 15 amps.. so thats 1800watts... about 12 computers drawing 150watts... of course you have to see how many circuts you have (might be only one if it's a small place).. and also take into consideration lamps, TV's, microwaves, etc.

 

[Russ]

I have 12 nodes, 2 server boxes, three 10/100 switches, and my build bench plugged in to one outlet 24/7. It's only tripped once in two months, and I think that was probably a power surge (happened over night). The breaker is 20 amps.

Russ, NCNE

 

[office boy]

Well thats about 2400 watts for a 20 amp...
figure your nodes are using... about 100 watts (no HD, and the PS fan)
Your switches are around 15 watts each (45 Watts total)
I'll guess at servers being about 200 watts... most the time.. 400 Watts
a couple of monitors two right? say two 17's would be er 250 each so 500 Watts
Thats 1200+45+400+500=2145... Plus what your build bench uses... thats pushing it.. but ok...

 

[MaxCrunch]

So if I tell my S.O. that we just have to keep the "computer room" dark, with no lights, no TV, etc., I can probably put a 6- to 8-node system in there, no sweat! (It does have it's own circuit for the outlets, as nearly as I can tell by testing.) Heh heh, I wonder if she'll fall for that...

Off to negotiate!

Thanks, folks!
MaxC

 

[Napalm381]

With a couple of monitors on, you don't need lamps, trust me

 

[KingHam]

Lights? Just keep a flashlight in there.

KingHam

 

[Viztech]

Heck, I have 8 full computers, 2 15" monitors and can still run a shop vac on a 20 amp breaker.

Go for it Crunch

viz

Oops, I take that back.
10 computers, 2 15" and one 20" monitor, and the shop vac.

 

[Mandrill]

I have 9 systems, 3 monitors, router, dsl modem, 24 port hub, incandecent light, big arse laser printer, cordless phone, answering machine, and two two bulb florecent lights on the same 20 amp circut with old wiring and fuses and it is good to go! I think the washer and dryer may be on the same circut as well. Dryer is gas however. All good to go.

 

[dawks]

I love it!

 

[Wulf]

HAHA...another recruit to the DARK dark side . Who says (_|_) kills

 

[networkman]

I'm not even gonna bother listing what I've got, as I own my own house, and don't have a S.O. to be concerned with, so I have computers in multiple places.

I promise.. as soon as I get a digital camera, I'll take pics and post 'em on the web so that others can see my place!

As for electrical, a 15 to 20amp circuit should be fine; I do have a couple 30amp circuits, but that was due to the loads that UPSs tend to put on the electrical system.

EDIT: It should be noted that my UPSs are a mixture of APC SmartUPS 900's and larger, including a Matrix 5000... not typical of the average TA cracker.

 

[dawks]

Nice networkman!