Question about power...

[MikeP]

My entire system is running off of the 2 plugs behind the tank (a standard 2 plug wall outlet) and powerbars. I haven't had a problem but I'm wondering if I should try to find another plug to use so the demand isn't as high on the 2 I'm using now. My only option is a 2 plug outlet on another wall but I would have to run an extention cord. I also have a thought in the back of my mind about setting up a nano mantis tank plumbed into my existing system (yet more power used up from those plugs/powerbars). Am I pushing my luck or worrying for no reason? Clearly I don't know that much about electricty but would like to learn more.

Thanks!

[Carmen]

Great question Mike! Tagging along as I will have a similar set-up, would like to have 2 tanks in one room as well and know zilch about electrical stuff. Wondering too?

[spreerider]

find the wattage of all your devices and add them together, you should not exceed 1440Watts on a single 15A circuit, you can multiply your heater by .8 as it wont be on all the time unless your room is very cold.
Also all the plugs in a room are probably on the same circuit so plugging into one on the next wall wont change much,
If you are not tripping breakers or planning on adding any other devices you are probably fine with what you have.
I have a 25g salt tank and a 55g salt tank on the same circuit with my computer and tv and never had a trip, tho if all are on at the same time drawing max current for each device i would be overloaded, but rarley do i have all heaters lights pumps tv on full blast volume and computer on full volume running the highest end games.

[mike31154]

It will be helpful if you provide a little more information on how much equipment you currently have hooked up to your receptacle, i.e. how much total wattage. Most of your gear should be labeled as to it's max. wattage draw. However, in any case, running your entire system on a single receptacle is not a good idea in the long run. You're relying on a single circuit, probably the standard 15 amps and if that breaker trips, all your equipment shuts down. So unless you have an automatic back up system, or you're at home when it happens, this could spell trouble for your tank. Furthermore, that 15 amp circuit undoubtedly supplies a number of additional receptacles, either upstream or downstream. It's also a good idea for the circuit supplying your tank equipment to be protected by a GFCI, particularly the items submerged in the water such as your heater and any power heads.
One of your options could be to buy a GFCI power bar/extension in addition to running an extension cord to the outlet across the room. However, if the outlet across the room is wired to the same circuit breaker it will be counterproductive since you're just adding more wire (read resistance) to the existing circuit.
If you're the homeowner, I would recommend looking into how your room is wired and adding at least one more circuit on another breaker. If you're renting, not sure what can be done other than running a large guage extension cord from another room, making certain it's on a different circuit breaker.

[fkshiu]

From my very limited electrical knowledge the most important factor to consider is amperage for the entire circuit. Most household electrical circuits are on 15A breakers (10A on older systems). So what you do is you find out which plugs/lights/appliances are hooked up to that circuit your aquarium is hooked up to - shut off that circuit at the service panel and go around the house checking - then add up the amps of any device that runs off that circuit. If you are anywhere near 15A then you're pushing your luck.

Things such as MH lights, heaters and big stereos use big amps so if your aquarium, home entertainment center and computer are all hooked up on the same circuit it's bad news.

Running everything off of one circuit should be avoided if possible. Aside from taxing the circuit, any failure of one item can lead to the whole circuit tripping shutting down everything in the tank.

[MikeP]

Thanks for the replies! Sitting here at work and adding up everything in my head (with the help of the internet for some items) I'm running at about 1300 watts if everything is on at once. The heater is off & on throughout the day. The lights and all pumps are on for about 11hrs. When the lights are off two of the three powerheads turn off as well. I will find the breaker that the tank runs on and find out if anything else is on the same breaker. If I have no options for gettting power from another receptical will it help to put a larger breaker in? Is the breaker the limiting factor? And just to be clear, when we say one receptical does that mean the two plugs in the wall ie when I add up my total wattage is is 1440 between the two or each? Also I own the home so I can do whatever is needed.

[Scythanith]

You can't just add a larger breaker and walk away unless the wiring in-wall is the proper gauge. You probably have 14g wire in your regular house wiring, which should only carry max ~1800 watts of electricity, and 1440 watts safely. It's mostly due to if you try and shove too many electrons down the wiring, it will overheat and cause potential fire issues. That's why you have a breaker in place, to prevent you from taking too much electricity down a certain gauge wire, by throwing in a 20A breaker, you're only endangering yourself.

A 'receptacle' constitues one plug-in, that you can plug one cord into. A typical wall box has two receptacles.

If you were worried about overloading the circuit, then just run a new dedicated 20A 12gauge line to the tank. If you plan on upgrading in the future run 2 x 20A breakers. You can split those into as many receptacles as you choose.

Cheers,

Scott

[mark]

Nice thing about 2 separate circuits with specially with GFIs, is you're able to split the load so if one GFI was to trip, whole system doesn't crash. If the total load is okay on a single 15a cct, still can run separate GFI receptacles.

Another thing to consider is on a single 15A cct, you can have something like 12 devices (lights, plugs, etc). Depending on how things were wired, you might have your fridge on the same cct as your tank, them you plug in the vacuum down the hall, also possibly on the same cct. Sort of just plugging in a extension cord might not be any further ahead.

[fkshiu]

Running new dedicated 20A GFI-protected circuits is the best solution. Talk to an electrician about how much this would cost.

I have 3 dedicated circuits for my system: lights, pumps (on a battery backup), and everything else.

[scuglass]

Im sure your fine with what you have. Im running my lights power heads pumps heaters fans ect as well as 2 computers tv large stereo more and more lights.

I also moved the treadmill over one day and the breaker only tripped when I was maxing out the treadmill with the stero pounding.

As others have said its prolly a good idea to get some sort of gfci protection in there.
*installing a gfci recepticle will protect everything else down the line from it.
*good idea to have it on 2 different circuits so if one trips youll still have some motion and or heat getting to the tank.