Electrical Questions

Jason McK · #1 06-02-2005, 11:57 PM

So in my new house I am taxing the electrical to the limit. It appears the circuit that the 2 tanks is on also is the same circuit a lot of other things are on. If I plug the Vacuum or dehumifier in it pops the breaker.
So I thought I'd get 2 15amp GFIC receptacles installed.
The breaker box is just on the opposite side of the wall to were I want the receptacles installed.
Can some one give me a rough estimate as to what this should cost. My estimate was well beyond what I thought it would be (but honestly I have no Idea)

Jason

outtafocus · #2 06-03-2005, 12:52 AM

A GFI wont really help your situation.
All a GFI does is cut the power to an item if it drops in the water. They are designed for use in bathrooms so when a hair dryer or curling iron etc falls in the tub or sink, no is electrocuted.
We as reefers use them to stop the electricity when we do something dumb like drop the lights in the tank or smash a heater.

What you need to have done is install a higher rated breaker. You will need an electrician to advise on this. If you continue to overload the circuit as you are now, you will either cause the breaker to fail or could cause an electrical fire. So be careful.

Jason McK · #3 06-03-2005, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outtafocus

A GFI wont really help your situation.
All a GFI does is cut the power to an item if it drops in the water. They are designed for use in bathrooms so when a hair dryer or curling iron etc falls in the tub or sink, no is electrocuted.
We as reefers use them to stop the electricity when we do something dumb like drop the lights in the tank or smash a heater.

What you need to have done is install a higher rated breaker. You will need an electrician to advise on this. If you continue to overload the circuit as you are now, you will either cause the breaker to fail or could cause an electrical fire. So be careful.

Sorry I may not have been clear. What I want is to run 2 new 15 amp lines that would only supply power to the tanks. That would remove the rest of the basement receptacles as they would then be on another line. So I would end up with 1 receptacle for 15amp circuit + 1 more receptacle on a 15 amp circuit then the 4 other receptacle sharing 1 15 amp circuit that is unrelated to the tanks

J

BCWolfen · #4 06-03-2005, 05:25 AM

Jason,

Not a big job if the panel is on the other side of the wall.
2 breakers ($25 ea?) A chunk of cable, couple of boxes, 2 GFI's and 2 regular plugs. I'd say under $150.00.

If you can, mount the plugs directly beneath the breaker box. That way you make one hole for the box and pull your cable up through it (if you go further down the wall you have to tear out drywall and drill through the studs YUCK). Install your breaker. Wire up the GFI. feed an extra plug off the GFI (that way you get 4 outlets all GFI protected) and put on your cover.

Easy as pie, right?

Willow · #5 06-03-2005, 05:33 AM

you have free space in the box for the 2 new breakers?

Jason McK · #6 06-03-2005, 01:31 PM

Ya the box is a pony box that is almost empty

J