AMPS/Watts AC/DC

[whotzler]

I am using the Apex basic to monitor my amp draw to be sure I am not in danger of blowing fuses. Now I have a total of 2000w of equipment. So potentially I will be drawing 18 amps if everything is on at once (2000w/110v = 18amps) . But here is where I am not understanding something. My Apex is showing 4 to 5 amps used at max spikes . So just about 70 percent of my equipment is DC, Skimmer, Powerheads, Kessil Lights the bigger stuff. So when my 300w AC heater turns on I see a 2.7 amp spike as expected. But when my 700 watt DC Kessil lights turn on I see a 0.3 amp spike. Can any one explain this to me? I clearly do not understand the conversion. If I use the same formula Watts = volts x amps. (700w/24 volts=29 amps) This is clearly not the case?

 

[Ocelaris]

You have it right. Watts = current * volts. So your equipment is all 120v if you're in the states. DC equipment isn't always running at full power. So unless your lights are on full tilt, they'll be pulling less. 700w is 5.83 amps at 120v. 2.7amps is 324watts, so that's about right. There is some power loss for ac to DC conversion, and sometimes power factor correction can affect the watts used, but that's not a huge impact.

On the eb8, just make sure your heaters and lights are on the relays which can handle higher current than the triacs. Also dosing pumps need to be on the relays as well, as the triacs don't always trigger with low current applications.