Circuit Big enough?

jediraverz · 03-28-2008, 04:54 PM

I am no expert when it comes to electricity, but Im sure someone has run into this issue before. So I have my 55gal setup, 150w heater, chiller, metal halide/pc/moonlight,UV filter,and 3 different pumps to run it all on a timed power strip. My question is : this setup is going on the same wall as my AC thats mounted in the wall, the circuits are 20amp and the main is 100amp is it okay to hook everything up to this same wall socket or do I need to look for another place to set everything up? I know this isnt the Home Depot forum but I know you guys can help thanks!!

bigbratt · 03-28-2008, 05:01 PM

depends on what each piece of equipment draws in amps.

jediraverz · 03-28-2008, 05:04 PM

okay my light are arriving today so ill ad them all up. then is it 20 amps on each socket , or 20 amps total on that outlet? because my AC drws 15amps by itself

cracker · 03-28-2008, 05:18 PM

Agreed! You need to add up "ALL" the amps your equipment draws ,AC unit included. Also there may be "other" outlets fed by that 20 amp breaker. A lamp or TV ,ceiling fan etc. Might even be in the room next to this one. Consider turning off the breaker & checking which outlets are off. Anything that was plugged in must be added to the list. I'm no electrician but I bet more than a few of us are pushing the safe limit on our breakers.

naperenterprise · 03-28-2008, 05:25 PM

Ah...... yeah

I actually had my dad come over 2 weekends ago and we added a dedicated breaker and installed 2 sets of outlets just for my reef tank(s).

I was poping circuits left and right before that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cracker

Agreed! You need to add up "ALL" the amps your equipment draws ,AC unit included. Also there may be "other" outlets fed by that 20 amp breaker. A lamp or TV ,ceiling fan etc. Might even be in the room next to this one. Consider turning off the breaker & checking which outlets are off. Anything that was plugged in must be added to the list. I'm no electrician but I bet more than a few of us are pushing the safe limit on our breakers.

cracker · 03-28-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jediraverz

okay my light are arriving today so ill ad them all up. then is it 20 amps on each socket , or 20 amps total on that outlet? because my AC drws 15amps by itself

Thats 20 amps total available to that outet and ( most likely other outlets as well) wired to it. That AC at 15 amps doesn't leave any room for safety.

sebastian · 03-28-2008, 06:16 PM

yeah... i do remodelings so...... i would put at least lights on different outlet ...ac takes a lot when starts... not as much as it runs...but puting everything on one braeker might overload it and .......:smck: fir e/ melted wires etc. ..... don't play with it if you have no clue

KodiakBear · 03-28-2008, 07:34 PM

Voltage X Current = Watts
line breaker total power
110V X 20A = 2200W

Just understand that a pump (any pump) will draw up wards of 5X running current in the 1/2 second or so it takes to start. Normally not much of a concern since most breakers have a small delay to accommodate this, but you should still leave a little room for comfort.
Good rule of thumb: if you're not sure you should add another circuit... You should.

XBwlr · 03-29-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jediraverz

okay my light are arriving today so ill ad them all up. then is it 20 amps on each socket , or 20 amps total on that outlet? because my AC drws 15amps by itself

20 amps total on that curcuit. If 1 plug draws 5 amps, then another plug can draw 15 amps. But, you're only supposed to run the breakers at 80% of their rating. So, a 20 amp breaker would work for a combined 16 amps. The "20" is their trip point, not a running point.

Triggerjay · 03-29-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwlr

20 amps total on that curcuit. If 1 plug draws 5 amps, then another plug can draw 15 amps. But, you're only supposed to run the breakers at 80% of their rating. So, a 20 amp breaker would work for a combined 16 amps. The "20" is their trip point, not a running point.

When I read the above posts, this was the first thing that came to mind. I'm glad to see someone posted it. DO NOT try to use 100% of a breakers potential. It will cause nusance tripping. I just finished running two 15a circuts to my system, one in the basement, for my sump stuff, and one upstairs on the main tank. My system draws right about 10a at either location, so I am running approx 66% of the rating on each breaker. These are dedicated circuts just for my aquarium, and are both GFCI protected. Also, a small rule of thumb while on the topic.. 15 breaker = #14 wire, 20a breaker = #12 wire. If you use #14 wire, to run a 20a circut, your wire can catch fire before the breaker trips. Wire must be sized accordingly.

Jason

Jason

corrado007 · 03-29-2008, 01:47 AM

Great information guys, thanks. Now you've got me adding and computing the #of amps my system is drawing.

Triggerjay · 03-29-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado007

Great information guys, thanks. Now you've got me adding and computing the #of amps my system is drawing.

Its good know. It adds up fast..

Jason

corrado007 · 03-29-2008, 01:58 AM

11.02A on a 15A breaker, looks like I'm good.
Thanks again!

03-28-2008, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
jediraverz Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 94 View Gallery Karma Komment	Circuit Big enough? I am no expert when it comes to electricity, but Im sure someone has run into this issue before. So I have my 55gal setup, 150w heater, chiller, metal halide/pc/moonlight,UV filter,and 3 different pumps to run it all on a timed power strip. My question is : this setup is going on the same wall as my AC thats mounted in the wall, the circuits are 20amp and the main is 100amp is it okay to hook everything up to this same wall socket or do I need to look for another place to set everything up? I know this isnt the Home Depot forum but I know you guys can help thanks!!

03-28-2008, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigbratt Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Victoria, BC. Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? depends on what each piece of equipment draws in amps.

03-28-2008, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
jediraverz Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 94 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? okay my light are arriving today so ill ad them all up. then is it 20 amps on each socket , or 20 amps total on that outlet? because my AC drws 15amps by itself

03-28-2008, 05:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,789 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? Agreed! You need to add up "ALL" the amps your equipment draws ,AC unit included. Also there may be "other" outlets fed by that 20 amp breaker. A lamp or TV ,ceiling fan etc. Might even be in the room next to this one. Consider turning off the breaker & checking which outlets are off. Anything that was plugged in must be added to the list. I'm no electrician but I bet more than a few of us are pushing the safe limit on our breakers.

03-28-2008, 06:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
sebastian Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake zurich, il Posts: 423 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? yeah... i do remodelings so...... i would put at least lights on different outlet ...ac takes a lot when starts... not as much as it runs...but puting everything on one braeker might overload it and .......:smck: fir e/ melted wires etc. ..... don't play with it if you have no clue __________________ Sebastian member of CMAS 125G AGA + 30G sump (home made) 750W MH + 390W PC light =1140W Wave 2K (4,000 g/h), mag-drive 12 (1,000 g/h) Euro reef skimmer RS 135 Hammer corals, zoo's, green star polyps, neon green button polyps, frogspan, leathers, xenias, 100's mashrooms, ricordias, fungias, green oxypora, snake polyps, brown Caribbean zoanthid (palythoa carribaeorum) regal tang, yellow tang, six line wrasse, cleaner wrasse, (2) lyretail anthias, eibli angel, ocellaris clowns

03-28-2008, 07:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
KodiakBear Achilles Tang Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Woodbine, GA Posts: 831 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Circuit Big enough? Voltage X Current = Watts line breaker total power 110V X 20A = 2200W Just understand that a pump (any pump) will draw up wards of 5X running current in the 1/2 second or so it takes to start. Normally not much of a concern since most breakers have a small delay to accommodate this, but you should still leave a little room for comfort. Good rule of thumb: if you're not sure you should add another circuit... You should. __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" --Isaiah 6:8 Whoever acquires knowledge and does not practice it resembles him who ploughs his land and leaves it unsown. -- Gulistan You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire, once the flame begins to catch, the wind will blow it higher. -- Peter Gabriel My Confession

03-29-2008, 01:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
corrado007 Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 764 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? Great information guys, thanks. Now you've got me adding and computing the #of amps my system is drawing. __________________ Justin _________________________________ Please watch out for motorcycles (look twice, it could save a life). 90gal mixed reef w/40gal sump/fuge, ATO, Octopus NW-200 Skimmer, 2x 250W 12k Reeflux MH & 220W VHO actinics, Koralia #4 & #3, Mag 9.5 return, Aquacontroller jr., LR & LS, and community fish (Yellow Assessor, Bluespot Jawfish, paired Yellow Watchman Goby & Red Striped Pistol Shrimp, paired O Clowns, 1 Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Scooter Blenny, and a Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse). updated 7/11/09 Here's my 90gal Chronicle (Lots of pictures and DIY)

03-29-2008, 01:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
corrado007 Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 764 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Circuit Big enough? 11.02A on a 15A breaker, looks like I'm good. Thanks again! __________________ Justin _________________________________ Please watch out for motorcycles (look twice, it could save a life). 90gal mixed reef w/40gal sump/fuge, ATO, Octopus NW-200 Skimmer, 2x 250W 12k Reeflux MH & 220W VHO actinics, Koralia #4 & #3, Mag 9.5 return, Aquacontroller jr., LR & LS, and community fish (Yellow Assessor, Bluespot Jawfish, paired Yellow Watchman Goby & Red Striped Pistol Shrimp, paired O Clowns, 1 Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Scooter Blenny, and a Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse). updated 7/11/09 Here's my 90gal Chronicle (Lots of pictures and DIY)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)