[clug-talk] OT: Computer safety

[Kin C Wong]

One more thing, you should add up the wattage of power consumed by your 
equipment.  Most towers will have a 300W power supply, your monitor will 
likely be around 200W.  If the equipment does not give you a wattage 
rating, take the rated current in amps multiple by the voltage in the wall 
(110V) will give you a wattage rating.  Remember a hair dryer is about 
1200W.  Your circuit breaker is likely around 15-20A (to be sure, identify 
which breaker it is - it is embossed on the switch) which means the rated 
wattage is 1650-2200W.  Certainly just because your equipment says that is 
wattage rating does not mean that it is drawing that much power, but at 
it's maximum power draw, that would be the rating.  To give yourself a 
safety factor, we always work on maximum power draw.