question about window AC units

[eLiu]

Hey all,
I just got a window AC unit for my dorm room--6000 BTU rated, draws 5.5A for 600W.

I'm wondering if I'm going to lose cooling performance by plugging it into a surge protector along with a few other appliances?

The other appliances are: 150W light fixture, 72W laptop AC adapter, 60W light fixture.

The surge protector is plugged into an extension cord which then goes into the wall (I don't have a grounded outlet close enough to plug the surge protector in directly--it's an old building.)

So the best I could do is plug the window AC unit into the extension cord...

So yeah, is running my AC thru the surge protector going to be bad for performance/safety?

Thanks,
-Eric

 

[jagec]

Why would it?

 

[MustISO]

Sounds like a recipe for a fire.

 

[NTB]

I would plug the AC straight into the wall - those things draw a lot of juice. I'm surprised that they're allowed in dorms, actually (they wouldn't have been at my school).

Nate

 

[Frew]

Dont talk about air conditioners. I got banned last time!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: NTB
I would plug the AC straight into the wall - those things draw a lot of juice. I'm surprised that they're allowed in dorms, actually (they wouldn't have been at my school).

Nate

:thumbsup:

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Frew
Dont talk about air conditioners. I got banned last time!

for talking about an AC?

Nate

 

[deftron]

600 Watts for only 6,000 BTU sucks!@


Should be like 400W or less


My 12000 BTU AC is like 580 Watts

Cools the whole apartment

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Frew
Dont talk about air conditioners. I got banned last time!

werd

 

[myusername]

power strips usually rated for 1000W, but personally I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Frew]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Frew
Dont talk about air conditioners. I got banned last time!

werd

:laugh:

You are part of the crew. Put it in your sig.

 

[mb]

Really? I've had my window A/C running on a power strip for two months now.. what's the harm? It didn't say anything in the manual not to do so..

 

[rickn]

nah, you don't need it on a powerstrip. AC units can take lots of punishment

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: myusername
power strips usually rated for 1000W, but personally I wouldn't risk it.

in total. Drawing anywhere near that much out of a single plug is likely to cause some problems - I tried to do it with a baseboard heater once

Nate

 

[FoBoT]

that isn't how electricity works
don't worry

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: deftron
600 Watts for only 6,000 BTU sucks!@


Should be like 400W or less


My 12000 BTU AC is like 580 Watts

Cools the whole apartment

I'm just reading the #s off the tag...maybe 600W is the maximum draw (like when you turn it on)?. They probably use more efficient parts for the larger units. Besides, this thing only cost me $130.

Again, I *can't* plug it into the wall. The cord isn't long enough. There is a socket nearby, but it isn't grounded (this building dates back to the 1910s)...the nearest grounded outlet is too far away.

So basically, the options are: AC->extension cord->wall OR AC->power strip->extension cord->wall.

I'm sure it won't start a fire...there are ppl here with like 8000BTU units and no one has died...there was even one guy who ran 3 6000BTU units to cool 17 computers in his room (!!!!)...no fire...but granted he had to "steal" power from the neighboring 3 rooms, haha.

-Eric

 

[shot]

they let you put an AC in a dorm room? My how times have changed

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: eLiu

Originally posted by: deftron
600 Watts for only 6,000 BTU sucks!@


Should be like 400W or less


My 12000 BTU AC is like 580 Watts

Cools the whole apartment

I'm just reading the #s off the tag...maybe 600W is the maximum draw (like when you turn it on)?. They probably use more efficient parts for the larger units. Besides, this thing only cost me $130.

Again, I *can't* plug it into the wall. The cord isn't long enough. There is a socket nearby, but it isn't grounded (this building dates back to the 1910s)...the nearest grounded outlet is too far away.

So basically, the options are: AC->extension cord->wall OR AC->power strip->extension cord->wall.

I'm sure it won't start a fire...there are ppl here with like 8000BTU units and no one has died...there was even one guy who ran 3 6000BTU units to cool 17 computers in his room (!!!!)...no fire...but granted he had to "steal" power from the neighboring 3 rooms, haha.

-Eric

In that case, your best bet would be a short, heavy-duty extension cord to run out to that grounded socket. One of those thick, orange indoor/outdoor cords.

Nate

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: shot
they let you put an AC in a dorm room? My how times have changed

In the dorm I stayed in, a couple girls in the hall above me had a toaster oven. If they didn't turn *everything* in their room off when they wanted to use it, they'd blow fuses and take out half the hall

Nate

 

[deftron]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: eLiu

Originally posted by: deftron
600 Watts for only 6,000 BTU sucks!@


Should be like 400W or less


My 12000 BTU AC is like 580 Watts

Cools the whole apartment

I'm just reading the #s off the tag...maybe 600W is the maximum draw (like when you turn it on)?. They probably use more efficient parts for the larger units. Besides, this thing only cost me $130.

Again, I *can't* plug it into the wall. The cord isn't long enough. There is a socket nearby, but it isn't grounded (this building dates back to the 1910s)...the nearest grounded outlet is too far away.

So basically, the options are: AC->extension cord->wall OR AC->power strip->extension cord->wall.

I'm sure it won't start a fire...there are ppl here with like 8000BTU units and no one has died...there was even one guy who ran 3 6000BTU units to cool 17 computers in his room (!!!!)...no fire...but granted he had to "steal" power from the neighboring 3 rooms, haha.

-Eric

In that case, your best bet would be a short, heavy-duty extension cord to run out to that grounded socket. One of those thick, orange indoor/outdoor cords.

Nate

You won't start a fire.

My whole apt. is ungrounded.

AC's, Computers, Microwaves, Tv's, Stereos



they're all still kickin

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: shot
they let you put an AC in a dorm room? My how times have changed

In the dorm I stayed in, a couple girls in the hall above me had a toaster oven. If they didn't turn *everything* in their room off when they wanted to use it, they'd blow fuses and take out half the hall

Nate

wow your wiring is weak

People here keep multiple computers, microwaves, TVs, the works...all in this ancient building. But it's all happy.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: eLiu

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: shot
they let you put an AC in a dorm room? My how times have changed

In the dorm I stayed in, a couple girls in the hall above me had a toaster oven. If they didn't turn *everything* in their room off when they wanted to use it, they'd blow fuses and take out half the hall

Nate

wow your wiring is weak

People here keep multiple computers, microwaves, TVs, the works...all in this ancient building. But it's all happy.

yeah well, the building was ancient, just like yours. And everybody had all kinds of crap plugged in there, too. Most of the time it worked fine. I guess it was just the shock from the sudden draw when it was turned on. I never actually got to witness this; I just heard the story from my old girlfriend and from the girls with the toaster oven themselves.

Nate