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Need Help Calculating System Amp Draw

Hi, I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place but I thought I'd try.

I know this is kind of a newbie question but I'm having trouble calculating the amp draw of my system. I'm running a recording rig and it's hard to tell what some of the gear is pulling. I know Amps are Watts/Volts but I'm confused about what actual wattage is being used (for example, my DAW has a power supply of 850W but the company that made the computer for me says that the way I'm using it, it's probably only pulling 500-600W). Some of the gear, like my monitors, say 230W on the back, but then online it says 90W, so I'm wondering if it's the same kind of thing where the power supply is higher than what's actually being used. I'm looking to add some hardware and don't want to overload the circuit.

Here's what I have, any help appreciated! Thank you.

Microphone Power Supply - 8.4W / 120V = 0.07 Amps

Lavry Black AD11 - 14W / 120V = .116 Amps

Mytek 192 ADC - I can't find any info but I'm guessing similar to the Lavry AD

Lavry DA10 - 0.1 Amps ?
    Voltage 90-264 VAC, Frequency 40-63Hz, Current 0.1A
    Fuse Rating 2.5A “Time Delay”

Computer - 850W Power Supply, probably just using up to 600W / 120V = 5 Amps

Lights - added up all the lightbulbs, it's about 0.75 Amps

KRK VXT6 Monitors - says 230W on the back? which would be 1.9 Amps each. The internet also says 120W and 90W in different places, so I'm confused.

Great River Preamp - says the fuse is 0.75A, not sure if that means it's using that much?

TV - says 1.8A on the back.

I'm wanting to add a compressor and a few additional preamps but it's only a 15A circuit.

Thanks!
 


 

128x128acar83

Showing 3 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,803 posts
 

Will lightning jump a circuit breaker? Normally I just flip the circuit in a storm, it’s too hard for me to get behind the desk and unplug from the wall.

 

A direct strike will, but 99% of damaging lightning surges are not direct strikes.

Turning off breakers is a great idea, but storms and surges happer when you are away and unable to predict them.

Use a whole house surge protector plus a Furman with SMP at the outlet for the best outcomes.

erik_squires
15,803 posts
 

Add up the wattages on the back of the units.  For things like amplifiers and powered speakers this is the maximum power that the could draw, but with normal amps your actual usage is usually much lower. The 230W on the back would be used up only if you were using test tones at maximum output. 

Yes, you can get a new circuit, but you can't upgrade the breaker UNLESS you know you already have 12 gauge wiring everywhere.  If this is a circuit that is shared with lights I'm sure you do not.

Sounds like you may be better off getting a new additional circuit run.  I try to keep really noisy things like Ethernet switches and PC's outside of my clean power zone which is where my amps and DACs go.

erik_squires
15,803 posts
 

Well, if you really need Amps you could buy a simple Amp meter like the one I link below, but if you are trying to figure out maximum load on a 15A circuit the answer is 1800 Watts for short duration, 1440 W (1800 * 80%) for long term power.

Usually it's easier to add the watts than the amps. :)

https://amzn.to/3XPaPFY

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