Any Electricians?
- Thread starter toeknee
- Start date
notsonoob
Member
YIKES
OVERLOADED CIRCUIT...
I would run an extention cord (15 amp will do probably) to another circuit of the house immediatly. You could in turn overheat the wires in the wall by keeping all that intact. If this is an older house, you probably have older wiring.
I would find a circuit your not using much and plug that in.
Then I would have an electrican dedicate that outlet for your fish in agreement with the above poster.
OVERLOADED CIRCUIT...
I would run an extention cord (15 amp will do probably) to another circuit of the house immediatly. You could in turn overheat the wires in the wall by keeping all that intact. If this is an older house, you probably have older wiring.
I would find a circuit your not using much and plug that in.
Then I would have an electrican dedicate that outlet for your fish in agreement with the above poster.
It is not to far but I have not 1 clue about electrical and I know for a fact the tank will blow the breaker and I wanted to know my options. when running a new line would you have to tear any walls down?
toeknee
Member
so there are 2 circuit breakers within this room, there are about 6 outlets all on 1 breaker and then the lights are on a separate one,
I was wondering if it is possible to install an outlet next to the light switch by using its existing wires so that no walls would have to be removed. the light switch is on the 2nd breaker
I was wondering if it is possible to install an outlet next to the light switch by using its existing wires so that no walls would have to be removed. the light switch is on the 2nd breaker
shrimpi
Active Member
there is probably already an outlet connected to that light switch isnt there? Usually they connect at least one so if you want a floor or table lamp you can.
If not, yes you can do this. We had to do it for a similar situation because we have subzero fridge and freezer that cannot be on the same circuit. we created a outlet out of an existing switch (but we disabled the switch entirely so someone couldnt accidently turn off our fridge with a flip of the switch haha)
You CAN do what you want to do just be careful, make sure you buy the right stuff, theres a "cut in box" you use thats made for this purpose that holds the wires properly its a plastic case thing. Also, obviously make sure you turn the breaker off for that area before messing with it so you dont get shocked.
But yeah its real easy, if anything pick up one of those home electric books from home depot and they will walk you right through it.
Good Luck.
Jessica
If not, yes you can do this. We had to do it for a similar situation because we have subzero fridge and freezer that cannot be on the same circuit. we created a outlet out of an existing switch (but we disabled the switch entirely so someone couldnt accidently turn off our fridge with a flip of the switch haha)
You CAN do what you want to do just be careful, make sure you buy the right stuff, theres a "cut in box" you use thats made for this purpose that holds the wires properly its a plastic case thing. Also, obviously make sure you turn the breaker off for that area before messing with it so you dont get shocked.
But yeah its real easy, if anything pick up one of those home electric books from home depot and they will walk you right through it.
Good Luck.
Jessica
notsonoob
Member
I think Jessica is talking about an old work box.
Where are all your wires run? In your attic through the walls?
And also Jessica, just to be on the safe side it is better if he calls an electrican. That way it will be to code, in which he could break if he doesn't do it right. Idealy he would run a 20 amp circuit with a GFCI outlet, but could settle for a 15 amp So what size wires will he run? How far is it away? If his box is 100 feet in the garage, then what? Where does he fasten the cables to the joists and on the wall on down?. Where does he hook the green and white wire in his box? What if there is a short and he touches off a neutral? You know that they main wires coming in are always hot right and they also feed a neutral into that box. GFCI outlets are a pain anyway, if you don't know what they are for and the terminology.
My advice, if you have no experience, don't try it.
I have switches on my wall, figuring that they are hooked up to an outlet, but no deal...and my house was built in 1998. Later I found out they were wired to the ceiling fan ((future)) so you can't always assume anything.
Here is my point exactly. I have an outlet in my garage. I recently moved my older fridge there and plugged it in. ((your kitchen fridge has a dedicated 20 amp circuit...)) This was my bad, but I had no idea it was integrated based off panel labeling...
Later...as I found my box was improperly labeled to begin with. That same outlet is on a circuit with my master bath (above the sink no GFCI) which feeds a second, then both my outdoor outlets in the front and back of the house.
With that. I have a fridge, Christmas lights, my wife blow drying her hair with a 5 -7 amp blow dryer. All run at the same time....and me running a wet vac outside??? FAR over 15 amps to code. BUT...it was built to code, because you can have so many outlet fixtures per circuit. All in all.... What if I plug my chiller in outside? BLAMO!
Where are all your wires run? In your attic through the walls?
And also Jessica, just to be on the safe side it is better if he calls an electrican. That way it will be to code, in which he could break if he doesn't do it right. Idealy he would run a 20 amp circuit with a GFCI outlet, but could settle for a 15 amp So what size wires will he run? How far is it away? If his box is 100 feet in the garage, then what? Where does he fasten the cables to the joists and on the wall on down?. Where does he hook the green and white wire in his box? What if there is a short and he touches off a neutral? You know that they main wires coming in are always hot right and they also feed a neutral into that box. GFCI outlets are a pain anyway, if you don't know what they are for and the terminology.
My advice, if you have no experience, don't try it.
I have switches on my wall, figuring that they are hooked up to an outlet, but no deal...and my house was built in 1998. Later I found out they were wired to the ceiling fan ((future)) so you can't always assume anything.
Here is my point exactly. I have an outlet in my garage. I recently moved my older fridge there and plugged it in. ((your kitchen fridge has a dedicated 20 amp circuit...)) This was my bad, but I had no idea it was integrated based off panel labeling...
Later...as I found my box was improperly labeled to begin with. That same outlet is on a circuit with my master bath (above the sink no GFCI) which feeds a second, then both my outdoor outlets in the front and back of the house.
With that. I have a fridge, Christmas lights, my wife blow drying her hair with a 5 -7 amp blow dryer. All run at the same time....and me running a wet vac outside??? FAR over 15 amps to code. BUT...it was built to code, because you can have so many outlet fixtures per circuit. All in all.... What if I plug my chiller in outside? BLAMO!
drpaul84
Member
what is on the wall behind your tank? on the opposite side, like whats the next room? or is that an exterior wall....there are plenty of ways to run lines without to many holes in the walls....just need to figure out how the joists run and where the room is in conjunction to the panel...i dont recomend tapping off a circuit that is already being used unless you know exactly what is on that circuit and what wiring is used, ive run many lines in my house but i have an unfinished basement and running lines through it is simple, the fun part is drilling up to the 1st floor to get the lines up here lol
toeknee
Member
it is an exterior wall.
there are nothing but lights on that second breaker.
My tank will be using about 710 watts below is a floor diagram
This fake fireplace I bought uses 1430 watts for the heater and the vacuum is 12 amps itself.
In the laundry room are drop ceilings so you could easily run wire from there to the panel across the hallway its getting from the laundry room to the tank which is the problem
I have an electrician coming tomorrow but what would something like this cost, fishing a line for 5 feet isnt to difficult. any Ideas about cost? so I dont get taken
there are nothing but lights on that second breaker.
My tank will be using about 710 watts below is a floor diagram
This fake fireplace I bought uses 1430 watts for the heater and the vacuum is 12 amps itself.
In the laundry room are drop ceilings so you could easily run wire from there to the panel across the hallway its getting from the laundry room to the tank which is the problem
I have an electrician coming tomorrow but what would something like this cost, fishing a line for 5 feet isnt to difficult. any Ideas about cost? so I dont get taken
mie
Active Member
GET MULTIPLE QUOTES!
If you have a "stab lock" electrical box you can very easily put in a new breaker, run 30 plus feet of nomex wiring , Breaker runs about 80 dollars. The labor cost should'nt be to expensive.
Don't feel to bad i have the same damn problem in my house, it is so frustrating. It will cost me about 5,000 dollars to have my box upgraded and new wiring pulled through my house. My house was built in the late 70's and the current wiring will not support todays electrical gizmo's. There are just to many things that plug in.
If you have a "stab lock" electrical box you can very easily put in a new breaker, run 30 plus feet of nomex wiring , Breaker runs about 80 dollars. The labor cost should'nt be to expensive.
Don't feel to bad i have the same damn problem in my house, it is so frustrating. It will cost me about 5,000 dollars to have my box upgraded and new wiring pulled through my house. My house was built in the late 70's and the current wiring will not support todays electrical gizmo's. There are just to many things that plug in.
