too much electricity?

Al Bendiksen · 06/26/2008, 12:52 PM

Well yet another little bump on the road.

I have a three way GFCI

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...vendor%3d.html

that has two surge protector plugged in to it.

First one is about 1150 joules and my lights are plugged into it.

Second one is about 1000 joules and i have (3) K4's, (2) 150w heaters, my Eheim 1262, and MSX 160 skimmer.

The GFCI keeps turning off. It runs for about 5 -10 min and then it shuts off. All the cords all plugged in all the way, and no water is evident.

Am i just using to much electricity and causing the GFCI to turn off? If so, what sould i do? Add another surge protector to the third outlet?

Keep in mind that i am only using one outlet from the wall. (It has two outlets)

Al

atwinparadox2 · 06/26/2008, 01:05 PM

If you can do it yourself or call an electrician to wire directly from your circuit breaker. Make them dedicated outlets for the tanks. Then the electrician will be able to compensate for the power needed. Right now you are pulling mass power out of a standard plug not able to handle the wattage. (causes fires). Safest Bet is to do this or plug into multiple outlet locations to distribute the load. Hope this helps.

Al Bendiksen · 06/26/2008, 01:10 PM

i found the circuit it is running on, it is an 20amp. Can i not change that to a 40amp. Or is it a little bit more complicated than that?

dave1dave · 06/26/2008, 01:20 PM

The cable running from the fuse to the plug may not be able to take the load ( will heat up possibly go on fire).
Try check the total amount of amps you are drawing at the outlet.
Each bit of equipment should say how many amps it draws. Add them up and see if they are less than 20 amp in total. Then you will know for definate if you need to rewire or you may have a faulty 20amp breaker.

jthao · 06/26/2008, 03:39 PM

My guess, and I'm probably right, is that your plug in gfi aren't that good. I had the same problem with one of those plug in gfi. All I had on there was a 40w flourescent and it tripped every time I turned the light on.
For using the different outlets in the wall, it doesn't do anything. The outlets in the wall, usually if it's in the same room, are on one breaker and that still means that you're drawing power from the same breaker regardless of if you have your pumps/powerheads etc.... plug into an outlet on the left of your tank and some on the right of your tank, it's still gonna draw from the same source. You can actually have a long powerstrip and plug everything straight into that and it'll still be drawing the same amount of power (but of course this method isn't realiable).
Your breaker at 20amp should easily handle what you're saying you have on there. It's your gfi that is faulty. I have my whole tank running on my 20amp breaker that is also running everything in my living room. My tank currently has 2 tunze streams, 1 vortech, 1262 return, 2 150w mh, misc. accesories (ACIII, Temp controller, top off) and a 1/3hp chiller that kicks on and off. This doesn't even trip the breaker yet. When I have my permanent lights over my tank (3x250w, and VH0s) I'm going to change the breaker in the back up to a 30amp.

Al Bendiksen · 06/26/2008, 03:46 PM

Well i did a little work and this is what i found.

pump 1262 120V 60Hz
K4 12W
K4 2 12W
K4 3 12W
Heater 120V 60Hz
Heater2 120V 60Hz
lights 324W 2.5 amps

clamp light 125V 150W max
bulb 27W

The bulb is inside the clamp light.

I still need to add the skimmers (MSX 160) and a ATO i just got.

The breaker didnt jump though, it is still on ON. But i think i am running safe with what i have and i should have no need to get a new breaker.

Thxs jthao (and everbody)

shuguley · 06/26/2008, 03:51 PM

I agree with jthao,

I bet your GFCI is bad. Personally, I don't trust those "plug in" style GFCI cables.
If you are confident enough, go to homedepot and get a GFCI receptacle that you actually wire into the outlet (they are about $5) It will actually replace your existing wall receptacle.

They aren't that hard to install, just folow the directions that come with it and be sure your electrical is turned off at your breaker box. All you need is a screwdriver, and maybe some wire cutters/stripper. I installed my own behind my aquarium, it took me about 10 minutes.

squealy · 06/26/2008, 04:19 PM

You can try unplugging one item at a time and see if it still trips. There may be one item that after a while trips the GFCI. I had one of my oddysea lights trip the GFCI, so I put it one a circuit without GFCI (I know this is very bad).

Al Bendiksen · 06/26/2008, 04:22 PM

well it seemed to calm down. im not sure what was causing the trip. but i ended up adding another power surge to the 2nd outlet of the wall. (i know, as jthao said) it drives the same energy but at least i dont have them all at the same surge.

06/26/2008, 12:52 PM	#1
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	too much electricity? Well yet another little bump on the road. I have a three way GFCI http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...vendor%3d.html that has two surge protector plugged in to it. First one is about 1150 joules and my lights are plugged into it. Second one is about 1000 joules and i have (3) K4's, (2) 150w heaters, my Eheim 1262, and MSX 160 skimmer. The GFCI keeps turning off. It runs for about 5 -10 min and then it shuts off. All the cords all plugged in all the way, and no water is evident. Am i just using to much electricity and causing the GFCI to turn off? If so, what sould i do? Add another surge protector to the third outlet? Keep in mind that i am only using one outlet from the wall. (It has two outlets) Al __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

06/26/2008, 01:10 PM	#3
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	i found the circuit it is running on, it is an 20amp. Can i not change that to a 40amp. Or is it a little bit more complicated than that? __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

06/26/2008, 03:39 PM	#5
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	My guess, and I'm probably right, is that your plug in gfi aren't that good. I had the same problem with one of those plug in gfi. All I had on there was a 40w flourescent and it tripped every time I turned the light on. For using the different outlets in the wall, it doesn't do anything. The outlets in the wall, usually if it's in the same room, are on one breaker and that still means that you're drawing power from the same breaker regardless of if you have your pumps/powerheads etc.... plug into an outlet on the left of your tank and some on the right of your tank, it's still gonna draw from the same source. You can actually have a long powerstrip and plug everything straight into that and it'll still be drawing the same amount of power (but of course this method isn't realiable). Your breaker at 20amp should easily handle what you're saying you have on there. It's your gfi that is faulty. I have my whole tank running on my 20amp breaker that is also running everything in my living room. My tank currently has 2 tunze streams, 1 vortech, 1262 return, 2 150w mh, misc. accesories (ACIII, Temp controller, top off) and a 1/3hp chiller that kicks on and off. This doesn't even trip the breaker yet. When I have my permanent lights over my tank (3x250w, and VH0s) I'm going to change the breaker in the back up to a 30amp. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/26/2008, 03:46 PM	#6
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	Well i did a little work and this is what i found. pump 1262 120V 60Hz K4 12W K4 2 12W K4 3 12W Heater 120V 60Hz Heater2 120V 60Hz lights 324W 2.5 amps clamp light 125V 150W max bulb 27W The bulb is inside the clamp light. I still need to add the skimmers (MSX 160) and a ATO i just got. The breaker didnt jump though, it is still on ON. But i think i am running safe with what i have and i should have no need to get a new breaker. Thxs jthao (and everbody) __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

06/26/2008, 04:22 PM	#9
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	well it seemed to calm down. im not sure what was causing the trip. but i ended up adding another power surge to the 2nd outlet of the wall. (i know, as jthao said) it drives the same energy but at least i dont have them all at the same surge. __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

06/26/2008, 01:05 PM	#2
atwinparadox2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Posts: 782	If you can do it yourself or call an electrician to wire directly from your circuit breaker. Make them dedicated outlets for the tanks. Then the electrician will be able to compensate for the power needed. Right now you are pulling mass power out of a standard plug not able to handle the wattage. (causes fires). Safest Bet is to do this or plug into multiple outlet locations to distribute the load. Hope this helps.

06/26/2008, 01:20 PM	#4
dave1dave Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 15	The cable running from the fuse to the plug may not be able to take the load ( will heat up possibly go on fire). Try check the total amount of amps you are drawing at the outlet. Each bit of equipment should say how many amps it draws. Add them up and see if they are less than 20 amp in total. Then you will know for definate if you need to rewire or you may have a faulty 20amp breaker.

06/26/2008, 03:51 PM	#7
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I agree with jthao, I bet your GFCI is bad. Personally, I don't trust those "plug in" style GFCI cables. If you are confident enough, go to homedepot and get a GFCI receptacle that you actually wire into the outlet (they are about $5) It will actually replace your existing wall receptacle. They aren't that hard to install, just folow the directions that come with it and be sure your electrical is turned off at your breaker box. All you need is a screwdriver, and maybe some wire cutters/stripper. I installed my own behind my aquarium, it took me about 10 minutes.

06/26/2008, 04:19 PM	#8
squealy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 113	You can try unplugging one item at a time and see if it still trips. There may be one item that after a while trips the GFCI. I had one of my oddysea lights trip the GFCI, so I put it one a circuit without GFCI (I know this is very bad).