Suggestions for power to a structured panel?

[dlmorgan999]

I have a couple of questions on running power to my structured panels. First off I've seen someone post that they ran two different circuits to the same outlet in the bottom of the can. I had the electrician install a dedicated circuit for the automation hardware and second circuit just for the UPB PIM. I don't have any idea though of how to run two circuits to one outlet though.

The second question is related to using a UPS. In my old house (built 15 years ago) all my equipment was surface mounted. As such I just had an outlet strip on the wall and I plugged it into a UPS for conditioning and backup. Now that everything is mounted in flush-mount cans I can't think of any way to do this. I wouldn't mind having all of it run through the UPS but at the very least I'd like to get my network switch powered this way. Has anyone ever done something like this?

The house is completed now but I have one BIG thing on my side. I have complete and easy access to the back side of all the panels! Also the dedicated power circuits terminate to outlets that are mounted directly below the cans in the same wall. If anyone has ideas I would really appreciate it

-- Dave

 

[WayneW]

I don't have any idea though of how to run two circuits to one outlet though.

A standard duplex outlet has a pair of "jumpers" or connections between the top & bottom outlet. 96% of the time these are left intact and electricians often feed power to one set of terminals (i.e. the bottom ones) and then use the other set (i.e. top) as an output to run to the next outlet box. In that case, the power for all the following outlets actually flows through these jumpers. The main reason for removing these jumpers (copper tabs) is to allow for a switched outlet where the bottom outlet is always on and the top outlet is switch controlled. In you case, you would remove the jumpers and use two separate feeds. But if you have the room, you might want to put in a double gang box and have pairs of outlets on each feed to give room for wall warts, etc.

 

[dlmorgan999]

Thanks for the reply Wayne! That makes perfect sense. I've done a fair amount of electrical wiring over the years but I never needed this capability so I never stopped to think that those tabs were for.

What I'm planning to do is install a couple of small outlet strips in the can to handle the wall warts. My HAI can will have two wall warts (for the OmniPro II and the expansion board) and two PLC devices (one X10 and one UPB). They all take a fair amount of space so I think I'll have to do that.

-- Dave

 

[Steve]

Dave,

It was my stuff you were referring to. I did it exactly how Wayne described. The main point for me though was not just to necessarily have 2 separate circuits for capacity, but I wanted each phase in the panel. If you are just pulling power from an outlet there, both of those circuits are probably on the same phase and separating them does not really buy you anything.

 

[hucker]

What I'm planning to do is install a couple of small outlet strips in the can to handle the wall warts. My HAI can will have two wall warts (for the OmniPro II and the expansion board) and two PLC devices (one X10 and one UPB).

I too have a system I'm putting in and am worried about the wall wart's filling up my box. I'm wondering if anyone has tried buying a power supply that supplies 5/12V that could be screwed down in the panel. That would get rid of atleast 3 wall warts in my case probably more by the time I have all the little things done. Or do you like the redundancy of having multiple 'power supplies' with the wall warts.

Chuck

 

[electron]

Just get a Elk PD9 power supply, I have mine even battery backed. Here is an old pic of the PD9 before I wired it:

http://mydotsoft.com/products/my.Gallery/n...mp/P8302204.JPG

 

[dlmorgan999]

Steve,

The reason that I have a separate circuit for the UPB and X10 PIMs it to minimize noise and signal sucking from other devices on the same circuit. I already have a phase coupler installed in the panel and I seem to be getting very decent signal on both phases.

-- Dave

 

[Steve]

That's cool, as long as I was at it, I did it mainly for insurance purposes. You never know what can happen with PLC and I figured it would be nice to access either phase at that location if needed. I also wanted my PIM and all the other electronics in the can separated as much as possible (separate phases). It wasn't so much a requirement as just trying to be cautious.