Is My Electrical Configuration Safe?

[nickkohrn]

I live in an apartment, and I was given the approval to have an aquarium as long as it is on the bottom floor. There is a single room on the bottom floor, which serves as my office and a small entertainment area with a television. The room is supplied power by a 15-amp circuit.

I have all of my non-aquarium-related equipment plugged into a couple of surge protectors that are rated for home theater usage, providing 3,550 joules of protection. One supplies power to my two external monitors and computer charger. The other supplies power to my television, cable box, modem, router, and bridge for my smart lights. I have a large dehumidifier that is not currently running, and an oil radiator heater to take the chill out of the room during cold, Ohio days.

Regarding my aquarium equipment, I will be using a Neptune Apex, Neptune return pump, Neptune ATK, Neptune DŌS, two Eheim 200w heaters (one set lower as backup), two EcoTech Radion XR15w Pros, a Pentair 25w UV sterilizer, and two EcoTech VorTech MP40s. The surge protector will be plugged into a GFCI, which will be plugged into the wall’s receptacle.

I’m not able to modify the electrical in the apartment, so adding a 20-amp circuit is not an option. The only knowledge and experience that I have with electricity is changing out a thermostat, so I don’t know where to begin to determine if the circuit can, or can’t, handle the load that I plan on having.

Can you help me determine what steps, if needed, I should take in order to provide a safe environment for my family and aquarium?

Thank you! I greatly appreciate your time and considerations.

 

[Smo]

With a 15 amp circuit using the formula P=vi, you have a max of 1800 watts available. However, you probably want to limit the total to say 75% for safety and to provide margin. That reduces you to 1350 watts. If you add the rated power of every item you wish to power and you stay below your max limit plus a prudent margin you should be OK.
Personally, I think you are at risk. If someone now plugs in a vacuum cleaner...

 

[ca1ore]

Are you saying the room has one 15 amp circuit to power the tank plus all your office equipment (including dehumidifier and space heater)? If so, that sounds like potentially more than one 15 amp circuit would handle. Depends on the amp/wattage draw.

 

[nickkohrn]

With a 15 amp circuit using the formula P=vi, you have a max of 1800 watts available. However, you probably want to limit the total to say 75% for safety and to provide margin. That reduces you to 1350 watts. If you add the rated power of every item you wish to power and you stay below your max limit plus a prudent margin you should be OK.
Personally, I think you are at risk. If someone now plugs in a vacuum cleaner...

Thank for you the information and formula. Just looking at the 1,350 watts that you provided, I believe that I have easily exceeded that number. I will use the formula and see what I need to cut out. My wife will kill me if we can’t run the vacuum.

Are you saying the room has one 15 amp circuit to power the tank plus all your office equipment (including dehumidifier and space heater)? If so, that sounds like potentially more than one 15 amp circuit would handle. Depends on the amp/wattage draw.

Unfortunately, that’s correct; there is a single 15-amp circuit to power the entire room. The dehumidifier and space heater are useful in their own seasons. I can cut out the heater and use a blanket or dress more appropriately when it’s cold. I would like to use the dehumidifier in the summer to prevent moisture buildup in the apartment, but I can wait to figure that piece of equipment out when the time comes. I also removed one of my monitors since it was taking up too much room on the desk anyway.

I’ll sum the power draw from all of the equipment that I intend to use and come back with the result.

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I am appreciative of the help that has been provided. I feel much better deciding on what’s important in this room.

 

[nickkohrn]

I calculated the power consumption of every item that I have in the room, using the stated maximum watts, minus the non-constant items (sweeper, space heater, and dehumidifier). The result is 1,219 watts. Addition of the non-constant items resulted in 4,109 watts. It's clear that I should avoid having all listed items plugged in simultaneously, which is understandable.

Do you have any recommendations regarding the results?

 

[Smo]

Good analysis. This device could be helpful to monitor your load.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kill-a-watt-ps10-electricity-usage-monitoring-power-strip.html

 

[nickkohrn]

Good analysis. This device could be helpful to monitor your load.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kill-a-watt-ps10-electricity-usage-monitoring-power-strip.html

I had thought about getting a few of those, but I opted for the surge protectors that I purchased because they came with 12-foot cords. The extra length of the cord allowed me to route the cord neatly inside of cord hiders along the baseboards and behind furniture.

However, it’s possible that I may exchange them for the unit at the link that you provided. It would be nice to not guess what the actual power consumption is. Thank you for providing it.

 

[ca1ore]

Looks ok to me except for the last three. Sweeper - extension cord from another room. Heater - hot water bottle LOL, no watts. Dehumidifier - probably when you need this you won’t need heaters so could just unplug them.

 

[rockskimmerflow]

Have an electrician add a 20amp circuit dedicated for the tank. Shouldn't be much money and it really makes sense safety wise. I have had many clients both in homes and apartments do so before I install a tank because it's just not worth the risk of a housekeeper or significant other accidentally plugging in a vacuum or other power hungry item and shutting down the whole circuit accidentally. I've found most landlords rarely have an issue with you footing the bill to add a new outlet for a tank, so I'd just ask them to make sure they're ok with you putting in a new circuit for that room. 20 amps will give you plenty of power to supply the tank and the original 15 amp can be used for all non-tank items. Good luck

 

[abraha]

You could use extension cords to pull up power from outlets that are in a different circuit for non fish tank items.

 

[nickkohrn]

Looks ok to me except for the last three. Sweeper - extension cord from another room. Heater - hot water bottle LOL, no watts. Dehumidifier - probably when you need this you won’t need heaters so could just unplug them.

Unfortunately, I never considered electrical requirements until now. I will be looking into the addition of higher-capacity circuits when my wife and I purchase our first home. I would love to be able to use all of the listed items without issue, but I don't think my wife would appreciate me running extension cords throughout the apartment.

Have an electrician add a 20amp circuit dedicated for the tank. Shouldn't be much money and it really makes sense safety wise. I have had many clients both in homes and apartments do so before I install a tank because it's just not worth the risk of a housekeeper or significant other accidentally plugging in a vacuum or other power hungry item and shutting down the whole circuit accidentally. I've found most landlords rarely have an issue with you footing the bill to add a new outlet for a tank, so I'd just ask them to make sure they're ok with you putting in a new circuit for that room. 20 amps will give you plenty of power to supply the tank and the original 15 amp can be used for all non-tank items. Good luck

I will email the leasing office and see what they say. They allow us to paint, and add/replace lighting fixtures, so maybe they will allow the addition of a dedicated circuit. I would love to not have worries about using all of the equipment that I want to in this room.

Do you happen to have any ideas as to what a cost for something like that may be? I did some research online, but everyone wants more information that I am currently able to provide. I'm not requesting exact numbers since every installation is different. I am curious as to whether you have had any clients give you any information regarding that.

You could use extension cords to pull up power from outlets that are in a different circuit for non fish tank items.

The room that is in discussion is the only room on the first floor. I would have to run extension cords up the stairs, to the second floor, but that's a small price to pay to use a heater on the freezing days that are destined to greet me. The only deciding factor for that is my wife.

I just took this photo while standing at the front street entrance to the apartment. The door in the photo is the door to/from the garage.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Where's the panel?

 

[nickkohrn]

Where's the panel?

The electrical panel is on the right-side wall of the garage, just beyond the door in the photo above.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

And the tank is on the left of the tv? How good are you at Sheetrock repair? Is that a laundry room to the right of the tv?

 

[nickkohrn]

And the tank is on the left of the tv?

That is correct.

How good are you at Sheetrock repair?

Unfortunately, I don't have experience with it. I've been an apartment-dweller for most of my life, so I haven't had to repair much.

Is that a laundry room to the right of the tv?

It's a simple coat closet with just enough room for coats and shoes.

 

[rockskimmerflow]

Do you happen to have any ideas as to what a cost for something like that may be? I did some research online, but everyone wants more information that I am currently able to provide. I'm not requesting exact numbers since every installation is different. I am curious as to whether you have had any clients give you any information regarding that.

Way too hard to estimate accurately, you'll need an electrician to look at it and give you a quote. I've had clients here in socal pay to add a circuit anywhere from 125 in very easy situations up to 3k in a recent case that required 2 x 20amp circuits added to a 3rd story wall over 100ft from the panel.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

From the looks of it I'd say it would be not terrible but the electrician will be cutting some ceiling/ walls to get a wire to your location. Without being there to look I'd say you can guesstimate 3-4 hours labor + Sheetrock work/paint.
In CT most electrical companies charge $80-100/ hour for labor and you can say $75-100 material.
Technically your supposed to use up to 80% of the circuit capacity but most breakers don't trip until you hit the breakers size in amps. Are you sure it's only 15amp circuit?

 

[RamsReef]

Buy a socket receptacle to run your heaters / dehumidifier.

You can tip me in corals.

 

[nickkohrn]

Way too hard to estimate accurately, you'll need an electrician to look at it and give you a quote. I've had clients here in socal pay to add a circuit anywhere from 125 in very easy situations up to 3k in a recent case that required 2 x 20amp circuits added to a 3rd story wall over 100ft from the panel.

That's understandable. I do appreciate the information that you were able to share! From that information, it doesn't seem like it would cost me a significant amount of money when compared to other configurations.

From the looks of it I'd say it would be not terrible but the electrician will be cutting some ceiling/ walls to get a wire to your location. Without being there to look I'd say you can guesstimate 3-4 hours labor + Sheetrock work/paint.
In CT most electrical companies charge $80-100/ hour for labor and you can say $75-100 material.
Technically your supposed to use up to 80% of the circuit capacity but most breakers don't trip until you hit the breakers size in amps. Are you sure it's only 15amp circuit?

I'm currently using ~75%. I routed the space heater from upstairs via an extension cord, so that was helpful. I can do the same with the sweeper, but this gives my wife the excuse to get the cordless sweeper she has been wanting; it will make sweeping two sets of stairs (three-floor apartment) much easier. The only item that I am missing is the dehumidifier. I will want to run that in the warmer months, and an extension cord from the second floor won't work long-term. I can coil the heater up when I feel like dressing in heavier clothes; the dehumidifier is large, so I would like to keep it in place.

Here are two photos that show the electrical panel. The room in discussion is supplied by the bottom-left breaker (23).

Buy a socket receptacle to run your heaters / dehumidifier.

You can tip me in corals.

Forgive my ignorance; do you have a link to a socket receptacle? I have been searching online, but I keep getting results for lightbulb sockets and generic electrical outlet receptacles. I'm not sure what to pick out of the results that you are referring to.

 

[RamsReef]

Says lights are on the same cct, if you flip that breaker do the outlets and lights go off? If yes, sorry won't work, if no, you got some wiggle room.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Socket-with-Outlets-White-R52-01403-00W/100184555