Need electrical analysis, please!

[fishycpa]

Currently, I have 1 outlet (2 plugs) behind my tank, but I am pretty sure I need more (not enough plugs, too much electricity pulled from 1). I have attempted to gather and estimate how many watts my equipment will be pulling for my 125g, as seen below:
Skimmer - 65w
Return pump - 130w
Powerheads ~ 36w
Fuge pump ~ 22w
Heaters ~ 400w
Fuge lights ~ 25w
Lights ~ 650w
Total ~ 1328w w/ appx. 9-12 plugs(?)
I am having an electrician come next week to put in a new outlet and GFCI's and install a dedicated breaker, but my question is this, how many more plugs will I need? 1 outlet with 4 plugs, 1 outlet with 2 plugs, 2 outlets with 4 plugs? I want to make sure I have enough power available as to not trip the breaker all of the time. I do NOT understand electricity in the LEAST, and any help would be greatly appreciated. If you don't know, maybe you can tell me how your set-up is pluged in? Thanks for your time. Stephen.

 

[trippkid]

I am no electrician, but I ran a dedicated 20amp line with 4 outlets(GFCI), then run power strips off of those, some strips are piggy-backed together, so I guess the more outlets the better, if needed. Make sure you don't exceed the Amp rating of the circuit with all the equipment attached. Your electrician should know what would be best for you.

Matt

 

[mojo46825]

ok here is hte simple math for electricity. Two formula's
P=IV nad V=IR
Power=amps x voltage
Voltage= Amps x resitance
Power = watts
So if you you have 1328 watts and 120 v plug you just plug it into the equation.
1328w=I x 120v
1328/120= I
I=11.07 amps
This is a simple way of determining your amp load without a meter. Now this can vey some as heaters and motors load can change some over time. most power strips are rated at 15 amps. So yes you do have a pretty good load on your circuit but nothing to be alarmed about. Make sure if you want another outlet put in he doesnt just hook into you existing outlet. That would be no different than what you have now. Because the wiring in your wall will still see the 11 amp load. You want another circuit ran if you are going to do anything at all. I hope this helps and doesnt make it more confusing. This is Basic electricty I had like 10 years ago.

good luck

 

[earlybird]

I use my normal 15 amp outlet and have 2 GFCI extension cords with 3 sockets. Attached to each GFCI I have one powerstrip. I was concerned about makine the entire socket from the wall a GFCI because if it trips then everything will be off. I have my lights on one of my powerstrips with one powerhead and a heater while the other has my return pump, a powerhead, a heater, and my skimmer. In the event that one trips my tank will still have flow.

 

[scsinet]

What I would do is have the electrician install a run from your panelboard to the tank, and install (2) GFI receptacles. If you want more outlets, then have him install another pair of ordinary outlets, each fed-through one of the GFIs.
A single 20 amp breaker is more than adequate to supply your tank's needs. However, GFIs can and do trip, so having two of them fed from your dedicated circuit, and spreading the tank's equipment across each, will eliminate the chances of a single GFI trip from taking out your entire tank. If he installs another pair of outlets as I described, you'll have a total of (4) duplex receptacles (so 8 total homes for plugs). You'll have two GFI receptacles, and an additional outlet protected by each one, so again, if a GFI trips, either erroneously (called a "nuisance trip" in the trade) or due to a equipment problem with the tank, it will cut off itself and the outlet it protects, leaving the equipment on the other side running.

 

[trippkid]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
What I would do is have the electrician install a run from your panelboard to the tank, and install (2) GFI receptacles. If you want more outlets, then have him install another pair of ordinary outlets, each fed-through one of the GFIs.
A single 20 amp breaker is more than adequate to supply your tank's needs. However, GFIs can and do trip, so having two of them fed from your dedicated circuit, and spreading the tank's equipment across each, will eliminate the chances of a single GFI trip from taking out your entire tank. If he installs another pair of outlets as I described, you'll have a total of (4) duplex receptacles (so 8 total homes for plugs). You'll have two GFI receptacles, and an additional outlet protected by each one, so again, if a GFI trips, either erroneously (called a "nuisance trip" in the trade) or due to a equipment problem with the tank, it will cut off itself and the outlet it protects, leaving the equipment on the other side running.
Very well said

.
Matt