semi-OT: power requirements

[Matt Price]

On Thu, 2010-02-18 at 17:08 -0500, Kevin Cozens wrote:
> ted leslie wrote:
> > Then one day perhaps a year later, you have a power outage,
> > and then for the first time all those machines start up at 
> > exactly the same time, and all the HD load up (on power) at the same time,
> > and pop goes the breaker(s)
> 
> That's also one of the reasons why it is good to turn off some 
> equipment/appliances/lights when hit by a power failure to reduce 
> initial hydro load when the power is restored.

hmm, in the case of the computer centre -- is the problem that startup
is energy-intensive, say, like starting your car, and so you're suddenly
maxing out all the circuits; or is it more that the shape of the energy
profile, with a sharp spike in the front, prematurely trips the breaker
even if the total amperage doesn't exceed the rating?

just wondering.  thanks everyone for the tips, they've been quite
helpful.

m
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