Your Resident Electrician for all your electrical questions!

[Brew12]

Evening @Brew12

Whenever you have a second, I have a question I am sure has been asked 800 times.

Do I have too much in 1 outlet. Here’s my list and let me know what you think.

I have one power surge strip and one coral life timer strip plugged into one plain old household outlet .

So, the coral life timer has 2 AI 52 hd, an ATI hybrid 60” long that has 4 lamps with 2 plugs, a ground probe, 2 24 watt green machine UV.

The normals surge strip has Eheim 1262 and Syncra 3, Nyos skimmer, Ranco heater, 3 komera dosers inked together into 1 plug, hydor powerhead.

Now that I do the list it seems a lot no?

And I still have to plug in my ATO, another powerhead and MP 40

Thoughts? Breakers never tripped with all running.

It may seem like a lot, but I don't think it is a problem. A lot of these are very small loads so I doubt you are overloaded.

 

[siggy]

Would something like this work?

Yes that would work for your tank, BUT I would put the money into a unit that serves the tank, the one you show is designed for an entertainment center APC is a trusted brand as we all know. I know it cost a few bucks more but the Isobar is THEEEEE most trusted unit on the market for a single point unit. You have me going now so I will be installing this on my new build in my cabinet. Just for the controller, no pumps!
HUBBELL HBL5260SA SURGE RCPT

 

[CNDReef]

So this would be good
Tripp Lite Isobar 4 Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 6ft. Cord, Right Angle Plug, 3330 Joules, Metal, 50K Insurance & (IBAR4-6D) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005119M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZPRgDbB6N1SZ4
Would this be enough to have 3 dc pumps a 200w hearer and a 250w metal halide?
That’s pretty much everything I have on the tank lol

 

[siggy]

The 4 port is actually the one most commonly used in the field. Grocery/retail stores will have one for every register.
edit: Put you lights on another non protected source, DC pumps ok, ac motors/pumps not so much

 

[CNDReef]

The 4 port is actually the one most commonly used in the field. Grocery/retail stores will have one for every register.

Awesome, thanks for the insider information
Going to order that today so I can have a little piece of mind. Again thank so much

 

[Sparky88]

Im also an electrician and it def takes a guy in the office to think its a good idear to offer advice to ppl that shouldnt touch an outlet. This is not a game and your going to get ppl killed. Did you stress the importance of a ground probe? Grounding,grounding., grounding ppl. Well actually bonding but who nos the diff anyways. Real good advice from this electrician find a local and trade him for coral. This trade allways has a few reef junkies in it

 

[siggy]

This is not a game and your going to get ppl killed. Did you stress the importance of a ground probe?
Real good advice from this electrician find a local and trade him for coral. This trade allways has a few reef junkies in it

Using Ground Probes in Aquariums

Why your saltwater aquarium needs a ground probe (or several). The piece is written by an expert electrician.

www.reef2reef.com

Your absolutely correct, There will always be those that shouldn't touch but do. If we can help, correct and advise them then thats better then not. If some one is clueless or the job complex, they are told to get a professional.
I have learned that this hobby has a lot of sharp cookies and home owners that easily comprehend basic wiring, after all thats why Homeowners Permits are not questioned.
@Sparky88 feel free to help if you see the need....Welcome to Local R2R

 

[ScottW]

I setup my fish room in my basement, I wanted to toss in a fart fan to help with any humidity that may be present.

I was going to buy this to control the fan itself.

Can I just wire up one of these to make that controller control the fan with a grounded extension cord?

 

[siggy]

I have never seen a bath fan on a dimmer not sure the motor could handle it or the little resistor/fuse. @Brew12 is the motor man

 

[ScottW]

I have never seen a bath fan on a dimmer not sure the motor could handle it or the little resistor/fuse. @Brew12 is the motor man

Not a dimmer, you set the Humidity level and the fan kicks on until that level is reached.

 

[siggy]

Not a dimmer, you set the Humidity level and the fan kicks on until that level is reached.

thats cool! I did a greenhouse with something like that. does the fan have a sensor too? I would just choose one or the other. BTW its been years and its still working. Lots of grow shops for that stuff. check with them. good luck

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 32 extension cords under my tank right above sump. Can I add 2-3 more ???

OK- JUST KIDDING. VERY KIND OF YOU AND OTHER ELECTRICIANS TO OFFER INSIGHT !!

 

[siggy]

I have 32 extension cords under my tank right above sump. Can I add 2-3 more ???

every device and brick has a x-cord so your not far off

 

[b4tn]

Hey all, I had a bad outlet in the downstairs area where my tank is being set up. It is the first outlet in a chain of outlets in the room. I replaced the outlet with a GFCI outlet so now all outlets in the chain are GFCI protected. I tested each one with a tester and everything seems good. My question is my tank is on the second outlet in the chain. Is this way of doing things good for protection? Prior to moving I had the tank running off one of those GFCI blocks that plug in with no issues for 5 years.

 

[Brew12]

Hey all, I had a bad outlet in the downstairs area where my tank is being set up. It is the first outlet in a chain of outlets in the room. I replaced the outlet with a GFCI outlet so now all outlets in the chain are GFCI protected. I tested each one with a tester and everything seems good. My question is my tank is on the second outlet in the chain. Is this way of doing things good for protection? Prior to moving I had the tank running off one of those GFCI blocks that plug in with no issues for 5 years.

It's great for protecting you and your house, its not great for redundancy. I like having my equipment run off of multiple GFCI's so a trip of one won't take out everything.

 

[thewalkingdad]

Is there a definitive list, by equipment type, that should be plugged into GFCI vs regular outlets?

Background, I'm building a new home with a fish room and can have close to any amount or combination or GFCI and regular outlets.

What is the ideal setup to balance reliability and safety?

 

[Brew12]

Is there a definitive list, by equipment type, that should be plugged into GFCI vs regular outlets?

Background, I'm building a new home with a fish room and can have close to any amount or combination or GFCI and regular outlets.

What is the ideal setup to balance reliability and safety?

Typically, I think that anything wet should be on a GFCI.

In a perfect world, I would run 2 return pumps and 3 GFCI's. One return pump and a heater along with at least one powerhead on 2 of the GFCI's. The 3rd GCI would have any remaining powerheads. You can split any other loads, like the skimmer, as you desire.

 

[thewalkingdad]

Typically, I think that anything wet should be on a GFCI.

In a perfect world, I would run 2 return pumps and 3 GFCI's. One return pump and a heater along with at least one powerhead on 2 of the GFCI's. The 3rd GCI would have any remaining powerheads. You can split any other loads, like the skimmer, as you desire.

Thanks Brew. What would you have lights plugged into? I would've thought those would be safer in a GFCI outlet.

 

[Brew12]

Thanks Brew. What would you have lights plugged into? I would've thought those would be safer in a GFCI outlet.

Anything you plug into a GFCI will be safer but I would consider this a lower priority. Mine are plugged into a GFCI out of convenience and it is an easy visual to know if a GFCI has tripped.

 

[Cherie cook]

Is there any way to build a battery backup out of a car battery? ;Smuggrin