Anyone have to put a new circuit in just for their tank?

anjhof · 02/10/2006, 09:20 AM

If so, how much did it cost?

Blown 346 · 02/10/2006, 09:46 AM

I did, I really have no idea, my basement was finished along with all the electrical stuff. I couldnt see more than $120

anjhof · 02/10/2006, 09:50 AM

what is the standard amount of watts needed to trip a circuit breaker?

E-A-G-L-E-S · 02/10/2006, 09:51 AM

almost 4 beans for a dedicated 20Amp circuit and have it run to a newly installed 4 outlet box on wall behind tank.(40ft. of UF cable and through 2 walls)

jjmatti · 02/10/2006, 09:53 AM

Just the other weekend.. I got two separate breakers put in so that one handles all the things I need to shut off during a water change and one handles every thing else.. As far as cost my buddy is a electrician and he only charges a 6pack but the actual materials needed didnt cost that much. (100.00)total, wire, breakers, boxes, outlets..
The main thing to make sure is be honest about how much power your drawing.. There is some kind of calculation that will let you need how many amps you need. If you are at your max you will have no room for upgardes or additional equipment..

E-A-G-L-E-S · 02/10/2006, 09:54 AM

90 watts = 1AMP (i think)

ErikS · 02/10/2006, 09:56 AM

Depends on the breaker. You should never put more than 80% of the rated load on a circuit. I.E. for a 15a circuit the max load should never exceed 12a.

Circuits are rated in amps. Easy to figure Watts/volts = amps.

So for a standard household 15a circuit you're looking at a capacity of around 1450 watts (it will blow @ about 1800 watts - but you don't want to run MAX)

Consideration should be given in startup current. Things like MH lamps draw much more at start than when running.

Best case scenario is to run at least two circuits & split the tank's load. This way if one circuit blows then it won't kill all the tank's equipment.

And don't forget GFCI.

An option that can save money is to run the wiring yourself & hire an electrician to make the connections in the breaker box. Note: only if you feel comfortable doing wiring (& can do it up to code).

gobygoby · 02/10/2006, 09:58 AM

I just installed a 15 amp breaker to my fish room two weeks ago.

parts list:
25' of 12/2 electrical line
4 outlet gang box
15 amp breaker
1 x 15 amp gfci
3 x standard outlets
------------------------
total I think was around $50

easy to install......when you dont have walls to deal with

Goby

ErikS · 02/10/2006, 10:05 AM

Um....ah....not trying to point fingers here but you really should replace those outlets - dangerous.

You have a 20a breaker & outlets rated @ 15a - in other words the circuit will NOT trip if those outlets draw more juice than they can handle. Those outlets can get overheated from a current draw, melt & start a fire.

You have a 20a service w/ underrated equipment on the line. Unsafe & not up to any code. Nothing on the circuit should be rated less than the breaker (more is okay, just overkill).

piscivorous · 02/10/2006, 10:07 AM

I will probably install a 20 ARC-fault breaker and a seperate line for my 55 in a couple of week.

gobygoby · 02/10/2006, 10:10 AM

ya I thought it sounded funny when I read it back. its actually a 15 amp breaker....not sure why I thought 20...

thanks
Goby

ErikS · 02/10/2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

ya I thought it sounded funny when I read it back. its actually a 15 amp breaker....not sure why I thought 20...

phew, sometimes folks think GFCI acts like a circuit breaker. Sorry if that came across as harsh - just wanted to make certain

gobygoby · 02/10/2006, 10:28 AM

no you didnt sound harsh. I know I installed it correctly, because my father inlaw helped me and he knows his electrical!!

I bought a 20 amp breaker the same time, for something else, I probably had the other project in mind when posting....I am running 20 am service to my fish tank...since it has all the light ballasts and other stuff.

thanks for pointing that out...I dont want to go around boasting bad information. and some joe shmo follows my input and burns his house down...

....errr...wait. thats not funny!

Goby

Entropy · 02/10/2006, 11:12 AM

I ran a simple 20 amp circuit for my tank. It cost about $50 in parts (mainly because romex 12/2 is so damn expensive now). The job is pretty simple as long as you have access to run the wire.

BJJ · 02/10/2006, 11:18 AM

I added 2 15 amp beakers, one for all rotating equipment and one for lightsd and misc. things. All which are GFI

Installing breakers is a simple task as long as you have vacant slots in your panel.

Entropy · 02/10/2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BJJ
Installing breakers is a simple task as long as you have vacant slots in your panel.

In most boxes, you can install double breakers (same size, but two breakers in one slot) if you have run out of slots. My box has 20 spaces, but is actually a 40 space box (annoying when you have already bought 20 single breakers). I ended up running a subpanel for the far side of my house, but you could just as easily add double breakers if you are out of room.

02/10/2006, 09:20 AM	#1
anjhof Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 746	Anyone have to put a new circuit in just for their tank? If so, how much did it cost?

02/10/2006, 09:51 AM	#4
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	almost 4 beans for a dedicated 20Amp circuit and have it run to a newly installed 4 outlet box on wall behind tank.(40ft. of UF cable and through 2 walls) __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/10/2006, 09:54 AM	#6
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	90 watts = 1AMP (i think) __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/10/2006, 09:56 AM	#7
ErikS Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: VA Posts: 2,199	Depends on the breaker. You should never put more than 80% of the rated load on a circuit. I.E. for a 15a circuit the max load should never exceed 12a. Circuits are rated in amps. Easy to figure Watts/volts = amps. So for a standard household 15a circuit you're looking at a capacity of around 1450 watts (it will blow @ about 1800 watts - but you don't want to run MAX) Consideration should be given in startup current. Things like MH lamps draw much more at start than when running. Best case scenario is to run at least two circuits & split the tank's load. This way if one circuit blows then it won't kill all the tank's equipment. And don't forget GFCI. An option that can save money is to run the wiring yourself & hire an electrician to make the connections in the breaker box. Note: only if you feel comfortable doing wiring (& can do it up to code). __________________ It's just my opinion & it's worth exactly what you paid for it

02/10/2006, 09:58 AM	#8
gobygoby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis - Indiana Posts: 1,340	I just installed a 15 amp breaker to my fish room two weeks ago. parts list: 25' of 12/2 electrical line 4 outlet gang box 15 amp breaker 1 x 15 amp gfci 3 x standard outlets ------------------------ total I think was around $50 easy to install......when you dont have walls to deal with Goby __________________ Goby Current Tank Info: 1/8 gal. super-mega nano Last edited by gobygoby; 02/10/2006 at 10:10 AM.

02/10/2006, 09:46 AM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I did, I really have no idea, my basement was finished along with all the electrical stuff. I couldnt see more than $120

02/10/2006, 09:50 AM	#3
anjhof Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 746	what is the standard amount of watts needed to trip a circuit breaker?

02/10/2006, 09:53 AM	#5
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	Just the other weekend.. I got two separate breakers put in so that one handles all the things I need to shut off during a water change and one handles every thing else.. As far as cost my buddy is a electrician and he only charges a 6pack but the actual materials needed didnt cost that much. (100.00)total, wire, breakers, boxes, outlets.. The main thing to make sure is be honest about how much power your drawing.. There is some kind of calculation that will let you need how many amps you need. If you are at your max you will have no room for upgardes or additional equipment..

02/10/2006, 10:05 AM	#9
ErikS Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: VA Posts: 2,199	Um....ah....not trying to point fingers here but you really should replace those outlets - dangerous. You have a 20a breaker & outlets rated @ 15a - in other words the circuit will NOT trip if those outlets draw more juice than they can handle. Those outlets can get overheated from a current draw, melt & start a fire. You have a 20a service w/ underrated equipment on the line. Unsafe & not up to any code. Nothing on the circuit should be rated less than the breaker (more is okay, just overkill). __________________ It's just my opinion & it's worth exactly what you paid for it

02/10/2006, 10:07 AM	#10
piscivorous Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Groton, N.Y. Posts: 801	I will probably install a 20 ARC-fault breaker and a seperate line for my 55 in a couple of week.

02/10/2006, 10:10 AM	#11
gobygoby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis - Indiana Posts: 1,340	ya I thought it sounded funny when I read it back. its actually a 15 amp breaker....not sure why I thought 20... thanks Goby __________________ Goby Current Tank Info: 1/8 gal. super-mega nano

02/10/2006, 10:28 AM	#13
gobygoby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis - Indiana Posts: 1,340	no you didnt sound harsh. I know I installed it correctly, because my father inlaw helped me and he knows his electrical!! I bought a 20 amp breaker the same time, for something else, I probably had the other project in mind when posting....I am running 20 am service to my fish tank...since it has all the light ballasts and other stuff. thanks for pointing that out...I dont want to go around boasting bad information. and some joe shmo follows my input and burns his house down... ....errr...wait. thats not funny! Goby __________________ Goby Current Tank Info: 1/8 gal. super-mega nano

02/10/2006, 11:12 AM	#14
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I ran a simple 20 amp circuit for my tank. It cost about $50 in parts (mainly because romex 12/2 is so damn expensive now). The job is pretty simple as long as you have access to run the wire. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/10/2006, 11:18 AM	#15
BJJ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 267	I added 2 15 amp beakers, one for all rotating equipment and one for lightsd and misc. things. All which are GFI Installing breakers is a simple task as long as you have vacant slots in your panel.