Too many systems on one circuit?

daveleau · February 26th, 2003, 09:37 PM

Hi everybody!

Ever since setting up my new system, I have been getting random reboots on all of our 3 systems. 2 are not OCed and one is. Before setting up the new system, the others had 0 stability problems. Now both do. I am wondering if I could be overloading the circuit and a brownout is the result. Is this possible? Would a brownout result in overloading a circuit without popping breakers? Is the whole room on the same circuit? I have a heavy duty 50ft orange extension cord. Should I run one of the surge protectors on this to another part of the room, or another part of the apartment? The apartments were built in 1981.

Here's what I have plugged into one outlet:

--Dual PIII 750 system w/ 17" monitor (2 7200 rpm hdds, 300W PSU, 4 fans including CPU fans, 3dLabs video)
--Athlon 2100+ @ 2400+ system sharing another 17" monitor via KVM (2 7200 rpm hdds, 350W PSU, 7 case fans including CPU fan, GF4 Ti4200 and Winfast 2000 TV XP)
--Athlon 1.1 system sharing the 17" monitor via KVM (1 7200 rpm hdd, 1 5400 rpm hdd, 4 case fans including cpu, GF 2 MX)
--Cable modem
--KVM switch
--100W computer speaker system
--cheap set of computer speakers
--HP LaserJet 6L
--HP P1000 photo printer
--Scanner
--1 of those tall $20 lamps from Staples
--2 heavy duty surge protectors (NOT line conditioners or UPSs)

Other things in the room:
--2 office lamps
--battery recharger

Thanks!
Dave

**EvilRick** · February 26th, 2003, 09:47 PM

I'd move the LaserJet.

daveleau · February 26th, 2003, 09:56 PM

It sits in idle most of the time and is a low end laser. Does it still draw that much power?

stroyal · February 26th, 2003, 09:58 PM

Laserjets draw almost 10 amps sometimes just moving it to another circut won't work unless you move it to a circut that is on the opposit side of you circut breaker box. this will place it on the other phase of your incoming line and completely insulate it from your computers

**EvilRick** · February 26th, 2003, 10:08 PM

Here is your printer's Electrical Specifications.

Quote:

Power Requirements

100 to 120 volts (V) (+/-10 percent),
50 to 60 hertz (Hz) (+/- 2); 127 V NOM (nominal), 6C
220 V (+/-10 percent), 50 to 60 Hz (+/- 2 Hz)
240 V (+/-10 percent), 50 Hz (+/- 2 Hz)

Power Consumption

During printing: 120 watts (W) (average)
During standby or SleepMode: 5 W

Minimum Recommended Circuit Capacity

4.5 amperes (A) at 115 V, 2.0 A at 230 V

daveleau · February 26th, 2003, 10:10 PM

Is that a heavy load, EvilRick? I don't know a whole lot about electricity or power.

**EvilRick** · February 26th, 2003, 10:18 PM

I'm not an electrician by any means, but I think most home circuits are like 10-15 amps. I think the ones for like fridge/stove/washer/dryer are 20. You can probably get an accurate account by looking a the CB in your distribution panel.

When the printer is running, I would say it's drawing the full 4.5 amps. Idle, it may not be pulling that much, but w/ all that other stuff . . .

Try running your PC's w/o all the non-PC stuff. Plug stuff in one at a time and see what happens.

Does your 100W system have a sub? That is going to drain it pretty good as well.

stroyal · February 26th, 2003, 10:24 PM

Watts=volts times amps
you propably have a 15 amp circut a 350 watt power supply is 3 amps @ fulload each monitor is probably 2amps a 100 watt lightbulb is almost 1 amp add 4.5 amps for the laser and you are over 15 amps.

when the laser goes from sleep to run it probably draws more than 4.5 amps for an instant

**EvilRick** · February 26th, 2003, 10:35 PM

Hey, this is pretty snazzy.

It's an Ohm's Law Calculator.

daveleau · February 26th, 2003, 10:41 PM

I need to check the circuit breaker box to see if the entire room is on one circuit or not. There are only 3 outlets, so I assume it is.