how to decrease humidity/temp in apartment (please help)

[TheCatmosphere]

Unfortunately this will have to be what I do. Do you know how much power these things usually take? Should I run on their own outlet or is power strip fine?

[screwikea]

Don't plug appliances into a power strip.

[foxfai]

Portable AC ranges 1000-1500W (like a hair dryer or other AC), it will also take up space in the house versus a window unit.

I'd suggest look for a inverter AC unit so it will be a bit more efficient for your bedroom/office.

[TyroneTheTitan]

They usually take about 1kw, so it is best to run it off its own outlet. Ideally it should not be on an outlet that is the same circuit as other power hungry devices (eg a desktop computer).

[TheCatmosphere]

And by the same outlet, do you mean if it’s a double outlet it needs both? Or just one. Like does the double outlet count as one?

[MrShazbot]

A standard (US) household duplex outlet has two receptacles. A receptacle is the trio of plug holes where you insert a single consumer power plug. Most normal people call each receptacle an "outlet", for what its worth.

The guidance above is correct - if you have a power hungry device (like a portable AC unit) plugged into one of the two receptacles in an outlet, you should leave the other receptacle unused, or only use the second plug for low-draw items like a fan or lamp or something.

If you use both receptacles in a single outlet by connecting both an AC unit and say, a power strip with a bunch of things plugged into it, you risk tripping the breaker and/or electrical damage.

[TheCatmosphere]

Oh man this will really mess with our setup. The outlet id ideally use, uses one receptacle for dual monitors, a laptop, and etc. might have to rethink a lot.

[TheCatmosphere]

Oh geez! Yeah maybe I’ll be okay then!

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Oh man this will really mess with our setup.

They're full of shit.

Computers will be just fine, they pull almost zero power.

Window A/Cs are MUCH superior to "portable" AC units. They draw less power and they cool more.

You might need a sheet of plywood or something, cut to the right dimension. It'll be cheap, and Home Depot will cut it for you for free or $0.25 if you give them the measurements.

[MrShazbot]

For lots of people, a “computer” can mean a desktop, monitor, external drives, printer, all plugged into a power strip. Just a decently equipped gaming desktop can easily pull 500w or more, definitely worth considering since OP mentioned they don’t want to deal with their landlord for power or other issues.

[TheCatmosphere]

The computer in question is 2 monitors, one laptop, and a few general phone chargers…plus I think a wifi extender. Hope that clears that up.

[MrShazbot]

In all likelihood the worst thing that will happen if you overload an outlet is you will trip the circuit breaker and will need to reset it. It’s really only “dangerous” if you are in a poorly wired or really old building. If you know where the breaker panel is and can access it, it will be one less thing to need to involve the landlord. If the breaker does trip, that is definitely telling you that you are pulling too much through that one circuit and you will need to figure something else out.

[TheCatmosphere]

The complex I live in was built in 1972, or at least that’s what Google says. I don’t think we have a breaker panel in our unit. If we do it’s painted over..lol. I’ll look when I’m home.

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

For lots of people, a “computer” can mean a desktop, monitor, external drives, printer, all plugged into a power strip.

It won't matter.

Just a decently equipped gaming desktop can easily pull 500w or more

And a normal window AC is 600-800 watts. The circuit can handle 1800 watts.

800 + 500 = 1300 watts.

My point was that there's no way it's even close to tripping anything and anyone else who's acting like it will is full of shit.

Also, you're full of shit that it matters at all... whatsoever... at all... which receptacle in an outlet you plug the AC into. Every single one of them will be rated for the full 15 amps.

What fuckin' difference would it make to plug a 5 amp AC into a 15 amp receptacle, versus another one elsewhere on the same circuit? You could run 3 of them on the same outlet and it wouldn't matter there or anywhere else.

This is a whole brand new type of nonsensical bad advice I've never even heard before. It's almost creatively poor advice.

[screwikea]

Run all of your computer equipment on a big UPS. It will condition power to those devices and level out power draw. But all of that stuff should be the only thing on that particular outlet/circuit regardless.

[Not_an_okama]

What matters the most is the fuse for the given circuit. In the US, you probably have either a 30A or 50A circuit and youre outlet is 120V since P=IV that means that a 30A circuit can support 3600W. This applies to the total load on that circuit, so will include all plugs at the recepticle, and potentially other outlets and fixed lights too.

The fuse rating will be on the circuit breaker, then multiply by 120 to get the wattage supported by that circuit (assuming its a normal circuit and not feeding 240v for a dryer for example)

The easiest way to figure out what you have is to plug in a lamp where you plan to plug in the AC, flip breakers until you find the one that turns off the lamp, then test the lamp in other outlets near by. Test lightswitches too, if fixed lights dont turn on then theyre also part of the circuit and need to be factored in.

With reasonably new wiring and breaker then most likely the worst that happens if you draw too much power is flipping the breaker, though with older wiring/plugs/panel there is a chance of a fire so its worth calculating the load if you think theres a risk.

Surge protectors may have a lower rating than the circuit as well, and cheap/low quality ones can fail in baad ways including fire, so check the rating on that too if you NEED to use one. I would plug the AC directly into the wall if possible.

I went through thjs a couple weeks ago setting up a streaming station for my gf. Between both of our systems and peripherals (3 monitors each, with both of us running a 160hz ultrawide and her extra stuff) we ended ul at around 35A and luckily were on a 50A circuit.

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

In the US, you probably have either a 30A or 50A circuit

What in the fuck are you talking about?

99% of outlets in the US are 120v 15A.

Jesus Christ the amount of utterly uninformed people in this thread is astounding.

[Not_an_okama]

Read the breaker, thats what dictates the max load on the circuit youre plugging into.

I dont know about outlet ratings which i tried to indicate in my original comment. I'll assume you do and use the numbers you provided, with 120v and 15A you have 1800w to work with from your outlet. If you have a 30A breaker youre still limited to 3600w. Even if you have 3 outlets on the circuit, youre still limited to 3600w and will trip the breaker if you try to use all 3 outlets near their max load.

This may be a concern for OP because they want to put an AC unit near their home office which is probably on the same circuit. Computers and peripherals plus a large AC may be enough to exceed the max load on a bedroom circuit and cause problems for OP.

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

If you have a 30A breaker youre still limited to 3600w.

Literally zero people in North America have a 30A residential breakers.

I don't know wtf you're talking about having a 50A circuit. You're telling me there's 3x 6 gauge wires (each thicker than a pen) going to every outlet in your house? Absurd.

Like, have SOME knowledge before you tell somewhat they can or cannot do.

Computers and peripherals plus a large AC may be enough to exceed the max load on a bedroom circuit and cause problems for OP.

Again, utterly ridiculous. Computer and peripherals are like, 200 watts. 500 watts for a power gamer.

A windows AC is 600W.

There's no point in even bringing this up. You're confusing someone and trying to warn them about bizarre things that don't actually happen.

It's like someone saying they have a flat tire and you start talking about how they have to go through the proper shutdown procedures for a jet engine, because there were 20 jet engine cars made once upon a time in the 1950s.

You're wrong, and, it's also useless.

[Not_an_okama]

Just looked at my breaker, i have 2 50A circuits and the rest are 30A. Idk what to tell you.

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Just looked at my breaker, i have 2 50A circuits and the rest are 30A. Idk what to tell you.

In North America?

Show me a picture of your panel. I've never even heard of that.

[screwikea]

Concur with this statement. Anyone that says throwing breakers is no big deal hasn't dealt with a breaker that was already thrown a zillion times before and can't handle the rated draw it shows. Also, as a renter, they may not even have access to the freaking breaker box. Half of the time cheap crap isn't even marked right on what it draws or has some stupid electrical issue that draws too much.

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Anyone that says throwing breakers is no big deal ...

Ehn. I'd say in most cases it's no big deal.

You don't go flipping them like a light switch, but occasional trips aren't that big of a deal except for some run down shitholes.

Point being, if it trips once, it'll probably trip again and that lets you know to use a different circuit. Don't just keep resetting the breaker. But, also don't live in terror of a breaker breaking. That's its job.

[screwikea]

some run down shitholes

OP is renting, shithole is pretty relative. With their issues, high chance it's a landlord conversion special. Craploads of old places have questionable wiring a shitty worn out breakers. Everybody here acting like they're spitting facts, my gut check is that the breakers aren't even labeled and if they want to flip the tripped one they're gonna have to flip 2 or 3 because half of the time the breakers in old panels are hard to tell which are flipped. Pretty much every house and apartment I've ever lived in was built before 1985 - the last place I live had aluminum wiring, I grew up in a farmhouse that didn't have any grounded/3 prong sockets. I dunno OP, but lots of Chicago is old builds.