Alternative power source for the tank? help

mc_fish

New Member
I need help. My tank is running a blk light/ eheim filter, heater, power heads, (all the normal stuff) and I blew all the electricity in my neighborhood of townhouses.. woopsies.. the power went out in a 3 block radius.. does anyone know of an alternative power source I can use besides the usual outlets in ones home? Thanks for your help!
 

mr. green

Member
I have a hard time believing that you were the cause of this. Your breakers on the individual unit would be the first to trip. No way does the equipment for the Saltwater Tank have the ability to darken 3 blocks unless the units wiring are really screwed up. You would have to exceed the power of a Transformer that is probably running the units that are in your building.
 

baloo6969

Member
NO WAY!
u could NOT have caused a whole block to go down.
the transformer blew...possibly if your house is VERY BADLY miss wired would u cause a transformer to blow...BTW if you did, and your house was the cause, and there's evidence that you messed with(or made changes without permits) the wiring in your house...transformers are NOT cheep! couple K each...and you WILL get the bill, so be carefull what you say to the elet company.
also, if you had any sence, there would be a GFI that would probably trip, then there should be a 20~30 amp with GFI breaker, that's a dedicated line to your tank....it would blow LONG before a trans would...
to answer your question, RFBs is right...but HUGE upfront cost...probably the BEST thing though
 

mc_fish

New Member
i am also running a big screen tv and two computers so im running a lot of wattage through my home.. and yes i know i was the cause of it b/c it all went bad around 2:30 am when i turned on the second tv in my home...
 

baloo6969

Member
Originally Posted by MC_fish
i am also running a big screen tv and two computers so im running a lot of wattage through my home.. and yes i know i was the cause of it b/c it all went bad around 2:30 am when i turned on the second tv in my home...
LOL
First of all you don’t "run allot of wattage" BTW wattage is not a word. You pull amps.
Power on the lines is around 440volts ~10 amps (not sure on the amps...probably MUCH lower)
The transformer steps down the voltage from ~440 -> 110/220
110/220 comes into your house from a transformer. From there it goes into a breaker, to various parts of your house.
Now if you have 1 big screen probably pulls 2 amps...your computers uses MUCH less than that
Most breakers that separate each portion of your house is probably 15 or 20 amps each...you’re WELL under the radar.
On 1 30 amp I have my tank, my TV, my guitar amp, and 2 server's + 1 laptop.
And I’m still WELLL under the radar...again; no way could you have caused a portion of a grid to go out. someone probably ate a pole with there car, transformer blew(lighting/too many AC's running on the grid), maintenace, or just your breaker in your house is blown(why dont you check that?)
Maintenance
it just occurred to me, if your power is out in a 3 block rad, how are you online? if you have a battery back up, there's your alternative power supply.
Also I’m looking at some of your previous posts/questions...i'm sorry to say it, but i'm concerned for your fish. Some say that the pet owner should be slightly more educated than it's pets...i'm afraid this may not be the case here.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
My big stinger would pull Max of 200 amps (not that I ever needed to cut 12inch thick steel) but 200 amps on a 220 dedicated and My neighborhood was never dark.
 

lexluethar

Active Member
Pure chance that when you turned your TV on the power went out. I'm willing to put money down that if you do the same thing again, run the exact same amount of electronics / fish equipment and i bet nothing will happen.
 
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