Random Tech Questions you want answered.

Vargen wrote:

It's probably worth getting a quote from an electrician to see how expensive it would really be to put your desk outlet on another circuit. Depending on your box capacity and how the wires are run it could be a quick and simple job.

This is what we did when we had a window A/C unit, years ago - except we ran a dedicated one-outlet circuit just for the A/C. Fortunately the circuit breaker was in the basement almost exactly right below where the A/C was, so it was a quick and reasonably cheap job.

I don't think a UPS will help with the circuit tripping. It will keep the computer running for a short period of time after the circuit trips but I am pretty positive it won't stop the circuit from tripping. I could be wrong, I am not an expert.

However I have had a lot of experience working with power when I used to setup and run lights for different events and the one thing you don't want to f*ck around with is power. Find or get a separate circuit for the AC unit. That's the best thing to do.

With the UPS option, it merits mentioning that a UPS isn't 100% efficient. Adding a UPS to the chain will necessarily increase the total overall power draw of the system.

GPU power spikes can be combat in other ways. Perhaps the best way is by undervolting the GPU. Newer GPUs are often set with overly high stock voltages (in order to get more silicon to pass QC, raising yields) and not only can effectively run at lower voltages, but can often run better at lower voltages (due to the fact that reduced power usage = reduced heat generation = more thermal headroom = boost frequency can boost higher).

I undervolt the 3070 (+ set a max voltage) that I have in my living room PC in order to better control heat generation inside its compact case. With some testing, I found I gave up a fairly trivial amount of performance (as measured by TimeSpy runs) in exchange for much more significant decreases in temperatures.

I also undervolt the 3080 in my desktop computer, but that is done less for controlling temperatures (it's in a high airflow case) and more about chasing performance gains. So, unlike with the 3070, I don't "flatten out" the end of the voltage curve (which sets a max voltage).

Maybe adding solar panels to top of the house and using the power of Ra to power some of your things. Or human sacrifice is always good for a power boost. Have to be careful though, sacrifice the wrong person and you can get a zombie or summon a Politian or a zombie Politian.

merphle wrote:
Vargen wrote:

It's probably worth getting a quote from an electrician to see how expensive it would really be to put your desk outlet on another circuit. Depending on your box capacity and how the wires are run it could be a quick and simple job.

This is what we did when we had a window A/C unit, years ago - except we ran a dedicated one-outlet circuit just for the A/C. Fortunately the circuit breaker was in the basement almost exactly right below where the A/C was, so it was a quick and reasonably cheap job.

This is what I would do, but you need to check the breaker box first to see if it has room for a new circuit. The cost of running a new dedicated circuit for the AC unit shouldn't be too bad... unless the breaker box needs upgrading to support that. In the meantime I would move the PC or the AC onto a different circuit using a high quality extension cord.

So running an extension cord to another circuit is a bad idea? Why?

It's not a terrible idea, but for something like an AC, it would need to be 3 conductor 12 AWG, at least, and there must be no coils anywhere in the length or you risk creating a resistance heater out of your extension cord.

In short, proper electrical installations are safer overall.

Robear wrote:

So running an extension cord to another circuit is a bad idea? Why?

It's probably against fire code. And for something major like an AC unit or modern gaming rig, you would need a very heavy cord that would have a similar cost to the other solutions. If you cheap out on that you really will have a fire hazard. And you have to deal with having an extension cord lying around.

I can't see a new circuit coming in at under $500 - $1000, though, right? And of course you don't want to cheap out on the cord itself. I was just thinking of ways to get another circuit into play at a lower cost.

Having the cord lying around is obviously a risk but if it's in a low-traffic area, up against a wall, it should be easy to affix out of the way. But I do take your points and they are well-made. A poorly constructed cord would definitely be a serious hazard.

Robear wrote:

I can't see a new circuit coming in at under $500 - $1000, though, right?

It definitely depends on geographic location, and distance from circuit breaker to the requested outlet location (and degree of difficulty in getting a wire there). For me, I think it ended up being somewhere around $250.

It seems likely that the AC unit is on an outside wall, as it likely sticks out a window. If you're in a place where your electrical box is in the basement, it could be a pretty easy task to run a conduit on the outside of the house to run the line to a perfect location for a new outlet.

Might not even need to run anything anywhere. I've definitely seen situations where splitting an existing outlet off onto it's own circuit was handled mostly at the breaker box, and maybe a junction in the basement ceiling. They definitely didn't have to pull anything through the conduit to the outlet itself; they just changed how the existing wires were all connected together.

An extension cord for the AC is probably not a good idea, but an extension cord for the PC is probably fine (though I wouldn't cheap out on the extension). Also, only run the PC from that extension. If you have a 1000W power supply, it can max draw 8.3amps. As long as you get an extension that can handle 10+ amps. If you can install a fuse at the outlet to prevent more then 10 amps from being drawn, even better. But in the end, it is still a risk. Going with a proper installation would be the safest option.

Here is an interesting video on the topic.

Thanks Kazar!

Technology Connections does a good job of overexplaining everything. Love that guy.

The one thing I don't remember him mentioning in that video (he mostly talks about heat) is that running a long extension cord to another circuit can also get damaged by other things because it is exposed, even if it is run nicely. It could get pinched by a chair, cut by something sharp accidently, tripped on, etc. Doesn't matter how good the cord was brand new, once it's damaged it's a fire hazard unless it's fixed properly or replaced.

Never underestimate a cat's need to chew cables.

kazar wrote:

Never underestimate a cat's need to chew cables.

My wallet never underestimates that! So many cables....

So does Google just make money off of scamming people with fake credit card verification codes? They sure are making it hard to pay them for a YouTube Premium sub.

I'm supposed to look for the $1.95 charge and enter the 6 digit number at the end. Except when I check card online the charge ends with a 5 digit number instead.

Does anyone use the service? Is it worth jumping through the hoops to upload the pictures they want for the other verification process?

Edit: never mind, my bank is truncating the entry on the web site. I may have to wait and see a PDF statement.

I'd like to learn how to build websites for my various coding side projects. Anyone have any recommendations for resources that can help me on that journey? Books, tutorials, anything that can help give me a framework to get started? I could read through search results on the topic for days but recommendations from real people seems like a better place to start.

It has been so long since I learned the basics that I don't even remember what resources I used. https://www.w3schools.com/ is one I have referred to to learn new concepts since I haven't done much of web design in the last decade.

PuzzleBound wrote:

I'd like to learn how to build websites for my various coding side projects. Anyone have any recommendations for resources that can help me on that journey? Books, tutorials, anything that can help give me a framework to get started? I could read through search results on the topic for days but recommendations from real people seems like a better place to start.

Just use wordpress like the rest of the world. It's super easy nowadays.

Step 1. Find a good host (I use name cheap)
Step 2. Buy domain name and hosting through host
Step 3: Have host install wordpress
Step 4: Use wordpress interface to build website.
Step 5: Profit

Step 3b, Install five different "don't hack me, bro" plugins.

*Legion* wrote:

Step 3b, Install five different "don't hack me, bro" plugins.

Wordpress is great, but yea it seems like every other day I am hearing about a new Wordpress vulnerability.

I think the only sane way to use Wordpress is a managed solution from a good provider, who will take care of some of those details for you in the background.

Don't just host it yourself on some webspace. Done that in a professional setting, was very happy the day I was able to delete all of those sites.

Is there a way to record YouTube videos for later use? I’d like to save a few of my Son’s high School football games for him to have years down the road

I have used this tool before.

Were they posted by the school? You might be able to request a copy of the video files from the person who uploaded them. I worked for a school about 20 years ago in a position that involved a bit of video work. I would happily burn DVDs for parents when asked though the school did ask for like $5 to cover costs.

Fredrik_S wrote:

I have used this tool before.

This Python tool is well liked, plus it's not only for YouTube and it doesn't derive ad revenue from you using it.

Kurrelgyre wrote:
Fredrik_S wrote:

I have used this tool before.

This Python tool is well liked, plus it's not only for YouTube and it doesn't derive ad revenue from you using it.

Yes! Thats the one! Its been a minute and the other one looked familiar.