Entertainment System

[SFXdudess]

Hey, I'm new to this and i know very little about electrics, except it hurts

So, me and my cousin (we live together) want to make use of our otherwise un-used basement and build an entertainment system/chill room kinda thing.

Our problem is we have worked it out, that if everything is turned on at any one time, it can use in excess of 7500W's (I'm pretty sure we did the math right)

And a friend of ours told us that it would overload the ring main (he took a look and said that the basement ran off it's own ring main) and explained ring main to be every switch you have on the fuse box, is a separate ring main, I.E Kitchen Sockets, Upstairs Sockets etc etc.. he said it either used 15A or 20A

And 7500W's to convert to amps is Watts divided by volts, but it all says 230/240- 50hz's so which do i use? 230 or 240, either way doesn't make too much difference, i did ask on another forum, but some guy mentioned something like i'd need an auxillary breaker or something like that, but didn't say what it was, what it does, and why i need one?

Any information regarding this would be EXTREMELY useful.

Also, if i get an electrician round, can he change a 15A/20A ring main fuse for say a 45A? as that's what it looks like i'll need.

Be gentle, i know next to nothing about electrics, thanks.

I live in North Western UK if that helps any.

 

[SFXdudess]

Bump?????

 

[grantr37]

OK so there's not many people up here just so late, except me as I am raiding the biscuit tin in the tea hut :rolleyes2: allow me to have a think....

 

[grantr37]

OK so your not really going to be using 7.5KW are you? unless you are running 2 Air conditioners down there as well as a large amount of Halogen lights, games consoles, a microwave and a kettle all at the same time...

I would say that you are looking at about 1KW for a good sized set up including your sound system, projector, Lights, make that 3KW or thereabouts if you want to use a heater down there....


so you would be using approximately :

from 4.3Amps to 13Amps maximum based on 1KW up to 3KW

A 16Amp RCBO breaker will suffice...the wiring should be at least 2.5mm twin and earth...

and less if the lighting is on its own circuit, which it probably already is....most likely on a 6Amp set-up...


you shouldn't have any worries providing that the wiring is in good condition down there and also that there are enough double wall sockets for you to use without 4 way adapters.....you would be looking for 4 double wall sockets....

It would be a good idea to get a local sparky in to take a look at how old the wires are and what condition they are in incase they need replaced, and to add in any extra wall sockets you might want...


Remember to unplug all things in the basement when not in use and also to buy a smoke alarm and fit it down there on the ceiling....if the Boiler is in there too then also get a CO (carbon monoxide) Alarm and fit it onto the wall...

If you are taking any furniture down there to sit on, remember to make sure that it is fire resistant with a fire safety logo on the tag, wooden seats are good for down there....


Any questions on setting up A/V Equipment, projectors or computer equipment just ask

 

[Baker1988]

As said above its not likely you are going to use 7.5kw as you are probily not going to use every thing at once, if like you say that the kitchen and upstairs and downstairs and basement are all separate rings then the lights will more then likely be separate aswell so take the lights out of the equation, also if the mcb for the basement is 15/20amp fuse then it will probily be a radial not a ring circuit wired in 2.5mm so you will not be able to up the fuse to 45amp as the fuse is there to make sure the cable does not over load and 2.5 will overload and burn out before the 45 amp fuse burns out (I'm assuming by you saying 15amp that it is a old 3036 rewirable fuse board)

 

[monkeyelectric]

Hey, I'm new to this and i know very little about electrics, except it hurts

So, me and my cousin (we live together) want to make use of our otherwise un-used basement and build an entertainment system/chill room kinda thing.

Our problem is we have worked it out, that if everything is turned on at any one time, it can use in excess of 7500W's (I'm pretty sure we did the math right)

And a friend of ours told us that it would overload the ring main (he took a look and said that the basement ran off it's own ring main) and explained ring main to be every switch you have on the fuse box, is a separate ring main, I.E Kitchen Sockets, Upstairs Sockets etc etc.. he said it either used 15A or 20A

And 7500W's to convert to amps is Watts divided by volts, but it all says 230/240- 50hz's so which do i use? 230 or 240, either way doesn't make too much difference, i did ask on another forum, but some guy mentioned something like i'd need an auxillary breaker or something like that, but didn't say what it was, what it does, and why i need one?

Any information regarding this would be EXTREMELY useful.

Also, if i get an electrician round, can he change a 15A/20A ring main fuse for say a 45A? as that's what it looks like i'll need.

Be gentle, i know next to nothing about electrics, thanks.

I live in North Western UK if that helps any.

If the fuse is a 15 or 20 amp are you sure its a 2.5 ring main and not just a radial?

 

[SFXdudess]

It could very well be a radial (not sure what that means like) my friend who said it was a ring main isn't exactly an electrician lol

 

[Engineer54]

Perhaps it would be more useful/helpful, if you can break this 7500W down, as stating all the equipment/appliances that you are intending to use. eg, List of equipment with wattage ratings against each one.


I very much doubt you will be using anything near that stated value, and we'll be able to tell you WHY when we see this list that your friend has grossly over estimated on!! lol!!