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Question about wall outlets...

F

flippinfleck

Golden Member
So, how many computers can I put on one circuit? All the wiring is approx 2-3 years old in the place I'm moving two, but one of the rooms (my computer room to be) only has two wall sockets, both on the same circuit. I've got three computers, a 19" & 17" & 15" monitors, and am looking to pick up a fourth computer.

Am I going to run into problems if I have them all running at once?
 
You'll have to check the breaker box to be sure, but it's probably a 15 amp circuit. That will give you 1800 watts. You should be okay as long as you don't put too much else on that circuit.
 
Nah, just the computers. I've got two UPS setups so far, picking up a third next week.

Although, I do have other components that go with the computers... router, dsl modem, speakers, printer, scanner. But that's about it.
 
I have 6 PC?s, 2 monitors, 2 sets of speakers, KVM switch, router, switch, phone, VCR, 2 desk lamps and few other things on a 15 amp circuit, never blew a breaker yet. I?m pushing it but the one thing I did was get KVM switches to cut down on the monitors since they were the biggest power draw.
 
Schawing, sounds like I should be all set to set these up. The 15" & 17" monitors are not always on, usually in the off position. Should work out fine!
 
Don't forget that those two sockets in your room probably aren't the only thing on that circuit. Make sure you don't have like a refrigerator running on it too. We ran into huge issues in my apartment the first summer we were here because almost every configuration of having air conditioners plugged in as well as our computers, we'd always end up with too much pulling on the same circuits and losing power. At one point even with JUST our 4 or 5 PC's plugged in in different rooms, we'd blow the circuit. Eventually we paid for an electrician to come run a dedicated circuit to one room to cut the load from there.
 
So working with a second person, one upstairs and one down, would be a good idea? I figured as much. Not a huge deal though, we can figure out what goes with what no problem.
 
i think you can run 6 computers, with monitors, no problem.

at lan parties, we run 6 computers per circuit and haven't blown out a fuse yet...
however once, some idiots decided to daisy chain they power bars, and ended up with 10 comps + 10 monitors on one circuit...
it barely lasted an hour before blowing out 😛
 


<< ...some idiots decided to daisy chain they power bars, and ended up with 10 comps + 10 monitors on one circuit... >>


Umm, yeah. I don't think I've ever daisy chained my strips. Common sense aint so common, I guess...
 
lol daisy chaining those...

I blew a fuse in the kitchen once: 2 microwave ovens, 1 toaster oven, Refridgerator, oven, rice cooker, and I think it was the blender that finished it off. Suddenly CRACK, and there was no power. After replacing the fuse we still had no power, and had to call an electrician to see what's wrong. He showed me a red button in the bathroom outlet that gave us power again.

If you run all the computers at once, isn't the worst that could happen is you blow a fuse and just have to replace it?
 


<< You'll have to check the breaker box to be sure, but it's probably a 15 amp circuit. That will give you 1800 watts. You should be okay as long as you don't put too much else on that circuit. >>



No it doesn't give 1800 watts when using computers. V * A only holds true for purely resistive load only such as heaters and lightbulbs.

You can draw up to 1800VA from one outlet. It requires a TRUE RMS ammeter(not your typical cheapo RadioShack DMM) and a volt meter to figure out the VA, but computer has VERY HIGH CREST FACTOR so that might play some role as well.
 
Well, I'm gonna go for it. Putting four comps on in that one room that is.

Currently, I have the three computers and everything else in my apartment on one circuit. Yeah, you heard me, one circuit. I've been down in the cellar to check. There are a whopping total of TWO fuses for my apartment. One of them does everything in the place with the exception of one wall socket! WTF?!? I thought it was strange when my lights dimmed every time the toaster popped up...
 
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