Power supply too big for wall socket?

Hi guys, I'd appreciate any advice you might have.

I just purchased a Silverstone ST1500 1500w PSU for a new computer but I can't physically plug it into a wall socket. After a bit of googling it looks like it is a 15A plug which has a larger earth pin than a standard 10A socket. I can't get an electrician to put in a 15A socket as I'm just renting... Is there any other way I can make use of it safely, or will I have to buy another PSU or two smaller PSUs? Thanks!

 

Are you in Australia? Are we talking Australian plugs and sockets?

 

What you need is a 15AMP end on a 10AMP lead. In this instance it couldn't hurt or cause any dangerous situations where a fire could start as this PSU is active PFC designed to operate full output wattage at as little as 90 volts AC in - At this voltage it would be pulling ~15 amps which is why they stuck a 15 amp port on it.

We live in australia, not america, our AC line voltage is roughly 230V AC, so if you calculate the PSU's efficiency at that voltage for full PSU output load, you could determine the maximum current drawn from the wall would be well below 10 Amps.

 

Sorry guys, I should've said that I'm from Australia!

 

You need something like this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1mt-15am...ower_Boards_Cables&hash=item5afa2b061a&_uhb=1

 

Perfect, I'll see if can grab one from Jaycar tomorrow. Thanks for you help!

 

how is replacing a 15 amp wall plug with another 15 amp wall plug going to help?

I'd just cut the plug off and put a 10 amp plug on which probably isn't illegal. or make a 10 amp plug to 15 amp socket cord which probably is illegal.

if the PS is more than 65% efficient it won't draw more than 10 amps anyway.

do you even need 1.5 kilowatts? just buy one that a kettle cord fits into.

 

The larger earth pin is there to stop you plugging devices that require 15A power into a 10A supply (all your normal devices in your house are only 10A).

No electrician will simply swap out a 10A socket for a 15A socket. You need to put an appropriate circuit behind it. Needing one of those for a computer seems a little unusual for me (at least in Australia, no clue how things are wired overseas). Most houses wouldn't even have a single 15A socket anywhere (unless it's for a window rattler AC) let alone enough dotted around the place to make a PSU like this worthwhile... where did you get it anyway???



The question of can you run this PSU from a standard 10A socket with an appropriate cable is another question entirely. As long as it's power draw is under 2400W all is good, just remember if you're using a powerboard the TOTAL draw has to be under 2400W including the LCD, speakers, lamps and anything else you might have.


edit: This is the plug you need if you wanted to plug it into a standard 10A socket:
http://www.4cabling.com.au/iec-c19-to-mains-10a-2m-power-lead.html

 

My misktake, like above something like this

http://www.4cabling.com.au/iec-c19-to-mains-10a-2m-power-lead.html.

The PSU will never draw over 10AMP from the wall so it's safe*

When used on Australian outlets of 230VAC

 

I also have one of these PSU's and just run the american cord that came with it through a US to AU plug adapter I got from Jaycar.

It's been running fine for 18+ months.

 

why not hey just get a stock standard everyone should have these laying around IEC aka Jug plug and use that... just saying.. as posted above it's not going to pull more then 10amps anyways...

 

because it won't fit into the power supply

 

Just grind the earth pin down

 

Unfortunately/fortunately I do need that much power (4x AMD 290).

I got it from Umart online. It doesn't mention a non-standard power cable in the specs.

I've ordered one online, bit of a bummer after shelling out 350 odd for the PSU already but what can you do... I checked with my mate who uses a thermaltake toughpower 1500 and apparently that came with an IEC C19 to 10A cable.

It's nice to know that it'll be ok on a standard power point. I'll run the other gear off a different socket just to make sure I'm safe

 

Get your grinder out and make it fit, she'll be rite.

 

just for info:
I'm from the UK so .... I hope this adds something or is relevant.
We've got ~230v AC power here, 'mains' plugs are rated at 13A.
I've got several 3000va rackmount UPS's at work that use this chunky / blocky "15A" connector and the supplied AC cables all have a UK standard moulded 13A 'mains' plugs on them.

 

ok my bad.. ....

 

how about this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-UNIVERS...esale_Business_Industrial&hash=item43bd6f4558

 

240v and 1500w = 6.25A according to the online calculator I found. Whilst that in itself wont overpower a 10A circuit, if you also have your monitors, speakers, fridge, microwave, tv, home theater, washing machine, electric heater, garage roller door, etc on the same circuit, you could easily be over 10A.
PS- the wire on a 10A circuit is the same as a 15A, but usually 15A only has 1 plug (dedicated), so you cant put 3x15A items on 1 circuit.

Maybe check your power box for how many circuits you have. You might be able to put all the big items like fridge etc on one circuit, and just the computer and all the small things on another.

Sometime electric ovens have a 15A plug, so i have been told. 15A double adapter + extension cord, lol.

 

1500w isnt the current draw it is making on the 240v circuit, that's the DC current it can provide.

According to the label on the device itself, "AC Input: 100V - 240Vac, 9 - 18A"

That means the device can draw up to 18amps from the power outlet, which is why it has the electrical plug it has.

Whether it will actually draw that much current is yet to be seen, and as others have said on 240v it most likely doesn't.

The safest option would be to have a 15a socket installed, followed by buying the correct cable to run it from a 10amp socket as was linked earlier http://www.4cabling.com.au/iec-c19-to-mains-10a-2m-power-lead.html

Grinding the earth pin etc is just plain dodgy! Much better ways to achieve a safe result!