Electrical Assistance - DIY Switchboard for Aquarium

clink51

clink51

Member
So I want to make a power box so that i can set up 8 switches and 16 receptacles to plug in all tanks needs. To power the power box i plan to plug each section into one plug on a ground surge protector. The reason i want to do this is so i have switches controlling individual sections for feeding or WC without also having to rewire my entire place. The tank is in my room while the box is in my basement on the other side of the house.
I'm thinking: Surge protector (Connected to 20 amp GFI) >>>Switch>>>Receptacle.
I did electrical work in HS (thank you vocational school) so im confident in my abilities but i forgot the formulas as to how to adjust heat. I was thinking (2)4 switch gang box and 4 octagon boxes with flat face plates.
Questions are this:
Is this safe?
Can plastic boxes be used for this project?
Proper gauge for wire? I was thinking 14-16
I think the breaker that feeds my room is a 15amp, should i upgrade to a 20amp?
i have NO clue as to how im going to design this box so imput would be cool LOL
Basic Schematic will go something like this:
-----------|
| -----O/o (Switch)
| |
| | Hot Wire (Power)
O--------- |
| | | Return wire (Neutral
| O---o-||-O (Receptacle)
| | o-||-O
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |------------------------------------------O-||-o (Surge)
| |
|---------------------------------------------------|
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Do you know what your over all load requirements are going to be?
If the breaker that feeds your room is 15 amp then you need to determine what guage wire is ran for the circuit. If it's only 14 guage copper or 12 guage alluminum than it's too small for a 20 amp breaker. Need 12 guage copper for a 20 amp circuit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top