how to estimate wattage and amperage of computer use - GoFuckYourself.com

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 09:21 PM

I have several machines and I'm trying to estimate the wattage and most importantly, how many amps they are pulling.

Anybody know how to do this?

notabook · 06-19-2007, 09:24 PM

The easiest (and most accurate) way is to buy Kill-a-watt

http://www.supermediastore.com/kilwateldet1.html

You could also use a web form calculator... but it's not nearly as accurate:
http://www.journeysystems.com/power_...ator_popup.php

baddog · 06-19-2007, 09:26 PM

http://www.the12volt.com/ohm/ohmslaw.asp

Basic_man · 06-19-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notabook

The easiest (and most accurate) way is to buy Kill-a-watt

http://www.supermediastore.com/kilwateldet1.html

You could also use a web form calculator... but it's not nearly as accurate:
http://www.journeysystems.com/power_...ator_popup.php

The Kill A Watt is one pretty interresting tool

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 09:32 PM

the kill-a-watt is cool but does anybody know how much amperage the average machine pulls? trying not to max out my 20 amp circuit

notabook · 06-19-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basic_man

The Kill A Watt is one pretty interresting tool

Hell yeah it is! I use it on all my appliances, replaced some because of it. Showed some very interesting things about some appliances you would never guess... my coffee pot uses a staggering 1450 watts when it's brewing!

notabook · 06-19-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Pheer

the kill-a-watt is cool but does anybody know how much amperage the average machine pulls? trying not to max out my 20 amp circuit

Here's a voltage/watt to AMP converter.

http://www.raylucke.com/20010926/tools/amps.phtml

DBS.US · 06-19-2007, 09:40 PM

I love my Kill-a-watt, I found that a full refrigerator cost less to run than a half empty one.

directfiesta · 06-19-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Pheer

the kill-a-watt is cool but does anybody know how much amperage the average machine pulls? trying not to max out my 20 amp circuit

put a 15 amp power bar, then plug any other power bar or battery backup in that " master " one ...

You will not overload your circuit.

In my office, I have:
- 2 PC with multiple hd and DVD, screens
- 1 laptop
- I DVD duplicator ( 11 drives )
- 4 external HD
- 1 Sony Betacam ( 220 converted to work on 110 )
- 1 TenLab transcoder
- 1 Panasonic Distribution Amp
- 5 VHS recorders
- 1 JVC SVHS player/ recorder
- 1 samsumg Multi-standard player
- 1 Apex dvd ( hacked )
- 1 VHS pal player/recorder
- 3 Epsom R380 printers
- 1 Professional scale
- 3 KDS dvd towers
- routers, cable modems, phone routers, etc
- 2 Panasonic phone systems
- 1 Viesa 17" flat TV
- 1 Pansat 3500 FTA receiver
- 1 Stand alone dvd player
- Lamps, etc...

and:

One Samsung 8000 BTU a/c ...

Never had a problem ....

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notabook

Here's a voltage/watt to AMP converter.

http://www.raylucke.com/20010926/tools/amps.phtml

damn i guess i better not plug in 40 machines then

baddog · 06-19-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBS.US

I love my Kill-a-watt, I found that a full refrigerator cost less to run than a half empty one.

I thought that was common knowledge.

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by directfiesta

put a 15 amp power bar, then plug any other power bar or battery backup in that " master " one ...

You will not overload your circuit.

In my office, I have:
- 2 PC with multiple hd and DVD, screens
- 1 laptop
- I DVD duplicator ( 11 drives )
- 4 external HD
- 1 Sony Betacam ( 220 converted to work on 110 )
- 1 TenLab transcoder
- 1 Panasonic Distribution Amp
- 5 VHS recorders
- 1 JVC SVHS player/ recorder
- 1 samsumg Multi-standard player
- 1 Apex dvd ( hacked )
- 1 VHS pal player/recorder
- 3 Epsom R380 printers
- 1 Professional scale
- 3 KDS dvd towers
- routers, cable modems, phone routers, etc
- 2 Panasonic phone systems
- 1 Viesa 17" flat TV
- 1 Pansat 3500 FTA receiver
- 1 Stand alone dvd player
- Lamps, etc...

and:

One Samsung 8000 BTU a/c ...

Never had a problem ....

I have 30 machines plugged into two 20-amp circuits and they run fine... but I just inherited 10 more machines and i'm kinda scared to plug them in

jonesonyou · 06-19-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

I thought that was common knowledge.

I guess not.

EBORG9 · 06-19-2007, 09:58 PM

Read the owners manual.

dready · 06-19-2007, 10:01 PM

Buy a cheap ammeter?

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBORG9

Read the owners manual.

Dont believe everything you read.

Mr Pheer · 06-19-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notabook

The easiest (and most accurate) way is to buy Kill-a-watt

http://www.supermediastore.com/kilwateldet1.html

Ok just ordered that, thanks. Guess I'm not plugging in these other machines until I can detremine the load that the others are already using.

Masterchief · 06-19-2007, 10:32 PM

if you have a UPS, try installing the software that came with it. My 21" monitor and PC use roughly 238 watts on average.

baddog · 06-20-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Pheer

I have 30 machines plugged into two 20-amp circuits and they run fine... but I just inherited 10 more machines and i'm kinda scared to plug them in

Plug them in one at a time . . . you will know right away if it is too much. But I can pretty much guarantee you that two 20 amp circuits is more than enough.

SmokeyTheBear · 06-20-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Plug them in one at a time . . . you will know right away if it is too much. But I can pretty much guarantee you that two 20 amp circuits is more than enough.

its more accurate if you spray them down with a garden hose while plugging them in to keep the radiowaves that might disrupt the sgnals at a minimum.

You should also soak your pants in gasoline to keep the gravity levels of the static electricity from disrupting the cpu .

Mr Pheer · 06-20-2007, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBear

its more accurate if you spray them down with a garden hose while plugging them in to keep the radiowaves that might disrupt the sgnals at a minimum.

You should also soak your pants in gasoline to keep the gravity levels of the static electricity from disrupting the cpu .

Should I toss sheet of foil in the microwave as well? You know, to help scatter whatever radiowaves and static that may get thru the other measures?

baddog · 06-20-2007, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBear

its more accurate if you spray them down with a garden hose while plugging them in to keep the radiowaves that might disrupt the sgnals at a minimum.

You should also soak your pants in gasoline to keep the gravity levels of the static electricity from disrupting the cpu .

What do you think is going to happen if you plug in one too many pc's? Let me help you . . . the breaker will trip.

You unplug the latest pc, and reset the breaker . . . . total downtime < 2 minutes.

roly · 06-20-2007, 03:04 AM

power = amps x volts

the max power you can disapate is what your power supply can supply e.g. 400watts.

i think you have 110 volts in america ?

so max current possible to pull in the case of 400watt power supply =
400 watts / 110 volts = 3.63 amps absolute max with a 400w power supply

but wouldn't be that much i doubt

Mickey_ · 06-20-2007, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBear

its more accurate if you spray them down with a garden hose while plugging them in to keep the radiowaves that might disrupt the sgnals at a minimum.

You should also soak your pants in gasoline to keep the gravity levels of the static electricity from disrupting the cpu .

x 100

06-19-2007, 09:21 PM	#1
Mr Pheer Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 21,468	how to estimate wattage and amperage of computer use I have several machines and I'm trying to estimate the wattage and most importantly, how many amps they are pulling. Anybody know how to do this?

06-19-2007, 09:24 PM	#2
notabook Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Not a Library! Posts: 9,748	The easiest (and most accurate) way is to buy Kill-a-watt http://www.supermediastore.com/kilwateldet1.html You could also use a web form calculator... but it's not nearly as accurate: http://www.journeysystems.com/power_...ator_popup.php __________________

06-19-2007, 09:40 PM	#8
DBS.US Geo Cities Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: North Captiva Island, Florida USA Posts: 11,835	I love my Kill-a-watt, I found that a full refrigerator cost less to run than a half empty one. __________________ Make a Free Chaturbate White Label site in 34 minutes and be making money tonight

06-19-2007, 10:01 PM	#15
dready Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 5,247	Buy a cheap ammeter? __________________ ICQ: 91139591

06-19-2007, 09:26 PM	#3
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	http://www.the12volt.com/ohm/ohmslaw.asp

06-19-2007, 09:32 PM	#5
Mr Pheer Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 21,468	the kill-a-watt is cool but does anybody know how much amperage the average machine pulls? trying not to max out my 20 amp circuit

06-19-2007, 09:58 PM	#14
EBORG9 Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,823	Read the owners manual.

06-19-2007, 10:32 PM	#18
Masterchief Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 530	if you have a UPS, try installing the software that came with it. My 21" monitor and PC use roughly 238 watts on average.

06-20-2007, 03:04 AM	#23
roly Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,844	power = amps x volts the max power you can disapate is what your power supply can supply e.g. 400watts. i think you have 110 volts in america ? so max current possible to pull in the case of 400watt power supply = 400 watts / 110 volts = 3.63 amps absolute max with a 400w power supply but wouldn't be that much i doubt