Hey everyone, I'm pretty new to handling electrical issues, so I could really use your help. Here's my situation: my circuit breaker trips in my home office whenever I game on my PC. It doesn't trip when I'm not gaming, which makes me think the power draw is too high. I'm using a ROG Astral 5090 along with a 1600W power supply, and I've noticed it sometimes pulling around 730 watts while gaming. I've had this issue even when I used a Strix 4090 graphics card.
For context, I also run a dehumidifier in my office, but I turn it off while gaming. Additionally, I have two Apple Studio Monitors and two height-adjustable desks plugged in there. Whenever I start up my PC, I see a flicker in the room lights, and the same flickering occurs when I use my printer or run the dehumidifier.
I'm looking for any suggestions to fix this issue. Should I be unplugging certain devices to see if that helps? Or do you think I need a dedicated circuit for my gaming setup? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
If your PC is the only device on that breaker and it's still tripping, there might be an issue with the wiring itself. You definitely want to talk to an electrician about this. If there are other devices sharing the circuit, try plugging them into different rooms to see if that helps.
It sounds like your circuit might be overloaded, especially considering all the devices you're running. A standard 15-amp breaker can handle about 1800 watts, and the power draw from your gaming rig plus other equipment could be pushing it past that limit. You might want to check if the breaker in your office is rated for 15 or 20 amps, as that makes a big difference. If the power draw exceeds the breaker's capacity, it will trip for safety. It's also worth looking into whether you have any loose connections, which can contribute to issues like flickering lights.
I can relate! When I game while running my AC on the same circuit, I often face similar breaker trips. If you're running a dehumidifier and your high-end gaming PC, the breaker will definitely struggle to keep up. Consider moving your PC to a different outlet or using an extension cord to connect it to another circuit. This could help balance the load and prevent those annoying trips.
Got it, that makes sense! I actually just talked to my neighbor who's an electrician, and he mentioned a dedicated line might be necessary. Maybe I'll go that route.