Should I plan on doing something different with my outlets?

piscivorous · #1 01/25/2006, 04:12 PM

Still in the planning stages, so I have a lot of options. Right now I have on outlet behind the tank. I believe it is basically part of a chain that is run through the living room and I expect it is probably a 15 or 20 amp breaker. I guess if I absolutely HAD to, I could rewire that outlet alone to make it run off of the tank alone, but that would be a LOT of work. This is a 55 gallon tank, and I plan to have dual MH 175 e-ballasts, and a VHO ballast, two Mag 9.5 pumps, two 150 watt heaters, and the skimmer. Am I likely to be blowing the breaker every time I turn on the television or one of the living room lights?

danferd2002 · #2 01/25/2006, 04:35 PM

i would think not, as i have my room loaded up pretty good. 2 tanks(a 30g with sump and MH lights, and a 20g with PC lighting and a sump) , a TV with surround sound, and other normal bedroom things. This is all in a 15 amp breaker, so far so good. Others will be able to answer better though.

comatose · #3 01/25/2006, 05:00 PM

it also depends which recepticals are on it too, and what else is running or pluged into them others.

me personally, I would dedicate the outlet to itself, one 15 amp breaker would be fine.

a4twenty · #4 01/26/2006, 09:03 AM

wattage wise it looks like your ok. ( as long as the microwave and fridge arn't on the same circuit ) i have to agree with comatose though, a dedicated circuit would be better. also use a GFI outlet, they are inexpensive and could save your life.

ronbis · #5 01/26/2006, 12:31 PM

If your VHO is 2x48" bulbs, then you're in the neighborhood of 10 amps with what you have listed. If it were me, I'd fish a new circuit to that outlet. You might trip a 15 amp breaker when starting a motor, say if you ever plug a power tool in on the circuit, or have a large pump starting.

Some vacuum cleaners have motors that draw in the 12 amp range...