A Question for Everyone! about POWER

[lubeck]

I would like to know how much you have plugged in to one electic outlet.
I think theres a possibility that there is too much in one outlet and will ultimately damage the expensive equipment.
I have 2 power strips with: I don't know how many total watts .
260w pc lighting
650 w mh lighting
2-1100gph powerheads
9.5 mag-drive pump
150 seaclone protien skimmer
350w heater
I would think this would be enough to not overload the circuit but I am up for any options or ideas in how to figure out.
I do not want to jepordize my equipment (lighting) or anything else for that matter.
The reason I bring this up is because I did read about lighting may not be completely effective if it doesn't have suffiecient power source but will still run just not as bright.
Also, one day I had everything turned on:
tv, every light, tank, baby monitor and then i swithched on the vacuum and BLEW A FUSE. It has never happened after, but I have not turned everything on at once
Sorry for how long this speal is>

 

[dek196]

Your power is either there or it's not, if you have 110volt power for all of your equip. then you would actually be concerned with the amps or amp draw. The amp draw is the way to measure how much 110 volt power is being consumed. Your household breaker is usually a 15amp 110v or a 20amp 110v if you aren't tripping breakers then you are OK. If the amp draw is over the rated amount, 15a or 20a the breaker will trip. The outlets are rated as is the size of the wire in relation to the breaker ie. 15amp outlet with 14gage wire to a 15amp breaker. HTH Donnie

 

[gregzbobo]

To obtain current from wattage use this formula, Amperage(A)= Wattage(W) / Voltage(V).
For example, a 55 gallon setup uses a 250 watt heater, the canister filter is rated at 15W, the air pump 5W and the fluorescent hood rated at 40W. The combined wattage of these devices is 310W. Using the formula, Amperage = Wattage/Voltage, we have Amperage=310/120, therefore the ampacitiy being drawn is 2.58 amperes, assuming AC voltage is 120 volts.

 

[dek196]

Originally Posted by gregzbobo
To obtain current from wattage use this formula, Amperage(A)= Wattage(W) / Voltage(V).
For example, a 55 gallon setup uses a 250 watt heater, the canister filter is rated at 15W, the air pump 5W and the fluorescent hood rated at 40W. The combined wattage of these devices is 310W. Using the formula, Amperage = Wattage/Voltage, we have Amperage=310/120, therefore the ampacitiy being drawn is 2.58 amperes, assuming AC voltage is 120 volts.
Yeah, what he said!