Newbie Question about Power

soulbereaver · 03/02/2009, 02:22 PM

Hey all,

I have a 75 gallon tank that I'm setting up. I plan on running 2x 250 Watt MH's, a 250W heater, a pretty decent size skimmer, and I have a sump so I will be using a return pump. Two powerheads at least will be used as well.

With all this equipment, I'll be pulling a lot of electricity. I was advised to have dedicated outlets installed so I don't risk blowing fuses and such. My question to you is how many outlets should I plan on installing, and how many amps should I plan on for wiring? I don't know a whole lot about this stuff so I could use some guidlines.

Thanks.

Paul B · 03/02/2009, 02:28 PM

The 1000 watts you will be running is not even half the capacity of a 20 amp circuit. You would be fine if you just had two 20 or even 15 amp circuits for that load. That is the exact load I have and I am using one circuit and much of my house is also on that circuit, and I am an electrician. In 30 years I never had a problem but two circuits are better just in case something like a defective heater trips the circuit of GFCI

tromblydavid · 03/02/2009, 02:31 PM

Try this web site:
http://www.jobsite-generators.com/po...lculators.html

For example a 1000 watts is about 9 amps at 110 volts.

A typical circuit in you house can hold about 15 amps but look at the breakers to see what they say.

For such a small setup you don't hav to run a dedicated circuit unless you think you are going to max out the one in the room you are using.

soulbereaver · 03/02/2009, 02:53 PM

Well here's the whole story...

My room is on the same circuit as two other rooms in the house, running on 20 amp wire. Also running in the room with my tank is a PC (550W power supply) and a pretty damn big monitor.

The computer and monitor are on a seperate outlet, but same circuit. I currently only have one free outlet for the tank, so EVERYTHING for the tank would have to be plugged into the same outlet. I'm not an electritian, but whether the circuit could handle the load or not, I'm more then a little worried that the single outlet would not handle all that power drawn through it.

I had a friend one time who lived in an appt with me and had multiple computers and a minifridge and all kinds of crap all plugged into one outlet and he actually melted the outlet a little without tripping a fuse... scary thing.

Anyways, I'd much rather be safe then sorry when it comes to electricity. Also, should I install GFCI outlets, or use an external GFCI unit?

Again, thanks for any advice you can give

tromblydavid · 03/02/2009, 03:07 PM

Most outlets are rated for 15 amps. You would need to cut the power and take the screws out of the outlet to read the rating on the outlet.

So plugging in a power strip and running 15 amps through a single outlet/plug should not be a problem.

You still need to add up the watts to see if you are going to max out the 20 amps breaker or max out a single outlet at 15 amps.

Paul B · 03/02/2009, 03:14 PM

It is up to you for what type of GFCI you use, they all work the same. That 550W power supply does not use 550 watts of power, that is what it is cabably of supplying. It doesen't use anything unless you have it powering something.
That load will still run off a single circuit but as I said, it is better to use two circuits. (I am an electrician 40 years)
The loads you have are stagnant loads like the monitor, pumps lights etc. Those loads will always be the same or less. The lights will draw 250 watts each and thats it, never more. Of course they like the heater will draw nothing when they are off.
You can just add those loads and you will know what they are drawing. That power supply uses what ever it is powering. If it is powering a 100 watt load, then it is using aprox 100 watts.
Your friend who's outlet melted was because it was installed incorrectly or he has aluminum wire. Outlets do not melt unless the wire connected to it is loose. You can plug all you want into a properly installed outlet and although you may trip the breaker, the outlet will be fine as will the properly installed wire in your walls. If you plug all those loads into your outlet and it does not trip, it will never trip, unless you plug in a vacuum cleaner, room heater, air conditioner or something else but those particular loads are no problem for one circuit. But use at least two just in case you do want to plug in a vacuum or your heater cracks, the pump shorts etc.

epdp14 · 03/02/2009, 03:22 PM

For reference, I am running 216W T5, 300W Heater, Hydor Koralia 1, mag 9, and a 100W CFL for the refugium off of one outlet. The power is conditioned by an APC UPS that I had left over from a server build.

Paul B · 03/02/2009, 03:23 PM

If your outlet has just two straight slots in it, one being a little shorter, that receptacle is rated for 15 amps.
If one of the slots is "T" shaped, then the receptacle is rated for 20 amps. I am talking the receptacle now, not the wiring

soulbereaver · 03/02/2009, 03:40 PM

thanks Paul, yeah i just want to be safe rather then sorry, and also leave myself some room to upgrade whenever I decide to do so down the road. I'm thinking I'll run two seperate outlets dedicated to the tank like you suggest. I'll probably just run 15 amps since it seems I'm no where close to needing more then that. I might as well get the outlets with the built in gfci like what's usually installed in bathrooms.

any idea by chance what a small project like this would cost if i had it done professionally? after dropping the money i already have into my tank and setup, I'm hoping that some small electrical work will not be too costly...

goofyreefer · 03/02/2009, 04:23 PM

Use 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker if your going to go through the trouble of doing it. May cost a little more (and I mean just a little more) but it's the right thing to do IMO. Cost really depend on how hard it would be to get back to your panel, if you have to cut in a new box in the wall for the receptacle or if you have to go from one box to another etc. to get back to the panel. Hopefully your house has conduit and not B/X or Romex.

03/02/2009, 02:22 PM	#1
soulbereaver Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 131	Newbie Question about Power Hey all, I have a 75 gallon tank that I'm setting up. I plan on running 2x 250 Watt MH's, a 250W heater, a pretty decent size skimmer, and I have a sump so I will be using a return pump. Two powerheads at least will be used as well. With all this equipment, I'll be pulling a lot of electricity. I was advised to have dedicated outlets installed so I don't risk blowing fuses and such. My question to you is how many outlets should I plan on installing, and how many amps should I plan on for wiring? I don't know a whole lot about this stuff so I could use some guidlines. Thanks.

03/02/2009, 02:28 PM	#2
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	The 1000 watts you will be running is not even half the capacity of a 20 amp circuit. You would be fine if you just had two 20 or even 15 amp circuits for that load. That is the exact load I have and I am using one circuit and much of my house is also on that circuit, and I am an electrician. In 30 years I never had a problem but two circuits are better just in case something like a defective heater trips the circuit of GFCI __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

03/02/2009, 03:14 PM	#6
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	It is up to you for what type of GFCI you use, they all work the same. That 550W power supply does not use 550 watts of power, that is what it is cabably of supplying. It doesen't use anything unless you have it powering something. That load will still run off a single circuit but as I said, it is better to use two circuits. (I am an electrician 40 years) The loads you have are stagnant loads like the monitor, pumps lights etc. Those loads will always be the same or less. The lights will draw 250 watts each and thats it, never more. Of course they like the heater will draw nothing when they are off. You can just add those loads and you will know what they are drawing. That power supply uses what ever it is powering. If it is powering a 100 watt load, then it is using aprox 100 watts. Your friend who's outlet melted was because it was installed incorrectly or he has aluminum wire. Outlets do not melt unless the wire connected to it is loose. You can plug all you want into a properly installed outlet and although you may trip the breaker, the outlet will be fine as will the properly installed wire in your walls. If you plug all those loads into your outlet and it does not trip, it will never trip, unless you plug in a vacuum cleaner, room heater, air conditioner or something else but those particular loads are no problem for one circuit. But use at least two just in case you do want to plug in a vacuum or your heater cracks, the pump shorts etc. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

03/02/2009, 03:23 PM	#8
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	If your outlet has just two straight slots in it, one being a little shorter, that receptacle is rated for 15 amps. If one of the slots is "T" shaped, then the receptacle is rated for 20 amps. I am talking the receptacle now, not the wiring __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

03/02/2009, 02:31 PM	#3
tromblydavid Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlanta Area - Georgia Posts: 52	Try this web site: http://www.jobsite-generators.com/po...lculators.html For example a 1000 watts is about 9 amps at 110 volts. A typical circuit in you house can hold about 15 amps but look at the breakers to see what they say. For such a small setup you don't hav to run a dedicated circuit unless you think you are going to max out the one in the room you are using.

03/02/2009, 02:53 PM	#4
soulbereaver Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 131	Well here's the whole story... My room is on the same circuit as two other rooms in the house, running on 20 amp wire. Also running in the room with my tank is a PC (550W power supply) and a pretty damn big monitor. The computer and monitor are on a seperate outlet, but same circuit. I currently only have one free outlet for the tank, so EVERYTHING for the tank would have to be plugged into the same outlet. I'm not an electritian, but whether the circuit could handle the load or not, I'm more then a little worried that the single outlet would not handle all that power drawn through it. I had a friend one time who lived in an appt with me and had multiple computers and a minifridge and all kinds of crap all plugged into one outlet and he actually melted the outlet a little without tripping a fuse... scary thing. Anyways, I'd much rather be safe then sorry when it comes to electricity. Also, should I install GFCI outlets, or use an external GFCI unit? Again, thanks for any advice you can give

03/02/2009, 03:07 PM	#5
tromblydavid Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlanta Area - Georgia Posts: 52	Most outlets are rated for 15 amps. You would need to cut the power and take the screws out of the outlet to read the rating on the outlet. So plugging in a power strip and running 15 amps through a single outlet/plug should not be a problem. You still need to add up the watts to see if you are going to max out the 20 amps breaker or max out a single outlet at 15 amps.

03/02/2009, 03:22 PM	#7
epdp14 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 36	For reference, I am running 216W T5, 300W Heater, Hydor Koralia 1, mag 9, and a 100W CFL for the refugium off of one outlet. The power is conditioned by an APC UPS that I had left over from a server build.

03/02/2009, 03:40 PM	#9
soulbereaver Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 131	thanks Paul, yeah i just want to be safe rather then sorry, and also leave myself some room to upgrade whenever I decide to do so down the road. I'm thinking I'll run two seperate outlets dedicated to the tank like you suggest. I'll probably just run 15 amps since it seems I'm no where close to needing more then that. I might as well get the outlets with the built in gfci like what's usually installed in bathrooms. any idea by chance what a small project like this would cost if i had it done professionally? after dropping the money i already have into my tank and setup, I'm hoping that some small electrical work will not be too costly...

03/02/2009, 04:23 PM	#10
goofyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hoffman Estates Illinois Posts: 812	Use 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker if your going to go through the trouble of doing it. May cost a little more (and I mean just a little more) but it's the right thing to do IMO. Cost really depend on how hard it would be to get back to your panel, if you have to cut in a new box in the wall for the receptacle or if you have to go from one box to another etc. to get back to the panel. Hopefully your house has conduit and not B/X or Romex.