Your Resident Electrician for all your electrical questions!

[Paul B]

You will if you extend circuits over 6'

I have some 200' extension cords, is that bad? Maybe thats why my tools go so slow.

 

[siggy]

I have some 200' extension cords, is that bad? Maybe thats why my tools go so slow.

Those are called hand warmers

 

[N.Sreefer]

I'll end up hiring an electrician to do the work but whats the best way to run power from a house to a greenhouse? Would it be safe to run light fixtures inside a greenhouse? What is the safest option? Sorry for all the questions haha. I feel like I might get gouged hiring someone with no knowledge at all on this subject.

 

[Paul B]

I don't know anything about hiring anyone as I have never hired anyone for anything except dentists and if I could stand my screaming, I would do that myself because I also don't think many of them have no clue what they are doing.

But I am a "A Rated" Journeyman, Master Electrician in New York (retired) so there is no one in the US more qualified for this even if you have more degrees than a thermometer and I am going to tell you how to do this for almost free but don't get it inspected and in most places you are allowed to do your own work on your own house as long as you don't see much smoke when your done.

Dig a trench to your greenhouse from someplace near your panel. If you don't need a separate circuit in your greenhouse, dig the trench from an existing outdoor outlet or if you have none, from a place on your house opposite where there is an outlet inside your house.

For those types of running wires I used to get one of those sprinkler installers and have them pull the wire under the ground with this tool they use to run sprinkler lines. It will take about 30 seconds depending on how far you need to go.

Run "direct burial cable". It needs to be marked 12/2 if you only want one circuit. It will have a white, a black and a bare wire.

At your greenhouse, you can either bring that cable in under the floor or if you have to come up the outside of the wall, run it in PVC pipe. 1/2" PVC pipe will work but you may want to use 3/4" as it is easier.

From there you can install a switch, outlet, or whatever you want to install.

At the house you have to describe it further to see what you need to do from there.
Of course you can do this "expensive" part yourself and have an electrician or someone who knows what they are doing to connect it.

 

[N.Sreefer]

I don't know anything about hiring anyone as I have never hired anyone for anything except dentists and if I could stand my screaming, I would do that myself because I also don't think many of them have no clue what they are doing.

But I am a "A Rated" Journeyman, Master Electrician in New York (retired) so there is no one in the US more qualified for this even if you have more degrees than a thermometer and I am going to tell you how to do this for almost free but don't get it inspected and in most places you are allowed to do your own work on your own house as long as you don't see much smoke when your done.

Dig a trench to your greenhouse from someplace near your panel. If you don't need a separate circuit in your greenhouse, dig the trench from an existing outdoor outlet or if you have none, from a place on your house opposite where there is an outlet inside your house.

For those types of running wires I used to get one of those sprinkler installers and have them pull the wire under the ground with this tool they use to run sprinkler lines. It will take about 30 seconds depending on how far you need to go.

Run "direct burial cable". It needs to be marked 12/2 if you only want one circuit. It will have a white, a black and a bare wire.

At your greenhouse, you can either bring that cable in under the floor or if you have to come up the outside of the wall, run it in PVC pipe. 1/2" PVC pipe will work but you may want to use 3/4" as it is easier.

From there you can install a switch, outlet, or whatever you want to install.

At the house you have to describe it further to see what you need to do from there.
Of course you can do this "expensive" part yourself and have an electrician or someone who knows what they are doing to connect it.

Thank you that's really helpful that doesnt sound nearly as complex as I thought it would be

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I have some 200' extension cords, is that bad? Maybe thats why my tools go so slow.

im not sure why 200' extension cords would be bad to have get #12 cords....

I don't know anything about hiring anyone as I have never hired anyone for anything except dentists and if I could stand my screaming, I would do that myself because I also don't think many of them have no clue what they are doing.

But I am a "A Rated" Journeyman, Master Electrician in New York (retired) so there is no one in the US more qualified for this even if you have more degrees than a thermometer and I am going to tell you how to do this for almost free but don't get it inspected and in most places you are allowed to do your own work on your own house as long as you don't see much smoke when your done.

Dig a trench to your greenhouse from someplace near your panel. If you don't need a separate circuit in your greenhouse, dig the trench from an existing outdoor outlet or if you have none, from a place on your house opposite where there is an outlet inside your house.

For those types of running wires I used to get one of those sprinkler installers and have them pull the wire under the ground with this tool they use to run sprinkler lines. It will take about 30 seconds depending on how far you need to go.

Run "direct burial cable". It needs to be marked 12/2 if you only want one circuit. It will have a white, a black and a bare wire.

At your greenhouse, you can either bring that cable in under the floor or if you have to come up the outside of the wall, run it in PVC pipe. 1/2" PVC pipe will work but you may want to use 3/4" as it is easier.

From there you can install a switch, outlet, or whatever you want to install.

At the house you have to describe it further to see what you need to do from there.
Of course you can do this "expensive" part yourself and have an electrician or someone who knows what they are doing to connect it.

omg sir i cant believe some of your stuff its almost amazing.... ill keep it short but anyone that is serious about their investment aka house their life their property, which is the main duty of any electrician, is to safeguard personnel and property from electrical hazards. that's how its stated in the NEC "national electric code" ........Get your work inspected anyone that tells you different either doesn't know better or doesn't care about the things i listed. if your work is good enough and correct there is no reason to not have it inspected.

#1 its in the county as documented work that is correct. that signs off your liability and if something happens you have no chance in winning in any court or insurance dispute. God forbid someone gets hurt pfft forget-a-boudit, its electric don't mess with it, if your not sure about it. don't listen to guys on forums or home depot isles. and when they show up in my shop with stuff like rap music trips gfci receptacles and basically that entire post i am a little cautious.

im sorry but id hate to see anyone trying to find short cuts on a aquarium forum for electric to hurt them selves or someone else or damage their property!! h.s
if you are confident in doing the work pull a homeowners permit pay the 50$ have it inspected and put on county records as being correct, so it doesn't bite you in the butt later on. if you cant do that just have an electrician do it shop for prices and do it right. how much is sleeping sound at night worth..

that's legit advise without throwing my credentials in every post but almost all the info you were given can be picked up on by just reading combined with 60 years of life or so, but what he didnt tell you is the good information that a real electrician has like depths actual material building codes for your area so please do yourself a favor and get more info and at the very least get it inspected!

 

[Paul B]

and when they show up in my shop with stuff like rap music trips gfci receptacles and basically that entire post i am a little cautious.

I always thought Rap music would trip GFIs. Oh well.

Of course you can do this "expensive" part yourself and have an electrician or someone who knows what they are doing to connect it.

Of course you can pay an electrician to dig that trench. Bit it would be much cheaper for you to dig it.
Have fun.

 

[warped_insanity]

Hi all - quick question. I'm getting ready for a new tank and needed a GFCI outlet, but the area behind my tank will have very limited room. I've seen a few posts on here on external GFCI that had a plug to plug into existing outlet. I think I purchased the right things - does it look like this "tool replacement" cord will work to wire into the GFCI?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Hi all - quick question. I'm getting ready for a new tank and needed a GFCI outlet, but the area behind my tank will have very limited room. I've seen a few posts on here on external GFCI that had a plug to plug into existing outlet. I think I purchased the right things - does it look like this "tool replacement" cord will work to wire into the GFCI?

If you have a picture of the spot that could help, but whats the "tool replacement cord" for what it terminating to and what is it plugging into? I think you may want to look into wiremold with a box extension from your existing receptacle out past the aquarium where you put another receptacle box with that gfci in it make sure you get a deep box gfci is thicker than standard..heres a picture kinda of one online 1st pic.. and a deep ugly one at my house 2nd lol

 

[warped_insanity]

If you have a picture of the spot that could help, but whats the "tool replacement cord" for what it terminating to and what is it plugging into? I think you may want to look into wiremold with a box extension from your existing receptacle out past the aquarium where you put another receptacle box with that gfci in it make sure you get a deep box gfci is thicker than standard..heres a picture kinda of one online 1st pic.. and a deep ugly one at my house 2nd lol

I tried to follow a post Brew12 made awhile back where it looks like he did something similar. Basically, I want to plug this into my existing non-GFCI outlet and then plug my aquarium perpetuals into the GFCI. The outlet in my wall will be right behind my tank stand, and I'd like additional room to reset or replace the GFCIs if needed.

So cords coming out of the bottom have 3 prong plugs that would plug into my existing outlet (seems to work as I'm testing right now). The "tool replacement cord" is a 3 prong at one end and the 3 wires at the other end, which I wired into each GFCI, 14 gauge wire.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I tried to follow a post Brew12 made awhile back where it looks like he did something similar. Basically, I want to plug this into my existing non-GFCI outlet and then plug my aquarium perpetuals into the GFCI. The outlet in my wall will be right behind my tank stand, and I'd like additional room to reset or replace the GFCIs if needed.

So cords coming out of the bottom have 3 prong plugs that would plug into my existing outlet (seems to work as I'm testing right now). The "tool replacement cord" is a 3 prong at one end and the 3 wires at the other end, which I wired into each GFCI, 14 gauge wire.

Yeah I dont see a problem with that it looks like you just made a really fancy extension cord you have not modified your receptacle in your house so no issues there, and now your gfci protected with that black box right, if im correct, I like it good job thats better than messing with wiremold and modifying your existing receptacle. I like that idea just dont forget a drip loop or something to your existing receptacle

 

[Sleepydoc]

I have some 200' extension cords, is that bad? Maybe thats why my tools go so slow.

Was that why Flight of the Bumblebee sounded more like Clare de Lune?

I was thinking about the issue with rap music tripping GFCIs. I've never experienced it (but then I don't listen to rap...) but I wonder if the heavy base beat running through a big speaker would essentially cause enough of a phase shift to make the GFCI see a current mismatch and trip?

 

[Sleepydoc]

I tried to follow a post Brew12 made awhile back where it looks like he did something similar. Basically, I want to plug this into my existing non-GFCI outlet and then plug my aquarium perpetuals into the GFCI. The outlet in my wall will be right behind my tank stand, and I'd like additional room to reset or replace the GFCIs if needed.

So cords coming out of the bottom have 3 prong plugs that would plug into my existing outlet (seems to work as I'm testing right now). The "tool replacement cord" is a 3 prong at one end and the 3 wires at the other end, which I wired into each GFCI, 14 gauge wire.

That should work just fine. (assuming you have it wired properly!)

You can also buy ready made extensions like this. I think your home made one actually looks a bit better, though!

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Can I safely plug my two Apex energy bars into one of these or am I asking for trouble?

Also considering a UPS for my system but research tells me this is probably best done in combination with a GFCI breaker rather than outlet?

 

[Sleepydoc]

Can I safely plug my two Apex energy bars into one of these or am I asking for trouble?

Also considering a UPS for my system but research tells me this is probably best done in combination with a GFCI breaker rather than outlet?

Probably - it's 15A max, so as long as you're not pulling more than 15 amps between your two outlets you should be fine. are you using it for the length or the GFCI protection? If you need the GFCI protection you might consider a separate GFCI plug for each energy bar. That way if one of them trips the other will stay on.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Probably - it's 15A max, so as long as you're not pulling more than 15 amps between your two outlets you should be fine. are you using it for the length or the GFCI protection? If you need the GFCI protection you might consider a separate GFCI plug for each energy bar. That way if one of them trips the other will stay on.

Using it for the GFCI protection so that sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Sleepydoc]

Using it for the GFCI protection so that sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the reply!

would one of these work?

Yellow Jacket 2 ft. 12/3 SJTW Right Angle GFCI Heavy-Duty Extension Cord with Power Light Plug 2877 - The Home Depot

Take power with you anywhere as the Extension Cord provides easy access to power on the go. The 50 ft. extension cord with grounded lighted ends provides safety and increased visibility. The lighted ends

www.homedepot.com

Husky Wall Adapter GFCI 04-00106 - The Home Depot

Voltec's 15 Amp Grounded GFCI Outlet Adapter. For use with: electrical tools, sump pumps, shop Vacs and many other products you want to protect. This device automatically energizes for use upon being plugged in and after loss of primary power.

www.homedepot.com

Voltec 2 ft. 15 Amp In-Line GFCI with Power Block 04-00105 - The Home Depot

TASCO ground fault circuit interrupters protect the user from an electrical shock resulting from an unequal flow of electricity caused by current leakage. All of TASCO's GFCI's meet or exceed all UL, cUL and OSHA requirements. 15 Amp in-line GFCI adapter with lighted power block, length: 2 ft...

www.homedepot.com

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

would one of these work?

Yellow Jacket 2 ft. 12/3 SJTW Right Angle GFCI Heavy-Duty Extension Cord with Power Light Plug 2877 - The Home Depot

Take power with you anywhere as the Extension Cord provides easy access to power on the go. The 50 ft. extension cord with grounded lighted ends provides safety and increased visibility. The lighted ends

www.homedepot.com

Husky Wall Adapter GFCI 04-00106 - The Home Depot

Voltec's 15 Amp Grounded GFCI Outlet Adapter. For use with: electrical tools, sump pumps, shop Vacs and many other products you want to protect. This device automatically energizes for use upon being plugged in and after loss of primary power.

www.homedepot.com

Voltec 2 ft. 15 Amp In-Line GFCI with Power Block 04-00105 - The Home Depot

TASCO ground fault circuit interrupters protect the user from an electrical shock resulting from an unequal flow of electricity caused by current leakage. All of TASCO's GFCI's meet or exceed all UL, cUL and OSHA requirements. 15 Amp in-line GFCI adapter with lighted power block, length: 2 ft...

www.homedepot.com

Those all look like they would all fit my situation and seem like a better solution than the power strip.

 

[linkedsilas]

Can you calm my neurosis? I am building a custom stand. I am hesitant of putting all my equipment for my AIO under the tank. I see people building cabinets and doing this. They feel safe that it wont cause an electrical problem. Is it really safe to do this?
I see people building cabinets and putting to the side, but Im not sure Ill have enough room to do that. Any pointers where I can sleep at night knowing its ok?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Can you calm my neurosis? I am building a custom stand. I am hesitant of putting all my equipment for my AIO under the tank. I see people building cabinets and doing this. They feel safe that it wont cause an electrical problem. Is it really safe to do this?
I see people building cabinets and putting to the side, but Im not sure Ill have enough room to do that. Any pointers where I can sleep at night knowing its ok?

What "electrical problems" are you worried about

There's electric run and used in and all around water, when done correctly there is no problem.

What is your concern, having a power strip under your stand? Or something else? Please elaborate.