display setup and electrical safety

[Stephanie]

I think i've asked this before but I want to double check. Lets say I have 13 LL plugged into one outlet, consisting of two power strips (one plugged into the other) and a 3 way expander. Another example is 11 LLs plugged into one outlet, consisting of one power strip, one 3 way expander and one extension cord. Is this a bad or unsafe setup? I haven't checked to see if any of the cords/power strips get warm... but i'm just wondering the logistics of this. I only run them all when I'm home anyway. Thanks!

[Stephanie]

the reason i have one strip plugged into another is that my bottom outlet is hooked to a light switch. consequently this light switch also controls 3 other outlets, four total, and i've got 24 LL on two outlets.

[Keith]

Ok, get your calculator, here are the formulas:

Amps = Watts / Volts

Watts = Amps * Volts

Volts = Watts / Amps

So, a 40 watt bulb on 120 volt circuit will draw .333 amps.

Then twentyfour 40 watt bulbs will draw 7.992 amps (24 * .333)
Most household circuits are planned for 15 amps. I'm not sure from your description if all of the lamps are on the same circuit or not.

100 watts will draw .833 amps

twentyfour 100 watt bulbs will draw 19.992 amps (24*.833)

So that many Grande or Giants on one circuit is too many, but you would be OK for midnights and centuries.  You also have to consider what other appliances (lamps, TV, stereo, etc.) that are using that circuit. 

If you have a mix of bulb sizes, just multiply the 40watt bulb total by .333 and the 100watt total by .833 and add the result for the amp draw.

Hope this helps
Keith

[Keith]

For 24 lamps on a 15 amp circuit the following might help.  Remember, these are MAX, it would be safer to NOT max the circuit. ;)

[Stephanie]

Extraordinarily helpful! Now to find out my circuitry, but I'm pretty sure they are all alone on their own circuit

[Keith]

After checking further I found that the max amps for continuous use on a circuit is 80% of its rating.  (Continuous being 3 hours or more of usage.)  So a 15 amp circuit should not have more than a 12 amp load.  A 20 amp circuit should have no more than a 16 amp load.  ;)

[Dr. WHAT?!]

The force is strong with this one ;)

Keith said:

Ok, get your calculator, here are the formulas:

Amps = Watts / Volts

Watts = Amps * Volts

Volts = Watts / Amps

So, a 40 watt bulb on 120 volt circuit will draw .333 amps.

Then twentyfour 40 watt bulbs will draw 7.992 amps (24 * .333)
Most household circuits are planned for 15 amps. I'm not sure from your description if all of the lamps are on the same circuit or not.

100 watts will draw .833 amps

twentyfour 100 watt bulbs will draw 19.992 amps (24*.833)

So that many Grande or Giants on one circuit is too many, but you would be OK for midnights and centuries.  You also have to consider what other appliances (lamps, TV, stereo, etc.) that are using that circuit. 

If you have a mix of bulb sizes, just multiply the 40watt bulb total by .333 and the 100watt total by .833 and add the result for the amp draw.

Hope this helps
Keith

[Autumn]

I have this entire display connected to one single outlet. I ran a line directly to the breaker box for this display. When I wired everything up I use low gauge wiring. At any time I could turn on at least 64 lamps which is over 6 amps above what my breaker can handle. I did this to make it easier for me to turn on any lamp I wanted to because plugging them in is a pain in the butt. Is it safe? Yes. Why? Because I will never turn on that many lamps, and if I do the breaker will flip. You could plug a thousand lamps into one outlet as long as you don't exceed the load. When you use those power strips they have recommended loads on them such as 500 watts or so. Also when you plug them into one another like that usually the plug becomes a spot of electrical resistance and will be the first to overheat and melt, and if the connection is not good enough it can fail before the max load is even reached. So just use the calculations keith provided to give you an estimated amount of max load, try to keep the load under 80%, and use some common sense and you will be fine.

[Keith]

A further note: most power strips have a built-in circuit breaker, commonly 15 amp.  So that should trip before the main circuit, unless you built your own power strips ;)

You could run 36 40watt bulb lamps on one circuit and be at 12 amps, but the heat from said bulbs would be a LOT!!

Autumn said:

I have this entire display connected to one single outlet. I ran a line directly to the breaker box for this display. When I wired everything up I use low gauge wiring. At any time I could turn on at least 64 lamps which is over 6 amps above what my breaker can handle. I did this to make it easier for me to turn on any lamp I wanted to because plugging them in is a pain in the butt. Is it safe? Yes. Why? Because I will never turn on that many lamps, and if I do the breaker will flip. You could plug a thousand lamps into one outlet as long as you don't exceed the load. When you use those power strips they have recommended loads on them such as 500 watts or so. Also when you plug them into one another like that usually the plug becomes a spot of electrical resistance and will be the first to overheat and melt, and if the connection is not good enough it can fail before the max load is even reached. So just use the calculations keith provided to give you an estimated amount of max load, try to keep the load under 80%, and use some common sense and you will be fine.

[Autumn]

When I run my lamps my room becomes unbearably hot. Incandescent lights give off almost all of their energy as heat so you can basically assume each light bulb is a 40 watt heater. 10 of those and you have a 400 watt heater and so on. I turn mine on during the winter instead of running the heater sometimes.

Keith said:

A further note: most power strips have a built-in circuit breaker, commonly 15 amp.  So that should trip before the main circuit, unless you built your own power strips ;)

You could run 36 40watt bulb lamps on one circuit and be at 12 amps, but the heat from said bulbs would be a LOT!!

Autumn said:

I have this entire display connected to one single outlet. I ran a line directly to the breaker box for this display. When I wired everything up I use low gauge wiring. At any time I could turn on at least 64 lamps which is over 6 amps above what my breaker can handle. I did this to make it easier for me to turn on any lamp I wanted to because plugging them in is a pain in the butt. Is it safe? Yes. Why? Because I will never turn on that many lamps, and if I do the breaker will flip. You could plug a thousand lamps into one outlet as long as you don't exceed the load. When you use those power strips they have recommended loads on them such as 500 watts or so. Also when you plug them into one another like that usually the plug becomes a spot of electrical resistance and will be the first to overheat and melt, and if the connection is not good enough it can fail before the max load is even reached. So just use the calculations keith provided to give you an estimated amount of max load, try to keep the load under 80%, and use some common sense and you will be fine.

[Stephanie]

I wasn't so much worried with the circuits as the power strips and extension cords. I know they get pretty warm, I've turned all 24 on and it definitely can be uncomfortable

[Joey "Dirtypawz"]

I have to say i asked a electrician I told him what I had which is 22 40 W on the top shelf
10 25 watt on the second shelf thats one outlet or breaker one ! 2 100w and 6 25 w on the second breaker to the room and the same second breaker i have 3 more 25w and three more 40w the electrician asked me if I had homeowners or renters insurance and do not run them all at the same time or I will have a problem regardless of how it's wired he said that is a fact !! But according to the power gauge on my monster power purchase your Tatian center doesn't even budge when I turn them on so who knows ? I only turn them all on for photos i have posted a couple of new ones with them all on ! And my insurance is current lol !!