Paddy's Ocean - 70 Gallon Mixed Reef **Phoenix Rebuild** - Page 23

sphelps · #**221** 11-23-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddyob

Please explain. I would assume by installing new wiring and breakers that it would be up to code?

I bought the Alberta electrical codes book, but I don't get it ha ha.

I have a friend who is an industrial electrician. I am hoping to gain some help form him too..

Should be OK if you're installing a completely new circuit in a new area but for example if you were say upgrading a circuit in your kitchen then technically I believe you're suppose to bring up all kitchen electrical to current code. The code now is very different from when your house was built. Safest bet would be to run external conduit right to the fish tank so the new circuit could only be affiliated with the tank itself.

Of course it doesn't necessarily mean much, I doubt you're pulling permit so you don't have to worry about an inspection, it's more if you do some other renos down the road that you do pull permits which anything you do now could come up later.

lastlight · #**222** 11-23-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddyob

I plan to have switches in place to isolate pumps or shut down for maintenance or feeding.

I'd suggest just running 2 x 15A to the tank and plugging a rack-mount dj switch thingy into each. beats messing with a wall of outlets.

I'd certainly run more than 1 circuit. I tripped mine already so I had the luxury of shuffling things around.

mike31154 · #**223** 11-23-2011, 05:11 PM

I assume you already have at least one 15 A circuit near your tank now to run things? For safety if not already done, you should be able to have a GFCI receptacle installed in place of the standard receptacle for starters. Then you can think about running a second circuit for redundancy, or even check some of the other receptacles that may be in the same room/area. If you're lucky & they are close enough and on another breaker, then you don't need to do much at all, except maybe install another GFCI. After that, as lastlight suggests, some good quality, heavy duty power bars or dj thingys. If you don't mind opening up the drywall a bit, you could even install a double box in place of a single box and have four receptacles where there were only two before. Could be a code issue though as sphelps suggests. Sometimes what you find when you start opening boxes is not pretty, particularly in older homes.

Some scary stuff I found in the basement hallway. Found some more in my bathroom for the light above the sink last week. Some days I wonder how my place hasn't burned down yet. I've got most of the electrical replaced except some of the circuits running through exterior walls.

paddyob · #**224** 11-23-2011, 05:35 PM

My basement has a false ceiling. I have to run new lines but will be the easiest part.

The current plug is in the living room but when it was done in the 70s they wired it to the kitchen circuit.

Not sure what you are asking about with being near the tank... Unless you mean the plug in?

mike31154 · #**225** 11-23-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddyob

Not sure what you are asking about with being near the tank... Unless you mean the plug in?

There must be more than one plug in receptacle in the living room other than the one you're using now? How far away from the tank? If too far, then no good since you don't want a long extension cord running along the floor.

Might actually be a good thing that the current one is wired to the kitchen circuit though, because chances are, some of the other plug ins in your living room are on a separate circuit. If so and they're not already loaded up to the allowable power limit, you could run another branch from one of those to a new plug near the tank and have the redundancy of two circuits without having to run a whole new line including circuit breaker.

Probably a good idea to have your electrician buddy to have a look see before you get too far into anything.

paddyob · #**226** 11-23-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike31154

There must be more than one plug in receptacle in the living room other than the one you're using now? How far away from the tank? If too far, then no good since you don't want a long extension cord running along the floor.

Might actually be a good thing that the current one is wired to the kitchen circuit though, because chances are, some of the other plug ins in your living room are on a separate circuit. If so and they're not already loaded up to the allowable power limit, you could run another branch from one of those to a new plug near the tank and have the redundancy of two circuits without having to run a whole new line including circuit breaker.

Probably a good idea to have your electrician buddy to have a look see before you get too far into anything.

This is partially being done out if necessity. I am doing some renos and power
In areas needs turn off.

The plug being used is the only feasable one. Again. I am running directly from the breaker box.

lastlight · #**227** 11-23-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddyob

This is partially being done out if necessity. I am doing some renos and power
In areas needs turn off.

I'm in a similar situation. I ran the electrical to my fishroom first and then ran an extension cord from the fishroom through the floor to my tank upstairs. So the tank upstairs is on a dedicated circuit and I can shut all the other breakers off throughout my reno. Nothing's reliably labelled on my box either so this has made life much easier.

I've since drywalled around and finished around this cord going into my fishroom. It'll have to be cutoff at the end and just left in the walls at this point when I'm done lol.

paddyob · #**228** 11-23-2011, 10:01 PM

I plan to run right into a gangbox or whatnot that will be built into the stand.

Most likely the switches with a plug combo and one for each device. So I run the device plug into the cabinet, plug it in and flick a switch.

No extension cords what so ever. Also plan to seal the cabinet from moisture or potential tank leaks.

paddyob · #**229** 11-23-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

I'd suggest just running 2 x 15A to the tank and plugging a rack-mount dj switch thingy into each. beats messing with a wall of outlets.

I'd certainly run more than 1 circuit. I tripped mine already so I had the luxury of shuffling things around.

is this what you mean?

http://www.topdjgear.com/gemsp19racmo.html