Calling all powering experts

[GT1999]

If a small house has a 100 Amp setup with a 125 Amp rated run to it, how many average PCs could be ran off of total circuits provided good power cables to the PCs?

Also, what does it cost to upgrade a 100 Amp system to 200 Amp?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Train]

What kinds of PC's ? netbook type lappys or beefy desktops?

extra monitors? You need to add all those too

 

[GT1999]

Gaming PCs. Think LAN party.

 

[imagoon]

Average 15amp circuit can safely run 1500watts (12.5amps) with out thermal overloading the 15amp breaker.

From there do the math since "gaming PC" draw varies wildly.

You can roughly continuous draw 80% of a breaker as a rule of thumb.

 

[MixMasterTang]

When I used to work in a datacenter a Dual processor Dell 2950 would use around 2-2.5 amps during normal operations and 3-3.5 upon boot. But this is without a monitor, but with 4 local hard drives.

 

[jaha2000]

100-200 amp upgrade is going to be around a 2k job in most cases. While the panel itself is not expensive. The huge gage wire that must be run from your panel to the meter is VERY expensive. Couple hundred for permits as well.

 

[z1ggy]

As others have said.. Find out how much power the machines will draw including the monitors, speakers, etc that will also be drawing power. Don't forget about other stuff in your home too that is normally running as well...

 

[Vdubchaos]

General rule of thumb is 1500 watts per circuit.

I've ran 4 PCs on one circuit # of times (with all the accessories)

Get yourself some extension wires and run it thru the house for LAN party....it's only temporary.

 

[z1ggy]

General rule of thumb is 1500 watts per circuit.

I've ran 4 PCs on one circuit # of times (with all the accessories)

Get yourself some extension wires and run it thru the house for LAN party....it's only temporary.

Yeah, but if he is using hardcore gaming machines, playing games that require intense GPU calcs, then he might pull close 800W per machine, depending on what his exact set up is. OP, use one of those free online calcs to tell you how much your machine(s) draw, given it's specs.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Also keep in mind that unless you're playing in the arctic, or outside, you're going to need an AC system capable of dissipating every watt of power from the circuit as heat. 160 Amps of 100% heat by-product equipment isn't a small amount of heat. A blow dryer uses around 12 Amps so it would be like having 14 blow dryers on full blast into a room. It gets hot *quick*

 

[Train]

Also keep in mind that unless you're playing in the arctic, or outside, you're going to need an AC system capable of dissipating every watt of power from the circuit as heat. 160 Amps of 100% head by-product equipment isn't a small amount of heat. A blow dryer uses around 12 Amps so it would be like have 14 blow dryers on full blast into a room. It gets hot *quick*

Ya, but AC units are typically on their own circuit. The OP should be more concerned about how many amps he is putting on each circuit, not the whole house.

If I imagine hosting a lan party at my house, the only room big anough for a group of gaming rigs is my basement, and unfortunately all the outlets (and the lights) in my basement are on the same circuit, so I am effectively limited to 20 amps unless I ran a power cord from one of the upstairs circuits.

 

[GT1999]

More info from my home inspection...

ELECTRIC:
Location of main panel: Basement
Subpanels: None observed
Service entrance: Overhead Underground
SEC: Copper
Capacity: 110 amp
Voltage: 240

Main Circuit Breaker Size: 100 amp
Circuit conductors: Copper
Method: EMT conduit

* I randomly test electrical outlets.
• There are three improperly double tapped breakers in the main panel.

 

[z1ggy]

Ya, but AC units are typically on their own circuit. The OP should be more concerned about how many amps he is putting on each circuit, not the whole house.

If I imagine hosting a lan party at my house, the only room big anough for a group of gaming rigs is my basement, and unfortunately all the outlets (and the lights) in my basement are on the same circuit, so I am effectively limited to 20 amps unless I ran a power cord from one of the upstairs circuits.

People can be in different rooms, no? Talk via Ventrillo, etc. He can figure out how many amps he will draw to each circuit once he figure out about how much power he will be using with each machine, which entirely depends on each rigs set up.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Hardcore machines with Crossfire and eyefinity setups .... you can probably handle about 10-15.

More moderate machines with single high end or midrange video card and single display ... you can probably handle 25-40

Lower end machines with modern low voltage CPU and video card and a 21 inch or smaller LED backlit LCD display ... you could handle probably close to 100 PCs.

Note: if you want to run your air conditioner ... then that will eat up 10-20 amps, and if you own a refrigerator and plan to keep it plugged in, then it may draw a couple of amps.

Also, if your house has sump pump or a well pump then you've also got some more power users...

As far as cost to upgrade, I'm not sure, my house has 100 amps and Some day I plan to bump it up to 200 or 300 since I would like to eventually build a garage, run power to my shed, and install a hot tub ..

 

[imagoon]

Ya, but AC units are typically on their own circuit. The OP should be more concerned about how many amps he is putting on each circuit, not the whole house.

If I imagine hosting a lan party at my house, the only room big anough for a group of gaming rigs is my basement, and unfortunately all the outlets (and the lights) in my basement are on the same circuit, so I am effectively limited to 20 amps unless I ran a power cord from one of the upstairs circuits.

If you have empty slots, buy breakers pop them in to the panel add a box with outlets next to the panel. IE toss in say 4 15amp or 20 amp breakers -> 4 outlet box using 12gauge cable (14 for 15amps technically but use 12.) Use 12 gauge extension cords to power strips.

 

[josh0099]

100-200 amp upgrade is going to be around a 2k job in most cases. While the panel itself is not expensive. The huge gage wire that must be run from your panel to the meter is VERY expensive. Couple hundred for permits as well.

Permits requirements and costs vary greatly by location so if you aren't by a big city or anything you may do get away without either

 

[bommy261]

Post retracted. Please get a reliable electrician to do all wiring mods. My apologies.

 

[herm0016]

calling ruby...

if you have 220 2 phase in to the house at a max of 100 amps, you should be able to draw 100 amps on each leg?

 

[jagec]

calling ruby...

if you have 220 2 phase in to the house at a max of 100 amps, you should be able to draw 100 amps on each leg?

It's not "2 phase", it's still 1 phase, with a center-tapped transformer to give 2x110V. Yes, you can draw 100 amps (realistically, 80 amps continuous) on each leg.

 

[Rubycon]

Why not make an extension cord off the 2 phase 220v plug to your dryer? Each phase should be 30-40Amps, giving you 80Amps right there. I would use #6 welding wire for the hot wires. Don't feed 220 volts into your computers, but rather split it up into 2 seperate 120 v circuits keeping the same neutral, i would use a #4 awg wire for the neutral.

Electric dryers are typically 5.5kW devices and are served with a 240V two wire 30A branch circuit.

ALWAYS follow your LOCAL codes. If you don't know what this means consult with someone that does!

With pro sound when we need more power we use a distro box which takes a large circuit, say 200A and provides many discrete branches individually protected with appropriate sized circuit breakers.

Say you have a 100A service. You can install a 100A double pole breaker and connect it to a distro box with 100-125A input. Red and Black wires go to L1/L2. White and green go to neutral unless ground is isolated. On this box you typically are provided with six 20A outlets each with an individual circuit breaker for your loads.

Here's one example here:

http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?div=01&id=ASD-120

Watch your loads! The main CB cannot be relied on to be a suitable overcurrent device. Make sure your conductors are not overloaded. An electrician can check this for you.

 

[bruceb]

Good catch on the double taps on the breakers. I was going to mention it, but you already did. Not legal to do that way and not safe. As to changing to 200Amp service, you will need a bigger panel, which will have around 32 or so circuit breaker slots. The wire from the panel to the meter tray may need to change, but that is only a few feet of wire, so not too costly. In some cases, the meter tray and meter need to be changed to accommodate 200Amp service. You will need to change the cable from the meter tray to the power company wires. That can be 20 feet or so long and will be costly, but too high. In almost all cases, the wires from the power pole to your wiring weatherhead will be good for 200Amps .. Since this will be a major upgrade, you may be required to add an additional ground rod to comply with current NEC Codes. It would also be a good time to check and fix any other issues, such as dried out wires (in very old homes) and to rebalance loads as per code.