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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: kenpachi on August 03, 2008, 03:08:36 am

Title: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: kenpachi on August 03, 2008, 03:08:36 am: Howdy,

So after wiring everything up, I'm realizing that the kids are going to play this machine for hours on end... but now paranoia is kicking in; will it start a fire or overload a circuit because I have too much stuff plugged in? Is there anything I can do to minimize the chances?

Everything is hooked up like this: all electronics -> standard powerbar -> Craftsman Automatic Powerswitch (from Sears) -> household electrical outlet.

the following are plugged in the powerbar:

1) The computer with 3 case fans
2) A 20cm honeywell fan for cooling (always running on the lowest speed)
3) a 24" CRT TV
4) a small fluorescent marquee light
5) a set of creative 2.1 speakers and subwoofer.

Everything seems reasonable to me, but this cab is on for days sometimes and I'm not always home...

thanks for your help!
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: TOK on August 03, 2008, 06:54:12 am: Doesn't seem like you have anything to worry about to me... If you did, my house should have burned down 5 years ago. ;D
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: shmokes on August 03, 2008, 07:39:10 am: I guess it's dangerous to the environment and your electric bill. Why don't you replace the power strip with a smartstrip?
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: Encryptor on August 03, 2008, 08:49:01 am: Quote from: shmokes on August 03, 2008, 07:39:10 am
Why don't you replace the power strip with a smartstrip?

I have mine hooked up the exact same way. There is no need for a Smartstrip because the Craftsman AutoSwitch does the same thing. It just doesn't have as many outlets as a Smartstrip and only cost $20.

Encryptor
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less para
Post by: Malenko on August 03, 2008, 09:28:24 am: You should be fine, I leave my PC on ages at a time and its pretty much the same thing but with a 22" LCD monitor instead of a 24" CRT and no florescent light.

you could teach the kids how to properly start up and shut down the machine and eliminate both the worry and some of the electric bill
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: Ummon on August 04, 2008, 04:53:50 pm: Quote from: Malenko on August 03, 2008, 09:28:24 am
You should be fine, I leave my PC on ages at a time and its pretty much the same thing but with a 22" LCD monitor instead of a 24" CRT and no florescent light.

you could teach the kids how to properly start up and shut down the machine and eliminate both the worry and some of the electric bill

Kinda of like proper gun safety.
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: ark_ader on August 05, 2008, 09:47:26 am: Our electricity company sent us one of the smart plugs for PC usage.

It monitors when the main PC shuts down and turns off the rest of the gear. Perfect for cabs.

Our voltage is 220v, so the risk of fire is that little bit (more) real.

Here is the link:
http://www.complocated.com/reviews/products/EON_PowerDown
Title: Re: Is my cab an electrical hazard or dangerous otherwise? More play, less paranoia
Post by: scotthh on August 05, 2008, 12:20:41 pm: If we assume:
The computer (including 4th fan and speaker) is drawing 250 watts.
The CRT is drawing 200 watts.
The fluorescent bulb 20 watts.
For a total of 470 watts.

This means with 120v, you're drawing just under 4 amps. Assuming you're on a 15 amp circuit, you've got to have a fair amount of other stuff on it to pop your breaker.

If you're drawing 500 watts, and paying 20 cents per kilowatt, it costs you 40 cents per hour to run this rig. If you run it 24/7 for a month, that's almost $150 of electricity.

I took the highest numbers I could find and rounded up. Your computer will draw less power when idle. So your actual usage will probably be less. Unless something overheats, you shouldn't have a problem. You're not drawing too much electricity for the circuit.