As we have a full LAN ahead of us I thought it worth some time checking the power requirements and that we will not be blowing fuseboards everywhere.
I think we ought to investigate this pre-LAN just so we are sure otherwise the 'LAN in the Lodge' might become an unexpected reality.
At about 650W per computer (inc monitor) that's over 30KW by the time we add the game server.
Anyone a sparks genius?
TL.
Edit: We also need to be a little careful to ensure that our electricity costs are not too transparent to the hotel. Perhaps the odd-job man might be the best person to speak to to find out how many circuits are in that room and their size?
30KW is a worst case scenario I believe as not everyones machine will be running 100% all the time.
May be worth telling people to turn off their folding processes while at the lan as it will save power, and if they are going to the bar for a long time then put their computers to sleep will also save power.
As I'm a laptop user, I'll be using 100W pretty much all the time (I have a plug in power monitor so I know what my laptop draws) but it may be worth investing in a few of these: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38343 which is what I have.
Stick one of these in each socket before each extension lead and we can reliably work out the rooms current draw.
We also need to ensure we split the room evenly over all the possible power circuits. Might be worth getting the hotel to let us know which sockets are on which circuit. We can then calculate how many rigs to have on each one.
So we'll need some extra long CAT6 cables to get over to the lodge. I've got a room there (I think) :rolleyes: Being billy no mates doesn't appeal very much though.
Or we get some long extension cables and take a power feed from the Restaurant. I'm sure there'll be some unused sockets there.
I'd rather not involve the hotel if we don't have to as it will only bring their attention to it and a potential problem.
I'd like to purchase a few of those monitors though so we can do spot checks on plugs - is that agreeable?
OK maybe not give the hotel the details but asking about the power circuit and socket assignments would be an acceptable question.
We want to ensure that we split the load evenly over the circuits to prevent us tripping the fuses, as seems to happen every year.
Quote from: Penfold;286975I'd like to purchase a few of those monitors though so we can do spot checks on plugs - is that agreeable?
How many would we need? Just one I presume and then we can check each line with the same monitor? I'd rather not end up buying one for each plug as that's a few hundred pounds....
I thought '3' initially as I thought we could / should keep one on the thing feeding all the servers and then a couple of roaming ones. I guess one or even two would suffice. You hold the purse strings so I'll leave it to you :)
Any more thoughts on the power readers?
I want to buy some of these for the cables - rather than the bags / masking tape which we currently use.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=333 (the 20mm one)
I originally was looking at these for the cables running along the open space - that was until I saw the price :blink:.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=44148
Do we need more gaffer tape? Shall I get a couple of rolls?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=33752
Anything else?
TL, you were also going to glance in the cable box to see if we need to order some more cat6.
Thoughts?
It occurs to me that no one is going to be very popular if they try to unplug an entire table in order to move one of these energy monitors onto that socket outlet? At Ã,£13 a pop would it not be worth getting one per set of tables and having them in place permanently?
after going for a look around the room again while it was empty i dont think that we will have ANY problems at all, as long as we plan it out before hand and tell people where to plug in to
Agreed with Smilo, I think it's probably a step too far atm to have power monitors.
Cable ties I see no problem with and I'd buy them and reimburse yourself from the LAN pot Penfold. A couple of rolls of gaffer tape is not a bad idea either.
Re switches. I checked out my box in the garage and it appears I *did* RMA the one that was DOA as I plugged the bad boy in and it worked no problem.
We have a fair few Cat6 cables still in the box along witht he remainder of the cable roll and connectors. I do not see any need to buy more.
Good news on the switch and cables.
I'll go ahead and buy the ties and gaffer tape.
Perhaps Gandy would be so kind as to bring along his power monitor in case we feel we need to check a particular socket. I'll probably buy one too which I'll bring along.
Cable ties and gaffer tape ordered.