I have a computer that requires a 1975 W power supply. Will a standard 15 A US outlet be okay?

[Mega2]

While the 15 A outlet can usually supply 1800 W with some overhead, I was curious if it would work for a 1975 W power supply.

I ask this mainly because I wanted to know if the high power rating is just to cover peak power or if it will genuinely be using 1975 W around the clock.

The computer is a IBM X3850 X5.

[WhitetailAni]

1800 watts is already a lot, so I wouldn't chance it.

Can the PSU accept 240V?
If so, you should probably get a 240V circuit and use that.

[Moonzy]

I'm no electrician, but I think you'll need special outlet with high current capability for that, or you'll need a 240v outlet, speak to a certified electrician to clarify.

[Biomecanoid]

In simple terms you will need an AC outlet rated for an Aircondioner unit, Fridge or Stove.

[Electronics Wizardy]

It should work on a normal outlet, but its not recommended to use it.  Really get the correct outlet.

 

What are the specs of the system, it normally won't use close to the psu's max power unless the specs are maxed out

[Godlygamer23]

The other aspect to consider is the inrush current when the machine turns on, even if you could get away with using a standard outlet. 

[WhitetailAni]

Just now, Biomecanoid said:

In simple terms you will need an AC outlet rated for an Aircondioner unit, Fridge or Stove.

You can get those in the standard type.

We have a 240V outlet that's the standard one (don't remember name) for our AC (1940s house with just radiant heat), a New Zealand-looking one right by the panel, and then a bigger dryer one that isn't in use.

We used to have one for our stove, but it's a gas instead of electric stove now.

[mariushm]

That computer probably does not REQUIRE a 1975 watts power supply, and will not consume that much power.

 

It may come with one as an option, because one person could install enough pci-e video cards and hard drives that in theory the whole computer could consume up to 1975 watts.

 

You need to describe the hardware and we can give you an estimation about how much the computer actually consumes.

 

A processor can consume up to 200-250 watts depending on how many cores the process has and the process (how old it is), a motherboard can consume 20-50 watts, a video card can consume 200-300 watts, each hard drive can consume 6-10 watts

 

Even if it has a 1975 watts power supply, the power supply only draws as much as needed by the hardware, so if your computer components only consume 500-600 watts, that's how much that psu will take from AC outlet .. around 6-8A of current on 120v AC.

 

Also, such server power supplies are typically universal voltage, working with 100v...240v AC, but are de-rated if AC input is below 200v or some value.  So for example, that 1975 watts could output up to 1975 watts on 220-240v AC but will also work on 120v AC with a maximum output of 1400-1600 watts.

 

 

[MadGoatHaz]

IBM X3850 X5

Power supply:

• Standard: One or two dual-rated power supplies (depending on the model).
  • 1975 watts at 220 V ac input
  • 875 watts at 110 V ac input
• Hot-swappable and redundant at 220 V ac, only with two power supplies
• If the server is operating at 110 V ac, a second power supply must be installed.

[akio123008]

Just give it a shot. If it doesn't work, the breaker will open and you'll have to figure out something else. If it does work, you're good and you've saved yourself a load of time. Simple as that.

 

22 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

The other aspect to consider is the inrush current when the machine turns on, even if you could get away with using a standard outlet. 

That would only apply if the power supply is being switched on using the power switch, or if the machine is being plugged in. If the power switch remains on and the machine is plugged in, the input capacitors will remain charged when the system isn't running, so the next bootup won't cause new inrush current.

[SansVarnic]

-= Topic moved to Power Supplies =-

[kelvinhall05]

Lenovo's website says that for a standard 120v US outlet you will need a 20A circuit, so no, the 15A will not suffice.

https://lenovopress.com/tips0817-system-x3850-x5#physical-and-electrical-specifications

[Godlygamer23]

2 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

That would only apply if the power supply is being switched on using the power switch, or if the machine is being plugged in. If the power switch remains on and the machine is plugged in, the input capacitors will remain charged when the system isn't running, so the next bootup won't cause extra inrush current.

It's still part of the equation. If just plugging it in and turning the power supply on causes the breaker to flip, obviously it's not going to work real well. Even if you could get it to work, seems like a shitty solution to a problem.

[akio123008]

Just now, Godlygamer23 said:

It's still part of the equation. If just plugging it in and turning the power supply on causes the breaker to flip, obviously it's not going to work real well. Even if you could get it to work, seems like a shitty solution to a problem.

Of course. I don't expect that though. There's some other things with far worse inrush currents.

 

Really I'd just give it a shot and not worry about it. You could go on all day about whether it would work in theory, or you could just plug the damned thing in and see if it works. Worst case you trigger a circuit breaker. 

[Godlygamer23]

Just now, akio123008 said:

There's some other things with far worse inrush currents.

In a consumer environment though? That's ultimately what we're working with here(I assume). Commercial environments might be different in terms of what the breakers and outlets can handle, including any power over time sort of stuff, like drawing up to 2kW for 3 seconds, and then having a limit of 1.5kW for continuous. 

[Ralf]

49 minutes ago, Mega2 said:

While the 15 A outlet can usually supply 1800 W with some overhead, I was curious if it would work for a 1975 W power supply.

Is that psu 100% efficient? If not, then it could draw like 2200W from the wall, does the 15A outlet have 20% overhead?

Anyway, you need two PSU's since you are running 120V. Those would need two 10A outlets connected to either a 20A breaker or two separate 10A breakers.

[akio123008]

11 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Commercial environments might be different in terms of what the breakers and outlets can handle

Yes there are these extra slow breakers that allow you to start up very heavy motors etc. 

 

12 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

In a consumer environment though?

Hmm maybe not, depends on what you use. I do have some power tools with pretty bad inrush characteristics for instance. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines can be quite bad too, especially old ones with little or no control to allow for soft-starting. Then there's more specialised stuff that you could still call "consumer electrics", but is only used by some people, such as water pumps. So perhaps I should say, it's indeed not typical for a consumer environment, but some people do run stuff on regular circuits with worse inrush than this computer, without many issues.

 

 

[Godlygamer23]

13 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

Yes there are these extra slow breakers that allow you to start up very heavy motors etc. 

 

Hmm maybe not, depends on what you use. I do have some power tools with pretty bad inrush characteristics for instance. Vacuum cleaners and washing machines can be quite bad too, especially old ones with little or no control to allow for soft-starting. Then there's more specialised stuff that you could still call "consumer electrics", but is only used by some people, such as water pumps. So perhaps I should say, it's indeed not typical for a consumer environment, but some people do run stuff on regular circuits with worse inrush than this computer, without many issues.

I don't really have much experience with potentially high in-rush current devices, except for a few items, like my vacuum cleaner, carpet cleaner, washing machine, and clothes dryer.