Power Availability Issues...

[Draex]

Hello all...

I have a couple of questions regarding power availability and distribution, recently my computer/entertainment room has been blowing the breakers whenever I turn on all my devices. The room is wired from what I can tell with 2 15 amp breakers (one for each side of the room) split across 4 Outlets each. There is also 2 double wide breakers feeding the room for several electric baseboard heaters that are no longer in use.

Currently I am running some extension cords from other rooms (on other breakers) so that I can have all my equipment on at once, what I'am curious about is if it possible to use you the existing 220 Wiring for the electric baseboard heaters, and to replace there breakers with 110 Breakers, and then run additional receptacles off them.

Also I was wondering if any companies make a powerbar like product that excepts multiple 15AMP inputs, and load balances across them so that I don't have to be picky about what gets plugged into what receptacle.

Thanks in advance.

[JD]

Could you not theoretically run your devices off 220V directly assuming they supported it? I know the majority of PC PSUs do.

And these 2 15A breakers must have more than just those 4 outlets on them in your room. There has to be other stuff in your house on the same circuit cause I can't honestly see you sucking up 15A from computers/AV equipment. Due to my houses terribly old wiring, like half the house is on 1 15A breaker and it doesn't blow. And it has 2 LCD TVs, two PCs, lighting, and a bunch of other stuff on it and it doesn't blow. Even used to have a window AC on it.

Are you sure all your power bars and devices are in proper working order? No shorts or such?

[MarkOne]

I will give my 2 cents but CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN FIRST ( the caps are important in that case )

Your base board use 20A 12 gauge wire. so you can replace the double breaker by a simple one of 20 A and plug the red wire on the neutral bus , or you can simply use the double one and just remove the red and place it on the neutral bus ( white) . it is safe to do it but it may probably be agains your provincial rules ( only because of the color of the wire ) . so the insurance may not paid in case of fire. Ask an electrician

[Draex]

There is 8 Outlets in the room, 4 on each side. The breaker panel has the two 15AMP breakers labled as Left/Right side of room. The draw in the room consists of

5 PC's

Windows Workstation (i5) 850W PSU
Windows Home Server (e8400) 20 1TB HD's (1000W Enermax PSU)
Media Tuner Server (E2200) + 2X Haupauge PVR 350's + 1 Haupauge HD PVR
Media Center (E5200) + 1 1.5 TB HD + 2 Blueray readers, Corsair 400W PSU
PF Sense Firewall (e6600 + 320GB HD) No optical drives/Video card, Corsair 400W PSU
24 Port GiGE Router
2 ST516 Modems

For moniters I have 30 Inch Dell on the workstation, 2 19Inch Acers on the Media Tuner Server, and 1 24INCH on the Home Server.

For AV Equipment I have a 52inch Samsung LCD, a BenQ 1080p projector and a 120inch Elite Moterized screen, an Integra Pre driving 5 bryston Stereo blocks, I also have the usual collection of 360/PS3/Wii and 5 Starchoice Receivers (<---- starchoice dealer)

I also have a 8000BTU Window mount air conditioner I run in the summer, as well as some guitar equipment.

[Perineum]

Damn, next time I'm in Kelowna I've got to come over and see this, heheh.

[BrainEater]

I'll second the 'consult an electrician' comment , but here's the deal ;

Replacing the breakers probably isnt required.

220 AC is provided by combining 2 phases of 110 VAC.The breaker in question will be a double pole unit , one for each phase , i.e. one will be a black wire , one will be a red wire....

Black (phase 1) and white (neutral) provide 110 VAC.
Red (phase 2) and white (neutral) provide 110 VAC.

Black ( phase 1) and red (phase 2) provide 220 VAC.

So essentially , the double pole breaker can provide you with 2 circuits of 110 VAC , but you will probably require some rewiring .

-------

As far as a 'multiple circuit power bar' goes :
Nope.

[MarkOne]

it's why I said to move the wire ( red , but can be the black too ) ) from the breaker and put it on the neutral ( White) bar...to avoid the rewiring . it will give him a boost of 20A. without to much work

Originally Posted by BrainEater

So essentially , the double pole breaker can provide you with 2 circuits of 110 VAC , but you will probably require some rewiring .

[Arinoth]

I'm going to have to third the recommendation of at least consulting an electrician since you'll probably end up doing something not up to code (aka illegal) and may end up starting a fire or damage your equipment.

[JD]

I want pictures of this room!

That's an insane amount of equipment in apparently 1 room. Can't imagine your electricity bill either...

But yeah, defintely sounds like you should get an electrician in there to do this work. I wouldn't want you to damage any of that equipment or worse, burn your house down.

[MarkOne]

24 ports router ? , what model and what brand ?

Originally Posted by Draex

24 Port GiGE Router
2 ST516 Modems
.