House electrical wiring for high power computer

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rigurat

Limp Gawd
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I live in a condo. I have a computer, which I plan to upgrade and it will soon be consuming a lot of power. I estimate between 1000 to over 2000 watts. Plus provisions for safety and possible future upgrades.

I'd like to have the house electrical wiring and socket upgraded for the computer to support the high power draw it will soon have.

I want to know everything there is to know about these things. I'm completely new when it comes to home wiring.

Based on the list of UPS's I'm considering buying, I may need a 20 or even 30 amp wall outlets. I plan to get a double conversion UPS With a power rating of at least 2200VA. Do I just change the socket, or is there much more than that?

I plan to upgrade my PC with multiple GPU's and three 30" monitors and other high power equipment. I plan to plug all this into a large UPS, which may require a different type of power socket. I know it's overkill but that's how I like it. Also with that kind of online UPS power protection, I plan to keep the PC one all the time, even when I'm not home. So I want to be as safe as possible.

I live in the United States, 120 volts, 60hz AC current.
 
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Run a dedicated circuit to your computer room wire size is dependant on total length of dedicated run and estimated amp draw. The wire in your wall is probably 14 or 12 at best which isnt enough to do what you want.
 
p3sty said:
Run a dedicated circuit to your computer room wire size is dependant on total length of dedicated run and estimated amp draw. The wire in your wall is probably 14 or 12 at best which isnt enough to do what you want.
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What would be enough? For safety I'd rather get "more than enough" to compensate.
 
12 gauge copper would work with a 20A plug (nema 5-20) and a 20A breaker / fuse. Any more than that I would run 2 circuits. Although you could run 10 gauge copper and 30A plug (nema 5-30) and a 30 A breaker also.
 
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Do I just change the socket, or is there much more than that?
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There is much more than that. Switching out the plug so that it fits a 3000VA UPS will either cause the breaker to trip or possibly cause a fire.
 
If you think you will need 2000+ watts for a single system, you are going to be nearing the limit of the 3000VA UPSes. What kind of battery run-time were you hoping for? At least for what we use in our labs, all the 3000VA UPS we have are on a 120V 30A circuit (L5-30P) and will require new, dedicated wiring as I can pretty much guarantee you don't have 10ga in your condo. You likely have 14ga wiring since that would have been the economical way to go when building. To go above the 3000VA, you are pretty much talking 208V/240V runs.
Either way, if you are looking at making this significant of an investment, you really need to talk to an electrician about your plans. Adding circuits at this level need to be done correctly by someone who knows what they are doing. Given you are in a condo, you may have to adjust your plans based on what power can be made available to you.
 
Are you sure it won't work?

"Normal" devices such as space heaters, toasters, and hair dryers can all consume upwards of 1500watts and are designed to run off normal wall sockets. My computer with 2x 4870x2 pulls over 1000w (not counting monitors, etc) and I've never run into issues either at my house or any place I've ever taken it for a LAN party.

What makes you believe you will run into issues?
 
"Normal" devices such as space heaters, toasters, and hair dryers can all consume upwards of 1500watts and are designed to run off normal wall sockets.
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1800W is the max for a 15A circuit.

2000VA UPSs generally need a 20A circuit and come with a special plug (nema 5-20). During charging + system load they can and will go over 1800W.


Here is a nema 5-20 outlet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electrical_outlet_with_label.jpg
 
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FuSoYa said:
...What kind of battery run-time were you hoping for? ....
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At least 5 minutes would do. I just want to get an online UPS for the power protection. It turns out the electrical quality here in Hawaii isn't so good.
 
what kind of "high-power equipment" because a typical multi-gpu multi-monitor PC (not that such rigs are typical overall) will pull maybe 1400w OC'd and running stress testing or something a 15amp is 1800w max and 20amp is 2400w.

Fishing a new 20 amp line and adding a 20amp breaker and plug should be doable but I know dedicated home theaters that don't need more than that unless they have very complex lighting and control systems and/ or mult-thousand watt subwoofers..

Also consider that depending on the PSU in the computer and the type of UPS you are looking at the APFC will cause trouble for the UPS and vise versa so unless you need to ride out a lot of blackouts a quality line conditioner will work to protect your gear and take care of any sags or over voltage situations better and will cost less too
 
I'd rather be safe than sorry. I was also hoping a dedicated circuit would help improve the electrical quality for the computer.

The type of UPS I plan to get will need a Nema 5-20 outlet.

Since I'm getting a double conversion type, and I'll always be running off the batteries, so It needs to be big enough for the PC. The model I'm looking at has a rating of 2200VA 1600W. I was hoping that would cover a PC with multiple GPU's, 3 30" monitors, plus a little extra provision.

I'm considering this type of UPS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842111175

I saw this forum earlier:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/131823/need-20-amp-dedicated-circuit-advice
Same idea just different type of equipment.
 
Sounds like a bitcoin setup in the making. Make sure before you invest in this build you actually calculate how long it will take to payback the rig. All these bitcoin calculator are off because they don't take into account the constant difficulty increases along with the pools getting DDos constantly which is a pain in the ass.

Now to answer your question. Your better off running two independed 15 amp sockets. Parts are cheaper and its a lot easier fishing 14 ga wire through conduit pipe if your village code requires this. Not to mention if this breaker did trip, you don't have to worry about everything going down.
 
Are you sure the system actually needs THAT much? That is a crazy amount of wattage, I did not even know they made power supplies that went that high.

If it's that for all devices, then just split it across a two circuits and two UPSes. Run a dedicated 20 amp MWBC and that will give you 40 amps of power (remember to break the little tab on the hot side or you'll get a 240v short!)

Since you already need that much power, may as well run two MWBC's. Maybe use a 4 gang box. Each plug will essentially be a 20 amp circuit. Use two runs of 12/3 and two T slotted plugs.
 
You live in Hawaii man, no need to grow it indoors. The best pakalolo would come out of your backyard!
 
Not a Bitcoin machine, but that's a good idea, I'll consider that in the future!
 
JJ91284 said:
Sounds like a bitcoin setup in the making. Make sure before you invest in this build you actually calculate how long it will take to payback the rig. All these bitcoin calculator are off because they don't take into account the constant difficulty increases along with the pools getting DDos constantly which is a pain in the ass.

Now to answer your question. Your better off running two independed 15 amp sockets. Parts are cheaper and its a lot easier fishing 14 ga wire through conduit pipe if your village code requires this. Not to mention if this breaker did trip, you don't have to worry about everything going down.
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Not a Bitcoin machine, but that's a good idea, I'll consider that in the future!
 
To close the topic I ended up buying a 1500VA Tripp Lite double conversion UPS. I know it has loud fans, I plan to mod those to quieter fans and enhance the heatsinks inside in the future. (I'll ask advice about that in the future)

I decided that changing any of the house wiring is too much of an effort, and I think a 1500VA / 1200 watt UPS should be good enough.
 
GotNoRice said:
Are you sure it won't work?

"Normal" devices such as space heaters, toasters, and hair dryers can all consume upwards of 1500watts and are designed to run off normal wall sockets. My computer with 2x 4870x2 pulls over 1000w (not counting monitors, etc) and I've never run into issues either at my house or any place I've ever taken it for a LAN party.

What makes you believe you will run into issues?
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there is a big difference between analog, or purely resistive, loads like incandessant lights and toasters and hair dryers, and digital loads like TVs and computers.

your TV or computer needs a clean, steady voltage which inadequate or undersized wiring will not supply. your toaster or space heater does not care and will run on whatever voltage the plug gives it, so long as the fuse doesnt trip.

the more your voltage swings; the more inadequate the wiring; the harder your power supply needs to work to correct it and output a steady DC voltage on the computer side. this can and does shorten the lifespan of a power supply.
 
You are NOT going to be at 2000w. I'd bet $500 you won't be above 1000, unless you're running 4 GTX 580's in which case you'll be around 1100.

My system in sig at 100% load on both CPU and GPU's draws 800w from the wall.
 
As i don't think anyone mentioned it, If you are going to go to all the trouble of running a new circuit you should make it a 240 volt, Lower frequency of the 240 volt will burn out less wires and make your psu slightly more efficient.
 
It's not common to have 240 volt outlets in the US for computers, UPSs and other computer equipment. I would avoid that.
 
mannyman said:
(snip) you should make it a 240 volt, Lower frequency of the 240 volt will burn out less wires...
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Errr?

Lower frequency what, burning out who?

I believe you means amperage. Also nothing should ever be burning out if you're breakered properly.
 
Ehren8879 said:
Errr?

Lower frequency what, burning out who?

I believe you means amperage. Also nothing should ever be burning out if you're breakered properly.
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Burring out plugs, I was sure 120 is 60 hertz where as 240 is 50 hertz. And yes the current would be also.
 
mannyman said:
Burring out plugs, I was sure 120 is 60 hertz where as 240 is 50 hertz. And yes the current would be also.
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Both 120 and 240 are 60hz in the States and some other countries, 50hz most everywhere else.
 
mannyman said:
As i don't think anyone mentioned it, If you are going to go to all the trouble of running a new circuit you should make it a 240 volt, Lower frequency of the 240 volt will burn out less wires and make your psu slightly more efficient.
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That would be nice, and I would prefer a 240 volt wiring. Before I moved to Hawaii, I used to live in the Philippines, we had 220V 60hz there and used the same sockets.
 
Ehren8879 said:
Both 120 and 240 are 60hz in the States and some other countries, 50hz most everywhere else.
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Oh i thought it did, Sorry guys i was wrong, Still go for a 240 V just don't plug anything into it other than the computer or a ups.
 
if your going to run a 240v power line to your computer i recommend changing the plug to something that a regular device cant plug into, and then change the power supply plug to match. just an opinion.

on a side note, its funny i was just thinking of having a 240v line ran because the psu would run more efficiently. only thought of that because i just bought a PSU today...
 
50 htz is euro 60 htz is USA plus 240 euro is 240 on one leg where here in the US its 120 on two legs.
 
Smiththers2 said:
if your going to run a 240v power line to your computer i recommend changing the plug to something that a regular device cant plug into, and then change the power supply plug to match. just an opinion.

on a side note, its funny i was just thinking of having a 240v line ran because the psu would run more efficiently. only thought of that because i just bought a PSU today...
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Definitely. I'd use a nema 6-15 or 6-20 plug. Not sure if you can buy power cords that have that end, but it would be easy to to change the end on one.
 
sadly the people who had my house before have the swampcooler on the same circuit as my computer room and in the sumer its almost impossible to run the computer and the ac at same time. ?the guy wasan electrical enginer and did his own electrical work, he shouldve known better not to put the ac on its own circuit , same with the microwave above the stove its on the same circuit as the outlets in my tv room and using the mw will sometimes blow the breaker so thats 2 things I ned to have changed ,looking at at least 500 dollars to fix those mistakes .. my computer uses a 1200 watt psu, running sli 580's doesnt stress it too much but I might want to try nvidias multi monitor some day and think getting a dedicated computer circuit woukd be a good idea.
 
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