The fuse blows when I have all my PC's on and someone uses the microwave

[psteng19]

Here's the deal.
I have 5 computers (2 19" CRT's, 2 18" LCD"s and 1 17" LCD and 1 laptop, along with a 27" TV) in my basement and when someone at home uses the microwave or toaster oven in the kitchen upstairs while they're all on, it's lights out.

Obviously they're drawing too much current and for safety, the fuse trips to prevent overload.
What can I do to prevent this short of getting an electrician?
What can the electrician do, and how much will it cost?

 

[Blieb]

OMG, this is too funny.

Edit:

Call an electrician ...

 

[Theslowone]

He can rewire the basement to another breaker(fuse), heck you could do that if you took your time and made sure things were right. But the easiest thing to do is see if there is a plug close to the microwave that isn't on the same circuit.

 

[Ness]

This is God's way of saying not only do you need to get a life and stop thinking you need 5 computers running, but that you need to get your ass away from them and stop making microwave burritos while you are being a nerd.

 

[iamwiz82]

why do you need 5 running? I dont think you are going to be able to provide a good enough reason to pay an electrician to rewire the circuit.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: ness1469
This is God's way of saying not only do you need to get a life and stop thinking you need 5 computers running, but that you need to get your ass away from them and stop making microwave burritos while you are being a nerd.

I have friend's over my house and we're either playing LAN games or have a scrim going on.
As if you know what's going on in my life

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: ness1469
This is God's way of saying not only do you need to get a life and stop thinking you need 5 computers running, but that you need to get your ass away from them and stop making microwave burritos while you are being a nerd.

I have friend's over my house and we're either playing LAN games or have a scrim going on.
As if you know what's going on in my life

"Joke"

 

[Ornery]

Turn off the circuit that the microwave is using. Find a circuit in the basement that's still live. Run an extension cord from there to your PCs.

If the breaker box is in the basement, it might be pretty quick and easy to add a dedicated circuit for your PC use.

 

[Brutuskend]

My power strip would reset when I turned on my Microwave. (scanner, printer and M/W all on the same strip)

MAy I suggest a power strip? Then your fuse won't blow.

 

[Fiveohhh]

If you know a bit about electricity I'd just wire another circuit to the basement or microwave. Otherwise move your microwave to a different circuit, or some of your pc's

 

[radioouman]

Just get a bigger fuse. Then run all of the appliances for a long time. Then you won't have five computers and a microwave and a 27" TV to worry about. Problem solved.

 

[Encryptic]

Personally, I'd call an electrician unless you really know what you're doing, otherwise your next post to ATOT may be "I just got fried to a crisp by 50,000 volts. Should I go to the hospital?"

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Cut off a bolt and use that or just stick a penny in it.

 

[XZeroII]

How about if you run an EXTENSION CORD from another room?

 

[NogginBoink]

Switch to only eating precooked foods. Problem solved.

 

[psteng19]

I already have 4 power strips running down here.
The circuit breaker just flips off, so those power strips aren't helping.

I've run 50 ft heavy duty extension cords from upstairs when I had people bringing their PC's over. But as a permanent solution, it won't help. Too unsightly and I don't want to trip over more cords.

 

[dman]

the two 19" CRT monitors, replace them with LCD's?

Switch from whatever lighting to none or CFL.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

use the oven.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Just get a bigger fuse. Then run all of the appliances for a long time. Then you won't have five computers and a microwave and a 27" TV to worry about. Problem solved.

Even if you could find a 20 or 30 amp breaker to replace the 15A breaker.. don't you think theres a reason for their MAXIMUM ratings?

Doing this would be very dangerous and put your house in danger of an electrical fire.

As others have said, you have to re-distribute your power usage. There is really no other way short of having an electrician rework things.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: ness1469
This is God's way of saying not only do you need to get a life and stop thinking you need 5 computers running, but that you need to get your ass away from them and stop making microwave burritos while you are being a nerd.

I have friend's over my house and we're either playing LAN games or have a scrim going on.
As if you know what's going on in my life

ALL the time?

 

[Jzero]

So turn something off when you need to microwave.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: dman
the two 19" CRT monitors, replace them with LCD's?

Switch from whatever lighting to none or CFL.

Also buy some of the new Seasonic power supplies, if you read the reviews at www.silentpcreview.com you'll see they run much more efficiently than other supplies (less wasted as heat = less power drawn). Also if you have your boxes riced up and running 10 fans each then turn off the cold cathodes and drop down to 1-2 fans per box.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: radioouman
Just get a bigger fuse. Then run all of the appliances for a long time. Then you won't have five computers and a microwave and a 27" TV to worry about. Problem solved.

Even if you could find a 20 or 30 amp breaker to replace the 15A breaker.. don't you think theres a reason for their MAXIMUM ratings?

Doing this would be very dangerous and put your house in danger of an electrical fire.

As others have said, you have to re-distribute your power usage. There is really no other way short of having an electrician rework things.

Do I, or radioouman, really need to expalin his post to you?

psteng, bottom line, you need a new circuit. If you can't handle it, call an electrician. It won't be cheap either, hourly rates are a bitch.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: radioouman
Just get a bigger fuse. Then run all of the appliances for a long time. Then you won't have five computers and a microwave and a 27" TV to worry about. Problem solved.

Even if you could find a 20 or 30 amp breaker to replace the 15A breaker.. don't you think theres a reason for their MAXIMUM ratings?

Doing this would be very dangerous and put your house in danger of an electrical fire.

As others have said, you have to re-distribute your power usage. There is really no other way short of having an electrician rework things.

Time to recalibrate your sarcasm meter.

 

[psteng19]

I already converted 2 CRT's to LCD's. They ain't cheap man And they're no where near as good for gaming.
It used to be 4 CRT's - 3 x 19" and 1 x 17".

No, I don't have people over all the time (but it's often, either friends or family), but it's annoying when we're making popcorn or heating up pizza.

My PC's ain't riced either. The only "extras" in there are 1 80mm fan and Live Drive's. Everything else is standard AMD XP CPU, GF4's, 7200 RPM's, Audigy's, burners and/or DVD/CD-ROM's.