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Power Strip or multiple outlets in the Wall
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| Elliott P 2006-03-25, 4:21 pm |
| I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
| |
| Bennett Price 2006-03-25, 4:21 pm |
| Consider a large power strip rather than multiple receptacles in wall.
Take a look at, e.g., www.grainger.com and search for part no 2MY49 -
24 sockets spread over 6 feet.
Elliott P wrote:
> I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
> 21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
> have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
> power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
> plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
> redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
> unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
>
| |
| meanie@bluebottle.com 2006-03-25, 5:21 pm |
| Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload the
circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result in
fires.
Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing separate
breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your self if
you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it could
possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
| |
| meanie@bluebottle.com 2006-03-25, 5:21 pm |
| Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload the
circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result in
fires.
Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing separate
breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your self if
you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it could
possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
| |
| meanie@bluebottle.com 2006-03-25, 5:21 pm |
| Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload the
circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result in
fires.
Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing separate
breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your self if
you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it could
possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
| |
| John Grabowski 2006-03-25, 7:21 pm |
|
"Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1143315150.235290.226310@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
> 21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
> have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
> power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
> plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
> redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
> unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
>
You can do that and I would suggest that you have a new dedicated circuit
for that. Something else to consider is Plugmold made by the Wiremold
company. It is a narrow outlet strip that can be mounted along baseboard
and countertops. You can have the outlets 6" or 12" apart and they make it
with isolated ground receptacles also. You can make it any length that you
want. I suggest it as you might be able to incorporate it into your decor a
little better instead of a 10 gang outlet box on the wall.
http://www.wiremold.com/www/consume...gmold/index.asp
| |
| Bob Vaughan 2006-03-25, 8:21 pm |
| In article <1143321140.179682.195630@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com>,
<meanie@bluebottle.com> wrote:
>Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload the
>circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result in
>fires.
Not really.. That's what the circuit breakers in your panel are
there to prevent.. (Unless you have replaced all your 15 amp fuses with
30's, or have a Federal Pacific panel, with the circuit non-breakers.)
You can overload a circuit if it has one outlet and a bunch of power strips,
or 12 outlets, and no power strips..
Obviously you don't want to plug your A/C, and your laser printer,
and your space heater into that $2.99 plastic power strip that you
bought at Wal-Mart, but plugging in a bunch of 50w wall-warts isn't
going to hurt you. You should not be in danger of overloading until you
get to a couple dozen wall warts, assuming nothing else on the 15 amp
circuit.
Most power strips have built-in 15 amp breakers, and even if you daisy
chain a bunch of strips, the limiting factor is going to be that first
15 amp breaker, which may be safer than depending on that 30 amp fuse that
somebody installed after all the 15's kept blowing..
Personally, I use the 10 outlet strips from SL Waber, or Belkin, which have
5 duplex outlets side by side.. with a little bit of planning, you can
fit 6 rather large wall warts, and 4 regular power cords on a 10 outlet
strip. I currently have 2 of these mounted on the brace underneath the
back of my desk, one for UPS power from the rack mounted UPS in the
server closet, and one for non-UPS power. Both the UPS, and the non-UPS
power are fed from a master power strip, so the total load is limited
by the 15 amp breaker in the master power strip.
>
>Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing separate
>breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your self if
>you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it could
>possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
>
This is a good idea.. having dedicated circuits for your home office is
always a good idea.
--
-- Welcome My Son, Welcome To The Machine --
Bob Vaughan | techie @ tantivy.net |
| P.O. Box 19792, Stanford, Ca 94309 |
-- I am Me, I am only Me, And no one else is Me, What could be simpler? --
| |
|
| <meanie@bluebottle.com> wrote in message
news:1143320873.579460.73310@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload the
> circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result in
> fires.
>
> Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing separate
> breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your self if
> you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it could
> possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
>
We got it the first time, I guess the other two were just to be sure? Just
FYI, NG posts do not appear instantly when submitted.
| |
|
|
<meanie@bluebottle.com> wrote in message
news:1143320873.579460.73310@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Be very careful with multiple power strips. You can overload
> the
> circuits in the electrical panel or elsewhere which can result
> in
> fires.
>
> Since you are a gadget user, I would suggest installing
> separate
> breakers designated for that room only. You can do this your
> self if
> you have the knowhow or pay to have it down, but either way, it
> could
> possibly save a much bigger problem down the road.
>
Nah, not likely to be a problem. Power strips these day
| |
|
| "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1143315150.235290.226310@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
> 21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
> have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
> power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
> plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
> redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
> unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
>
Elliott:
Yes, you can do it by 'ganging' multiple duplex outlets and end up with as
long a row, or multiple rows, of outlets as you want in pretty much any
configuration you want. They have multi gang boxes in which you can wire
switches or outlets. You would simply jump one outlet to the next.
This type of configuration is usually seen more in an industrial setting
(bank of machines against one long wall type of thing). The most common
residential application of multi gang switches is usually 4 or 5 switches
ganged together controlling lights in an entryway (inside/outside/stairwell
up & down).
Since you say you use a lot of bricks I think a long surface mount outlet
strip won't work as well for you as the bricks will make the 1, or possibly
2, outlets next to it unusable based on the configuration of the brick. (I
wish there was a standard so they all faced the same way!)
As someone else said it would be wise to put this room, or even this one
project, on a separate 15A branch circuit.
Just remember this will be a permanent installation, no changing your mind
later to move your workspace to another part of the room, or all this will
be for not.
Are you having a professional electrician do the work or do you plan on
doing it yourself?
Jay
| |
| ameijers 2006-03-25, 9:21 pm |
|
"Jay" <jay.britton@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:LoWdnRVoDeIgQbjZnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@centurytel.net...
> <meanie@bluebottle.com> wrote in message
> news:1143320873.579460.73310@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> We got it the first time, I guess the other two were just to be sure?
Just
> FYI, NG posts do not appear instantly when submitted.
>
Might not be him- I've noticed more and more of that lately in the groups I
frequent. Fubar'd feed for wherever my ISP gets their updates or something.
I sometimes see followups with earlier time stamps than the original posts.
aem sends...
| |
| Greg Guarino 2006-03-26, 1:21 am |
| On 25 Mar 2006 11:32:30 -0800, "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com>
wrote:
>I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
>21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
>have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
>power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
>plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
>redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
>unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
I don't like outlet strips. I'm sure some of it is just esthetics
(they're ugly) and prejudice, but most are not made very well and are
clumsy to use.
I am just working on a home office right now. I put two sets of four
permanent outlets under the desk, near either end. I also put two
outlets (in one duplex box) on the wall above the desk, for ease of
use with temporary electrical items.
Greg Guarino
| |
|
| "ameijers" <aemeijers@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:eJlVf.626303$qk4.79514@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Jay" <jay.britton@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:LoWdnRVoDeIgQbjZnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@centurytel.net...
> Just
> Might not be him- I've noticed more and more of that lately in the groups
> I
> frequent. Fubar'd feed for wherever my ISP gets their updates or
> something.
> I sometimes see followups with earlier time stamps than the original
> posts.
>
> aem sends...
>
AEM:
Roger that.
Now that you mention it I have seen more and more of it myself. I just
figured it was an 'operator headspace and timing' problem.
Jay
| |
| ted harris 2006-03-26, 2:21 am |
| In news:Jay <jay.britton@gmail.com> typed:
> <meanie@bluebottle.com> wrote in message
> news:1143320873.579460.73310@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Just FYI, NG posts do not appear instantly when submitted.
Mine show up immediately when posted with outlook express.
--
Ted Harris
http://www.tedharris.com
| |
|
| On 25 Mar 2006 11:32:30 -0800, "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com>
wrote:
>I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
>21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
>have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
>power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
>plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
>redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
>unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
I'm not an electrician but it sounds good to me, and I see no reason
not to.
If the wall will be available to you, you might also consider toggle
switches for many/all of the outlets. I tried to add toggle switches
for *each* of the outlets on one power strip, and though I succeeded,
it wasn't so easy, and it would have probably taken less time to add
them in the wall if the outlets were going to be in the wall.
I just didn't like the idea of using electricity (even though I guess
it is less -- don't know how much less -- when the appliance isn't
running.) and having heat come from the adaptors, and I imagined that
adaptor might fail sooner than otherwise. I try to keep my gadgets
10, 20, 30, 40 years and I don't want to have to run around looking
for replacement adaptors, and then soldering on the right ends, if the
adapter fails before the gadget.
Ganging is a good idea. Some boxes have sides that come out, and you
can take the left side out of one, and the right side out of the
other, and attach the two boxes to make one box twice as wide. you
can do this as many times as you want, until you get to a stud. I
might put the toggle switches above the outlets.
| |
| ameijers 2006-03-26, 9:21 am |
|
"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:cdcc22tk62mu1rnlq0jo3oslqfs55t7fh2@4ax.com...
> On 25 Mar 2006 11:32:30 -0800, "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
> I'm not an electrician but it sounds good to me, and I see no reason
> not to.
>
> If the wall will be available to you, you might also consider toggle
> switches for many/all of the outlets. I tried to add toggle switches
> for *each* of the outlets on one power strip, and though I succeeded,
> it wasn't so easy, and it would have probably taken less time to add
> them in the wall if the outlets were going to be in the wall.
>
> I just didn't like the idea of using electricity (even though I guess
> it is less -- don't know how much less -- when the appliance isn't
> running.) and having heat come from the adaptors, and I imagined that
> adaptor might fail sooner than otherwise. I try to keep my gadgets
> 10, 20, 30, 40 years and I don't want to have to run around looking
> for replacement adaptors, and then soldering on the right ends, if the
> adapter fails before the gadget.
>
> Ganging is a good idea. Some boxes have sides that come out, and you
> can take the left side out of one, and the right side out of the
> other, and attach the two boxes to make one box twice as wide. you
> can do this as many times as you want, until you get to a stud. I
> might put the toggle switches above the outlets.
I haven't heard anyone in this thread talk about surge protection. If you
wanna run it all from the wall, and have an electrician there anyway, I'd
look at putting in a whole-house surge protector. CPU, main monitor, and any
high-speed modems and powered external drives, really ought to be on a UPS
as well.
aem sends...
| |
| Jim Redelfs 2006-03-26, 11:21 am |
| In article <v0kVf.926$M23.11@fe08.lga>,
"John Grabowski" <jgrabows1@optonline.net> wrote:
> Something else to consider is Plugmold
> http://www.wiremold.com/www/consume...gmold/index.asp
This is the EXACT product I used when setting-up my computer center. I works
GREAT and I highly recommend it.
This was back when I ran TWO, full computer systems in the same, L-shaped
area. I have a "million" outlets (32?) all plugged-into a high-dollar surge
bar (for whatever THAT's worth) and have never wanted for outlet space. The
myriad of "wall warts" are accommodated nicely as are all the other cords. I
have outlets left over.
It's all protected by the original, 15-amp circuit breaker that protects that
particular area of my finished basement. I've have NEVER had a problem since
~1993.
--
JR
| |
| Sandie 2006-03-26, 12:21 pm |
|
Elliott P wrote:
> I'm a new owner of an old house in Maryland and want to get it up to
> 21st century electrical standards. I'm an avid computer/gadget user and
> have so many things to plug in around my desk, I end up having 2 or 3
> power strips in tandem, as the power bricks that are built into the
> plug take up a lot of room. The walls have no insulation, and while we
> redo the rest of the electrical, I wanted to know if it would be
> unheard of to have say, 10 or more outlets in one place on the wall?
Someone probably said what I a about to say already.
Even in 21st century modern houshold, overloading the crcuit is not
recommend. Beside, if you are a computer user, you must be aware of
surge protector, etc. These days, people UPS (Uninterruptible Power
Supply) that prevents the computer form shutting down abruptly in case
of power oputage. UPS checks the load also.
Do not connect printer to UPS, only PC, sound system, monitor, modem
should be connected to UPS. Belkin and PAC are populra brands. There
are many different ones. You have to determine how much watage level or
Amperage you want. I have Belkin 900 VA. I am not a game perosn but I
don't think you would want to play game on back up power supply anyway.
So get soemthign just enought to protect your PC so that it wouold
initiate shutting down properly in case of electrical troubles.
| |
| Sandie 2006-03-26, 12:21 pm |
|
ameijers wrote:
[..]
> I haven't heard anyone in this thread talk about surge protection.
After reading a few posts and not seeing about surge protector, I just
posted mine bfore I saw yours.
> If you wanna run it all from the wall, and have an electrician there anyway, I'd
> look at putting in a whole-house surge protector.
I haven't heard anyone doing it like that. That would protect every
electronic pieces in the house like microwave too from surges. About
looking inot putting in a whole-house surge protector, how much approx.
would it cost to get an electrician do it?
> CPU, main monitor, and any
> high-speed modems and powered external drives, really ought to be on a UPS
> as well.
>
> aem sends...
| |
| Elliott P 2006-03-27, 3:21 am |
| Thanks Jay,
We have a professional, but I haven't spoken to him about this yet, as
we are still in planing. I know I want to have several outlets, coax,
phone, and Cat 6 jacks along a certain wall, so I'm just trying to
figure out the best way to do it.
I've seen telecom/data combo outlets, and I was thinking of having two
"quadruplex" outlets a few feet apart, obviously not switched.
I found this very excelent "power strip" of sorts. It's called the
power squid (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/77e6/) and I
think I'll order a few. Not the design so that bricks can be easily
accomodated.
By the way, I have seen 5 or 6 switches "ganged" up in one long switch
plate, but never multiple outlets. I will certainly request to have
each bedroom independently wired.
Thanks again,
| |
| Elliott P 2006-03-27, 3:21 am |
| I don't recall how much it cost, but I remember we had out utility
(BGE) come out and do it at my last house. I think it was $50-100
dollars but i could be wrong. We had to have the service upgraded
several hundred watts at that house because of all the new gadgets.
Fortunatly that upgrade is free.
| |
| Elliott P 2006-03-27, 3:21 am |
| By toggle switch do you mean like an on off light switch or what?
| |
| Mark Lloyd 2006-03-27, 12:21 pm |
| On 26 Mar 2006 22:48:25 -0800, "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com>
wrote:
>Thanks Jay,
>
>We have a professional, but I haven't spoken to him about this yet, as
>we are still in planing. I know I want to have several outlets, coax,
>phone, and Cat 6 jacks along a certain wall, so I'm just trying to
>figure out the best way to do it.
>
>I've seen telecom/data combo outlets, and I was thinking of having two
>"quadruplex" outlets a few feet apart, obviously not switched.
>
>I found this very excelent "power strip" of sorts. It's called the
>power squid (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/77e6/) and I
>think I'll order a few. Not the design so that bricks can be easily
>accomodated.
>
>By the way, I have seen 5 or 6 switches "ganged" up in one long switch
>plate, but never multiple outlets. I will certainly request to have
>each bedroom independently wired.
>
>Thanks again,
I've seen 2 outlets together.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
| |
|
| On 26 Mar 2006 22:54:14 -0800, "Elliott P" <elliott.plack@gmail.com>
wrote:
>By toggle switch do you mean like an on off light switch or what?
Yeah, that's what I meant. I have 4 double outlets above my work
bench. One is connected to a toggle. I used to have a beltsander
and a double grinding wheel that had no switches, just plugged into
the wall, and I used the toggle to control them. But I only had one
switch so eventually I put a surface-mount on each tool. I don't need
the toggle for those tools now, but I still use it for other things.
And I have another double outlet to the right of the bench near the
light switch for the room. That outlet is connected to the light
switch so when I turn off the lights the radio goes off too.
(btw, if your newsreader does automatic quoting, it would enable me to
know if a question is directed to me, or what "it" refers to in the
previous post.)
| |
| Tony Hwang 2006-03-30, 11:21 am |
| Sandie wrote:
> Elliott P wrote:
>
>
>
> Someone probably said what I a about to say already.
>
> Even in 21st century modern houshold, overloading the crcuit is not
> recommend. Beside, if you are a computer user, you must be aware of
> surge protector, etc. These days, people UPS (Uninterruptible Power
> Supply) that prevents the computer form shutting down abruptly in case
> of power oputage. UPS checks the load also.
>
> Do not connect printer to UPS, only PC, sound system, monitor, modem
> should be connected to UPS. Belkin and PAC are populra brands. There
> are many different ones. You have to determine how much watage level or
> Amperage you want. I have Belkin 900 VA. I am not a game perosn but I
> don't think you would want to play game on back up power supply anyway.
> So get soemthign just enought to protect your PC so that it wouold
> initiate shutting down properly in case of electrical troubles.
>
Hmmm,
I have 5-6 PCs/notebooks networked on 3 levels of house, fax, home
theater. etc. As long as I remember nothing got damaged by power line in
years. All our utility is underground if that matters.
Tony
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