How many amps needed for computer electrical outlet

  • Thread starter Thread starter Davek
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Davek

I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --

http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html

I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

TIA
- Dave Kistner
 
| I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
| run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
| I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
| computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
| amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
| a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --
|
| http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html
|
| I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
| DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
| 22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

15 to 20 Amps should be enough. 30 Amps could allow the circuit to run too hot.
Wattage is a concern, though. Just make sure there's no more than 1600W total
on any one circuit.

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§
 
20-15 is good enough IMO....30 means you won't be sorry EVER ASA maybe adding AC wall unit or something along those lines
..
 
30 Amps could allow the circuit to run too hot.
Click to expand...

That's funny. You got that backwards. The thicker the wire the cooler
it runs. My company never runs anything uner 20 amp for that reason.
Every time you use an outlet you are heating the building with
electric heat. The most expensive heat there is. Thicker the wire the
cooler/cheaper to use.
 
|
|
| > 30 Amps could allow the circuit to run too hot.
|
| That's funny. You got that backwards. The thicker the wire the cooler
| it runs. My company never runs anything uner 20 amp for that reason.
| Every time you use an outlet you are heating the building with
| electric heat. The most expensive heat there is. Thicker the wire the
| cooler/cheaper to use.

I didn't think he was asking about wire thickness. I thought it was all about
fusing. Most standard household wire is for 15 to 20 Amp current. Trying to
drive 30 Amps across that is asking for trouble.

If he wants to run a specific 30 Amp line, that would certainly be OK. But he
won't need it.

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§
 
You don't drive current across a power line. Current draw (amps) is a
function of the load not how much current is available. His computer will
draw about 5 amps at 120 volts, give or take an amp. If he ran a 200 amp
line to the outlet, the computer will still only draw 5 amps. His normal
household wiring will do just fine.
 
My unit draws 150 watts with an xp2000+, 2 7200rpm HD's, geforce 4ti 4200,
tv card, sound blaster. 17" crt draws 65 watts. Power supply is Antec 300w.

So, 215 watts, at 120 volts, would be about 2 amps.

You can actually measure the amps your system draws with the Kill A Watt
meter:

http://store.yahoo.com/ahernstore/p4400.html
 
Davek said:
I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --

http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html

I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

TIA
- Dave Kistner
Click to expand...


Assuming you have 120V power not 220V (e.g. European) power,
you could run perhaps five of these machines from a 20 AMP outlet.

--

... Hank - who has six computers on one 20 AMP 120 volt breaker ...
.... and one ham radio amplifier on it's own 20 AMP 240 volt circuit :-)

Hank: http://horedson.home.att.net
W0RLI: http://w0rli.home.att.net
 
I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --

http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html

I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

TIA
- Dave Kistner
Click to expand...

A 15 or 20 will do. If you chose 20, use #12AWG wire, and T-slot
receptacles.

Over 20A is not permitted for domestic outlets, which yours is.
 
I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --

http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html

I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

TIA
- Dave Kistner
Click to expand...

If you are in USA Canada:

A domestic recepticle above 20A is not permitted. (above that are
permitted only for leads that require such power)

If you do decide on 20A, use 12 guage wire, and t-slot recepticles,
although 15A will be plenty for one system.

Elsewhere the regulations may vary.

I got by with one PC system, with laser printer, and two TV systems
on one 15A circuit. Renovations re-distributed the wiring so it is one
TV system on the same circuit as the PC, and the laser dumped for an
Inkjet, still doing okay.
 
Over 20A is not permitted for domestic outlets, which yours is.

domestic? I just had my room addition (USA CA) done with 1 x 30a dedicated to AC and 20a to the wall sockets for the entertainment
/ computer center + various lamps ceiling fan.

Dedicated is different than domestic, or changes the parameters in some way?
 
Hank said:
Assuming you have 120V power not 220V (e.g. European) power,
you could run perhaps five of these machines from a 20 AMP outlet.
Click to expand...
Well, with a US standard 120 volt house circuit, 20 amps would give
about 1920 watts of power. The 550 watt power supply of your system
would be well within that capacity. Actually, a 15 amp circuit would be
plenty, with capacity left over for lamps, radios, etc.

Regards, hawk
 
Thanks everyone for the help. I just finished installing
20 amp circuit (Geesh, glad I asked or I would have tried
the 30 amp :-)
- Dave Kistner
 
Larc said:
|
|
| > 30 Amps could allow the circuit to run too hot.
|
| That's funny. You got that backwards. The thicker the wire the cooler
| it runs. My company never runs anything uner 20 amp for that reason.
| Every time you use an outlet you are heating the building with
| electric heat. The most expensive heat there is. Thicker the wire the
| cooler/cheaper to use.

I didn't think he was asking about wire thickness. I thought it was all
about
fusing. Most standard household wire is for 15 to 20 Amp current. Trying
to drive 30 Amps across that is asking for trouble.
Click to expand...

"drive 30 amps"??? What are you talking about??? So you think if you plug a
night light with a 7 watt bulb into a 30 amp circuit it will somehow force
30 amps through it?
 
I'm remodeling the room where I keep my computer and want to
run a new dedicated electrical circuit to the desk area that
I'm going to keep a new computer I'm building. This new
computer will be running an Antec 550 power supply. Is a 20
amp service to this new wall outlet enough? Or should I run
a 30 amp? Here's the specs for the Antec P.S. --

http://www.antec-inc.com/specs/true550_spe.html

I'll be running an AMD 2500+, ATI 9800, 3-HDD's, CDRW,
DVD-ROM, 5 case fans and will overclock. I'll also have a
22" CRT and an ink jet printer.

TIA
- Dave Kistner
Click to expand...

8-9 amp 115-120v is plenty for most computer systems.
Run a separate 20amp circuit and you will have plenty
of headroom.


:-) Greg B.
 
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