How many 180W Powerhouses per house circuit?

Well, assuming about 85% transformer efficiency, (and I suspect they're better), each transformer would consume about 210 watts.  If you assume you can draw around 2000 watts safely from that outlet, that would be nine transformers.  It would be somewhat foolhardy to try to draw the absolute maximum, and you also have to consider the power factor issue since the transformers don't present a purely resistive load.  Another consideration is the circuit breaker may trip after it runs for some time at the full rated load.  Quite frankly, I'd probably limit a single circuit to around 8 of them.  Also, I'd want to split the load between the two phases in the panel so that all this reactive load wasn't on one side of the line.

Don't do that for power on the same layout.  That's just asking for trouble.

More power! Argh, Argh,Argh.....

 

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Also, I'd want to split the load between the two phases in the panel so that all this reactive load wasn't on one side of the line.

Don't do that for power on the same layout.  That's just asking for trouble

A 20 amp residential circuit is limited to 80% design or 16 amps X 110volts.  1760 watts output. If each 180 is capable of 180 watts looks like 8 or 9 is a good number on design. As has been mentioned it would be interesting to get each 180 to a maximum.

I disagree with the contention that you can't run them on opposite sides of the 220 input.  It's perfectly in phase, the issue would be that you'd have to properly phase them by reversing the plug for the one side.  That does involve having them plugged in backwards to what you'd have on the other 110 leg.  On the plus side, it's not good to have a lot of inductive loads all on one side of the incoming voltage.  The secondary is totally isolated from the primary, or at least it better be!  So, there would be no problem here, other than the previous mentioned phasing adjustment.

My understanding was the 180 watt was the rating on the output at 18 volts, 10 amps. No the amount of wattage used at 110 volt. I'm sure someone more qualified will be able to correct and or explain better. 

With the polarized plug, it is difficult to phase the newer transformers.  I would stick to one phase.

That is correct, but there will always be some loss between the primary & secondary.  Loaded to a full 180 watts output, there will be a realistic 200-210 watts, or just under 2 amps draw on the AC mains.

John already talk about it, it's call transformer efficiency, if a transformer is 100% efficient, the secondary will have the same wattage than the primary ,  so a 180 watts at the secondary ( 18 V x 10 A ) will have at the primary   120 volts X 1.5 A  = 180 watts,  but the transformer is  not 100 % efficient.

Very interesting!  You defined it all very well, thank you.