2000+ watt power supplies?

[SimicEngineer]

Apparently these have been around (or at least announced) for a couple years, but I'm just starting to notice listings for power supplies rated at 2000+ watts. Normally I'd assume these are exaggerated ratings from sketchy vendors, but I see models from SilverStone, Cooler Master, and FSP. These ratings only apply when the input is 220-240V, which makes sense considering that a typical North American circuit can only deliver 1800W. Is the expectation that these only get used in countries where 220-240V is the norm, or are we supposed to start running NEMA 6-15R outlets like for high-power welders and air conditioners? The power cords for that connection are sold, but I'm not sure what they're actually meant for (e.g. Monoprice 6-15P to C13[www.monoprice.com]).

[SimicEngineer]

Автор сообщения: PopinFRESH

Most PSUs that are 1600W or higher, and certainly over 1800W, will not be using a C13/C14 connection. They will be using a C19/C20 connection as that wattage will exceed the rating for the C13 plug. You might find some with a C15/C16 which is like a C13/C14 but keyed with a notch/key and is rated for higher power and higher thermal load on the cable insulation; however more likely you’ll find them with C19/C20.

I was sure I saw C13/C14 specified on at least one of these, but looking at the photos, you're right; the SilverStone HELA 2050R, FSP Cannon Pro, and Cooler Master M2000 are all shown with C20 connectors. From the nominal ratings I've seen, it seems like 2000W at 240V should be doable with higher-end C13/C14 components, but I suppose the standards/codes governing the overall installation might disallow that.

Автор сообщения: C1REX

Автор сообщения: DevaVictrix

Wow… i assumed it would be close to 30amps or something. So things like kettles, jet washes, fan heaters, toasters etc max out at 1800w. It must take forever to make a cup of tea!

From what I know electric kettles are indeed slower in US comparing to 3000w kettles in Europe. Of course there will no difference on weaker kettles at 2000w or below.

Yes, our kettles are usually slower, but electric kettles are also much less popular than in the UK (I'm pretty sure a US kitchen is more likely to have an old-fashioned stovetop kettle than an electric kettle).

Автор сообщения: _I_

and maybe 1-2 outlets use both rails 240v for electric stove or dryer at 20-30a for upto 4800-7200w

Right, and the NEMA 6-15 plugs are for lower-current 240V stuff like some of the more powerful window air conditioning units, high-end power tools, etc., so I thought that might fit the bill for a high-power PC. However, 6-15 doesn't have a neutral, which means there's voltage between the (presumed) "neutral" pin and ground. If equipment isn't designed/tested for that, it might cause problems. I've seen references to people using it for crypto mining rigs and extreme overclocking, so it seems like it's at least possible for it to work, but for all I know those people might have voided both their PSU warranty and their homeowner's insurance.

[_I_]

the 240v outlets have a ground/neutral, and a hot from each of the 120v sides

https://ww2-secure.justanswer.com/uploads/UR/urelectrician/2013-08-06_005938_dryer_receptacle_14-30r_4-wire.jpg

the older style plug was 3 conductors, with common ground and neutral
but they are combined in the circuit breaker box, but used on the 4pin to detect ground fault

[Thermal Lance]

2000 watts? Jesus.

I swear , one day a gamer will turn on his PC and the whole grid will go down.

[Rod]

De longhi 2kw ceramic fan heater. This is an example running off a single uk socket. This is the upper range of what people use. Generally uk eu is lower on usage. They tend to regulate out things that use too much.

Like hoovers. My last one was 1200w and the eu regulations came in and the same model is now 620w and i dont notice the difference. You never see devices above 2000w in the uk for consumers. I think kettles and ovens etc pull 1800-2000 watts.


You could get 1600w power supplys for ages too but only mad men buy them. When your electricity is expensive you tend to think about how you waste it.

[Tiberius]

No way NA circuit can only deliver 1.8kw. Some hairdryers out there alr use 2kw

[Dutchgamer1982]

Автор сообщения: Tiberius

No way NA circuit can only deliver 1.8kw. Some hairdryers out there alr use 2kw

standard usa is 15amp 120v = 1800w max

standard dutch (and most european nations too) is 16 amp 230v (3500w max)

the us grid has not been updated in decades.. which is why so many outages...

that said.. at least your electricity is cheap like 4 cents in texas vs the nearly 60 cents we pay including taxes..

I googled some more.. and found SOME usa groups are improved to deliver 20 amps... (pushing their upper limit to 2400w still lower than european basic groups...

that said... our dutch 230v is more dangerous than the 110v you americans have..
as our body has resistance.. the higher the voltage.. the higher the danger.. so european power IS more deadly when you touch it.

than there is the hz at which the current switches... in europe this is 50hz.. which is INCREDIBLY dangerous.. this is namely exactly in line with the hz of your hearth.. usa's 60hz is again safer in that regard... (but not as much as picky a value much less close..)

[C1REX]

Автор сообщения: Rod

You never see devices above 2000w in the uk for consumers. I think kettles and ovens etc pull 1800-2000 watts.

3kw kettles are very common in UK. Same for electric heaters. They use more power but also boil water or heat the room faster so aren’t much more expensive to use. You can buy them in any shop or on amazon UK.

Electric kettles aren’t that popular in US as at 1,8KW it’s nearly as slow as an old school stove kettle.

[Dutchgamer1982]

Автор сообщения: C1REX

Автор сообщения: Rod

You never see devices above 2000w in the uk for consumers. I think kettles and ovens etc pull 1800-2000 watts.

3kw kettles are very common in UK. Same for electric heaters. They use more power but also boil water or heat the room faster so aren’t much more expensive to use. You can buy them in any shop or on amazon UK.

Electric kettles aren’t that popular in US as at 1,8KW it’s nearly as slow as an old school stove kettle.

eu norms banned such high voltage devices.... like why we also don't have vacuum cleaners of 2200w anymore...

brexit has allowed the uk to reintroduce these high powered devices now banned in the eu.
enjoy the return of your 3000w kettles and vacuum cleaners.. you can thank brexit..

[Dutchgamer1982]

ok I stand corrected while still vacuumcleaners are limited in wattage in the eu.. waterkettles are not...

https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/domo-do482wk-mytea-eco-heetwaterdispenser-1-5l-zwart/9200000043090393/?bltgh=gRVy-F5uMTVpFfIQ4q5Ekw.2_6.7.ProductTitle

3000w but it still is very high energy efficiency... heats water from cold to boiling in 45 seconds. (only 200ml aka 1 cup.. but thats often all you need)

usa kettles are generally only 1500w.. and need 6 minutes to boil about 800ml or 4 cups.

which pretty much fits having only halve the energy.. for european kettles will heat the same amount of water in just 3 minutes..

[It's Chase]

In the US we don't use electric kettles. We just use normal kettles you put on the stove and heat them up for boiling water. Probably just as slow as if you used an electric one over here.

[_I_]

in the us we are starting to see more inductive heat devices, on stove and pans/kettles

[Wampum Biskit]

Автор сообщения: _I_

Автор сообщения: DevaVictrix

… North American circuits only deliver 1800w? That can’t be true!

yea 15a is a normal outlet/breaker at 120v = 1800w
a few use 20a, kinda uncommon for 120v*20a = 2400w
but in those cases, thats the limit for the outlet circuit
often rooms or zone of house will all be on the same breaker, lights and outlets should be on separate breakers

and maybe 1-2 outlets use both rails 240v for electric stove or dryer at 20-30a for upto 4800-7200w

on most homes , even newer ones light and outlets are on the same group , also A/C , or major appliances can have up to double pole 50 or 60 amp breakers , it's pretty common with a 200 amp service panel.

[SimicEngineer]

Автор сообщения: _I_

the 240v outlets have a ground/neutral, and a hot from each of the 120v sides

https://ww2-secure.justanswer.com/uploads/UR/urelectrician/2013-08-06_005938_dryer_receptacle_14-30r_4-wire.jpg

the older style plug was 3 conductors, with common ground and neutral
but they are combined in the circuit breaker box, but used on the 4pin to detect ground fault

I was looking for a lower-current equivalent of this that would make sense for a 2000W device, but all I've found for smaller stuff is the 3-prong 6-15R/P. 14-15P/R are specified, but I don't see any sign of them actually being readily available. In real datacenters I suppose they probably use something like Hubbell locking connectors to rack PDUs, but I've never been in one (just server rooms in old office buildings that still run on 120V).

Автор сообщения: Thermal Lance

2000 watts? Jesus.

I swear , one day a gamer will turn on his PC and the whole grid will go down.

It's definitely overkill for gaming. I was thinking about a more workstation-like build, and the total power on those platforms gets ridiculous pretty quickly (several large cases and HEDT/workstation motherboards are now including provisions for multiple PSUs). Even so, I imagine the average person buying a 2000W power supply is doing it to deliberately run it underloaded for quieter operation, marginally better reliability/longevity, etc..

[Dutchgamer1982]

ok with sli dead...

lets presume some ludicrous powerdraw..

an 5090 with 600w tdp
lets overclock it and give it 20% more juice 720w
a high end motherboard 80w tdp
4 sticks of ram of 6w each.. with a solid overvolt and clock.. thats closer to 10w each so 40w
5 m.2 drives, 10w each, so 50w
a cpu of 120w tdp overclocked.. and at peak performance.. draws 180w
2 waterpumps (25w each) so 50w
plenty of radiators, with fans in push pull.. lets put in a ludicours 20 fans.. each using 6w at max speed... so thats 120w on fans.
========================
thats basicly the upper limit of what you can push a system to..
and still you only draw 1240W

if we presume a psu has an efficiency of 90%.. that means 10% of it's capacity gets wasted..
so to stable deliver 1240W we need 1378w psu..

so an 1400w psu with platinum or titanium ratinng can power even the most extreme pc we can imagine...

even if we add an audiocard, capture card and wificard.. it will not add much.

only when we add a seperate gpu for like lifestreaming... we will need more han normal 1500w psu's can provide...
and even than we likely need to add treadrippers and such to truelly need 2000W

[Shaggin'Wagon]

Автор сообщения: Dutchgamer1982

ok with sli dead...

lets presume some ludicrous powerdraw..

an 5090 with 600w tdp
lets overclock it and give it 20% more juice 720w
a high end motherboard 80w tdp
4 sticks of ram of 6w each.. with a solid overvolt and clock.. thats closer to 10w each so 40w
5 m.2 drives, 10w each, so 50w
a cpu of 120w tdp overclocked.. and at peak performance.. draws 180w
2 waterpumps (25w each) so 50w
plenty of radiators, with fans in push pull.. lets put in a ludicours 20 fans.. each using 6w at max speed... so thats 120w on fans.
========================
thats basicly the upper limit of what you can push a system to..
and still you only draw 1240W

I have older computer hardware in the other room that I could assemble right now that would consume 1500~1700 watts when playing games if I wanted to easily, if not more. I'm not going to assemble it though because I just don't have a need or want to do that right now. But it is possible.