OT: Vacuum cleaner power usage

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnS
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JohnS

I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have more and more
stuff plugged into various rooms. Living room - air con, PC,
TV,stereo, DVD player etc.

Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player, fan , amplifier and
other music stuff.

Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip the power
off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded and its dangerous?
Or is that normal? I mean should I just back off plugging some things
in?
 
I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have
more and more stuff plugged into various rooms. Living
room - air con, PC, TV,stereo, DVD player etc.
Click to expand...
Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player,
fan , amplifier and other music stuff.
Click to expand...
Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip
the power off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded
Click to expand...

Unlikely, particularly if that doesnt happen with the air con turned off.

Much more likely to be a faulty vacuum cleaner.
and its dangerous?
Click to expand...

Not really, that is what the breakers are there for.
Or is that normal?
Nope.

I mean should I just back off plugging some things in?
Click to expand...

Wont be that if you get the same effect with the air con off.
 
I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have more and more
stuff plugged into various rooms. Living room - air con, PC,
TV,stereo, DVD player etc.

Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player, fan , amplifier and
other music stuff.

Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip the power
off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded and its dangerous?
Or is that normal? I mean should I just back off plugging some things
in?
Click to expand...

Consult the ratings on the back of the appliances and add
them together. My vacuum is 9.6 amps, and virtually any other
heavy appliance would push me over 15 amps on my breakers.
Having the AC on the same circuit might be enough to trip it.
Not all ratings on appliances are realistic, so you have
to use some common sense when reading the numbers. You
know the vacuum cleaner number is for real, because of
its ability to heat up the air in the room you use it in.
You could try a Kill-O-Watt meter, as a cheap way to
rate your devices, if you want to refine the numbers.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001EY6P0

Paul
 
I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have more and more
stuff plugged into various rooms. Living room - air con, PC,
TV,stereo, DVD player etc.

Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player, fan , amplifier and
other music stuff.

Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip the power
off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded
yes

and its dangerous?
yes

Or is that normal?
Click to expand...

yes, if you overload your supplies
I mean should I just back off plugging some things
in?
Click to expand...

yes! With marginal installations, writing the current draw in amps on
each plug makes it easy to add up what youre running on what circuit.
What you can run where depends entirely on what country youre in and
how your house is wired.

Hate to think what the bill will be.

Note you'll find most appliances draw too little to be a problem, but
the few that draw high power need keeping an eye on what plugs in where
with any wiring system.

That they dont teach this stuff in schools...


NT
 
I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have more and more
stuff plugged into various rooms. Living room - air con, PC,
TV,stereo, DVD player etc.

Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player, fan , amplifier and
other music stuff.

Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip the power
off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded and its dangerous?
Or is that normal? I mean should I just back off plugging some things
in?
Click to expand...


Yes it could be normal, a typical vacuum cleaner does draw a
half-dozen amps or more. Motors like this are large power
consumers. You could have something wrong with the motor
but I doubt it, the vac would die pretty quick if there were
a significant short in the windings or the bearings were
shot.

Yes you should back off plugging some things in, have
another circuit put in or upgrade the existing one to handle
more current... and by upgrade I mean wiring too not just a
larger rated breaker.

Possibly just using another circuit to power the vac is an
answer, if you have multiple circuits going over the breaker
rating I'd hate to see your power bill.
 
The circuit is at maximum load and should either be upgraded or far fewer
devices plugged in.
 
Consult the ratings on the back of the appliances and add
them together. My vacuum is 9.6 amps, and virtually any other
heavy appliance would push me over 15 amps on my breakers.
Having the AC on the same circuit might be enough to trip it.




Not all ratings on appliances are realistic, so you have
to use some common sense when reading the numbers. You
know the vacuum cleaner number is for real, because of
its ability to heat up the air in the room you use it in.
You could try a Kill-O-Watt meter, as a cheap way to
rate your devices, if you want to refine the numbers.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001EY6P0

Paul
Click to expand...
 
I was wondering if this was normal or not. I now have more and more
stuff plugged into various rooms. Living room - air con, PC,
TV,stereo, DVD player etc.

Bedroom -- TV, 2 PCs, air con, stereo, DVD player, fan , amplifier and
other music stuff.

Now when I turn the vacuum cleaner on - the breakers flip the power
off. Is that some sign that things are overloaded and its dangerous?
Or is that normal? I mean should I just back off plugging some things
in?
Click to expand...

Electrical installations in houses are divided into groups, each group
having a breaker.
(Sometimes, in old installations, there is only one group. All teh
appliances then are connected to that one breaker switch.)
A Breaker allows only so much current to pass through.
That has to do with the wiring on that group: a copper wire can also
only tramsit limited current.
So the breaker breaks to protect the wiring against overloading.
A breaking breaker is not a problem: it's shows the thing does its
work.
Your appliance not working might be a problem.

In your list, I see only an airco and a vacuumcleaner that might be
heavy loads on the electrical installation.
A PC is 150 watt
a sound installation might be... 200 watts ?
DVD player... max 50 watts
tv....100 watts
light bulb: 75 watts ? (printed on the glass)
just guessing...

(And then: not all of these are switched on at once: you don't watch
tv AND listen to a CD AND work on 3 PC'S, do you ?)

but add those values and divide the sum by your local voltage (like
230 or 110 volts ?) and you get the current you draw. That should be
less than the value of the breaker (should be printed on the thing)

You can guess: an overload is an overload: the breaker can flip
because of a DVD player being switched on. It needs only a drop to
overflow a bucket.

Some people put in a heavier breaker, when an overload occurs..
However, the question must be asked, if your wiring can carry the
load... Only a certified installer can tell you... My bet is, you
should never do that.

Often heavy power consumers like ovens and washing machines are on
separate groups

So relevenat questions for you are:
1: do I have enough separate groups ?
2: if so, can I connect some appliances to another group ?
3: does the vac cleaner have a short circuit (=damaged) ?

Oh, and one more thing: a bedroom is for sleep and... ok...you know...
NOT for watching tv or working on a PC. You will fall asleep much
easier, if you dedicated that room to the appropriate activities.
It will improve your night rest...
 
Oh, and one more thing: a bedroom is for sleep and... ok...you know...
NOT for watching tv or working on a PC. You will fall asleep much
easier, if you dedicated that room to the appropriate activities.
It will improve your night rest...
Click to expand...

I think I just have too much junk on. Though its never happened before
so its surprising. I have to organize things. I think I just have too
much crud --- its like a nest of snakes. Everytime I have to take my
PC out now and work on the cables in back I shudder. I have two LCDs
--- a HDTV and LCD on my desk , two printers , scanner, two PCs with
mice and KBs each and a cable box, TV card connection, network stuff
plus a 3 sound systems !!!! I have my main stereo, Maudio biamped
speakers for my music card, cell rechargers plugged in and a Logitech
surround system for my game playing PC.

Working on the TV installation in the living room with its snake pit
and a separate stand in my bedroom with stereo and guitar amps also
is nightmarish. The funny thing is when I got to neighbors houses its
the same thing. They buy their children PCs. TVs , stereos and they
have them in their bedroom and living room. One of my neighbors bought
himself a large LCD TV for his bedroom , he has a huge projection one
in his living room and he bought smaller ones for his two kids who
both have PCs.

Add in the increasing usage of air conditioning and I guess thats why
everyones having brown and blackouts.

Im going back to using the old fan more.
 
I think I just have too much junk on. Though its never happened before
so its surprising. I have to organize things. I think I just have too
much crud --- its like a nest of snakes. Everytime I have to take my
PC out now and work on the cables in back I shudder. I have two LCDs
--- a HDTV and LCD on my desk , two printers , scanner, two PCs with
mice and KBs each and a cable box, TV card connection, network stuff
plus a 3 sound systems !!!! I have my main stereo, Maudio biamped
speakers for my music card, cell rechargers plugged in and a Logitech
surround system for my game playing PC.

Working on the TV installation in the living room with its snake pit
and a separate stand in my bedroom with stereo and guitar amps also
is nightmarish. The funny thing is when I got to neighbors houses its
the same thing. They buy their children PCs. TVs , stereos and they
have them in their bedroom and living room. One of my neighbors bought
himself a large LCD TV for his bedroom , he has a huge projection one
in his living room and he bought smaller ones for his two kids who
both have PCs.

Add in the increasing usage of air conditioning and I guess thats why
everyones having brown and blackouts.

Im going back to using the old fan more.
Click to expand...

You're from the US I gather... Hawaii ?
It is my impression, that ppl in the US are much less
environmentally/egenrgetically conscious... oil/energy is cheap
there,compared to europe..
Here in Europe, airco is not generally implemented (except offices)
In summer, central heating is off, and no substitute in the form of
cooling ....
My yearly energy bill is about 2600 euro.. which makes me shudder.

The trick is, to switch off things you do not use: no tv on the whole
day...PC down at night... lights off in spaces you're not in...
It's so easy to plug something IN.... OuT is a different story.

Switched off things do not use...
 
X-No-Archive: Yes
as requested

--- a HDTV and LCD on my desk , two printers , scanner, two PCs with
mice and KBs each and a cable box, TV card connection, network stuff
plus a 3 sound systems !!!! I have my main stereo, Maudio biamped
speakers for my music card, cell rechargers plugged in and a Logitech
surround system for my game playing PC.
Click to expand...

1 pr PC speakers can run off 2 PCs easily enough.
Most scanners and small speakers can run off the PC's internal psu.


NT
 
I think I just have too much junk on.
Click to expand...

If that was so, you'd only see the problem when the
aircon is on when you turn the vacuum cleaner on.

The other stuff is nothing like the load of the aircon.
Though its never happened before so its surprising.
Click to expand...

And that makes it look more likely that
the vacuum cleaner has developed a fault.
I have to organize things. I think I just have too much crud
--- its like a nest of snakes. Everytime I have to take my
PC out now and work on the cables in back I shudder.
I have two LCDs --- a HDTV and LCD on my desk ,
two printers , scanner, two PCs with mice and KBs each
and a cable box, TV card connection, network stuff plus
a 3 sound systems !!!! I have my main stereo, Maudio
biamped speakers for my music card, cell rechargers plugged
in and a Logitech surround system for my game playing PC.
Click to expand...

It wont be that, even all that combined will
be well below the load the aircon presents.
Working on the TV installation in the living room with its snake pit
and a separate stand in my bedroom with stereo and guitar amps also
is nightmarish. The funny thing is when I got to neighbors houses its
the same thing. They buy their children PCs. TVs , stereos and they
have them in their bedroom and living room. One of my neighbors bought
himself a large LCD TV for his bedroom , he has a huge projection one
in his living room and he bought smaller ones for his two kids who
both have PCs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, most people's places are like that now.
Add in the increasing usage of air conditioning and I
guess thats why everyones having brown and blackouts.
Yep.

Im going back to using the old fan more.
Click to expand...

Mad.
 
If that was so, you'd only see the problem when the
aircon is on when you turn the vacuum cleaner on.

The other stuff is nothing like the load of the aircon.
Click to expand...

It may very well be that a DVD player makes the breaker break.

As I said: it's only the last drop that makes the bucket flow over...
It's not a load that makes the breaker switch off... it's too much
load.
Beware of faulty conclusions.
 
It may very well be that a DVD player makes the breaker break.
Click to expand...

Nope, not if the aircon doesnt.
As I said: it's only the last drop that makes the bucket flow over...
Click to expand...

Pity that he doesnt get a breaker trip when he turns the aircon on.
It's not a load that makes the breaker switch off... it's too much load.
Duh.

Beware of faulty conclusions.
Click to expand...

Like yours just above.
 
It may very well be that a DVD player makes the breaker break.

As I said: it's only the last drop that makes the bucket flow over...
It's not a load that makes the breaker switch off... it's too much
load.
Beware of faulty conclusions.
Click to expand...


Generally speaking, no.

You're thinking only in terms of pure resistive loads and
perfect power factor, no start up surges for certain
devices, etc. If all the equipment was on and you only
turned on a DVD player and it caused a breaker trip, you'd
have also had the breaker trip from powering on some of the
other equipment WITHOUT the DVD player on at all.

Most small appliances use very little power. DVD player may
be 25W, and keeps live AC power internally so there is only
quite minor turn-on surge. Other devices are far more
significant, like running a microwave and hairdryer at the
same time, same circuit.
 
The circuit is at maximum load and should either be upgraded or far fewer
devices plugged in.
Click to expand...

Cannot "upgrades" a breaker unless you replace the wire too. It is
possible the breaker needs replaced and is tripping below 15A (or 20A,
which ever it is).
 
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