If you could have 220V for your tank, would you?

[REDNECK_REEFER]

If you're gonna run any bulbs that are 400 w or more I would suggest using 240 for your lighting. The coolest thing about the 240 power is that you can buy large scale timers and if you have multiple lighting systems in your fishroom(or living room in my case!) they can all run off of the same timer.
Also you gain the benefit of less heat on your ballsts 'cause they don't have to work as hard to generate the charge.

[Delphinus]

Hmmmm, would the decreased heat really be noticeable? Ie., do they still get hot, just not "as hot" ? Or is it pretty significantly different?

I'd just hate to find out AFTER going through the effort and expense of stringing the wire for 220 (240? whatever it is) that it's a sort of "here's your nickle per month that you save! <pling!>" type situation.

One follow up question for you electricians, what gauge wire does a person need for 240? 8 gauge? 10 gauge? (Distance from panel to room is roughly 50' {including the distance to ceiling and back}, in case that info is necessary to make the determination..)

[michika]

Kevin says:

1) Is this just for plugs, or are you putting a sub panel in.
1a) If you are putting a sub panel in, what is the current.

[Delphinus]

I want to do whatever the electrical inspector is going to be more likely to sign off on. Given the layout of the room I don't think there's a good spot for the panel to go that isn't in some form of risk for water contact, so I sort of see that as being the more troublesome option. So if I went 220/240 (and I have to say, I'm really, really tempted NOT to, at this point, for reasons of both cost and effort) I think I would just go with some kind of dryer plug or oven plug (I think they're different, but I don't think it matters because you can get the ends at HD/Rona/etc. so as long as the ballasts had the right plug put on for the outlet).

[michika]

Per Kevin:

If you just run some 10/3 over from your panel to your tank room, you can have 120v receptacles, and as many 220v receptacles as you want. He also says the dryer plugs are fine, or you can get 220v receptacles, and 220v cord ends, this will probably be cheaper route (the receptacles).

Kevin says he can drop by and give you a play by play, or do the work for you if you want some extra help.

[brizzo]

The big question is how many amps you want to run;

All 240v receptacles require a 4-wire nmd cable. red (hot), black (hot), white (neutral), bare copper/green (ground).

20 amps (baseboard heaters) = 12/3
30 amps (dryer) = 10/3
40 amps (stove) = 8/3

You also have to ask the question of spending the money for a gfi circuit breaker (65 to 220 dollars depending on amperage and brand of panel).

The question you have to ask is how many watts will all the current equipment draw? Do you have 1 single 15 amp circuit for all your equipment, and your lights?

How many ballasts are you going to run in total ??

[Monti-Man]

As far as savings in dollars, you won't see alot of difference.
To be honest it is not worth the expense unless you have alot of lights.
In the firm i work for we only see a 2 to 5 % difference but to places like suncor or petrocan thats alot, but to the average consumer not worth it.
Find other ways of saving money