Breaker, Breaker pig pen

[scotchy]

Hey everybody. I want top run a dedicated circuit for my tank and was wondering what size breaker I should go with. There will be 2 pumps (a mag 9.5 and equivalent) 2 powerheads (penguin 660) 2 heaters (total 350 watts) 250 watt MH (electronic ballast) vho actinics (probably wh7 ballast) and sea clown skimmer (will upgrade that soon probably super skimmer). Is a 15 amp breaker gonna do the trick? I have most of this stuff running right now on a 15 amp circuit in my living room except for the halides.


Scott

[Nemo]

Legally you can not run an outlet on anything but a 15 Amp breaker, if you read what is on the plug they are only rated for 15A

If I were you and this is what I did, I pulled in 2 15A circuits and had them on GFIC's. Use one set for the pumps and skimmer and the second set for the lights and power heads

JMO


Robert

[Invigor]

why would it be illegal to run anything BUT 15 amp breakers?

we have a few 20amper :D

[Nemo]

Like I said read the plug end it will have the specs right on the back, they are rated for 15A if you put a 20A breaker on the line you have 2 problems

1. you have the potential to pull 20A through a plug rated at 15A and over time this can pose a fire hazard.

2. the wire in houses is 14 gauge which is rated for 15A. Put 20 Amps through that and you are over heating the wire and once again a fire hazard.

Have you ever plugged in a vacume and had the breaker trip because something else was running. put a 20A breaker and you would probable stop that but will cause everything to overheat and eventualy something has to give over time


Robert

[BMW Rider]

Yes you can use a 20A breaker for a plug, you just have to use an outlet that is also rated for 20A. I have several 20A outlets in my garage workshop and I have a 20A circuit powering multiple outlets for my reef tank. You need to use 12 ga wire for a 20A plug not the 14 ga that is used for a 15A, so you will not be able to just upgrade an existing circuit by swapping the plug and breaker. If you are planning to run a new circuit, then 20A is the way to go.

[Invigor]

ah, so it's not illegal, it just needs to be done correctly.

250 watt MH (electronic ballast) vho actinics (probably wh7 ballast)
Scott

boo! hope it's not an icecap electronic MH ballast and VHO's are old technology! talk to Jayson and get yourself some T5 actinics, you'll be glad you did!

[Nemo]

There is no plug that a standard house hol appliance will plug into that is rated for 20 A that I am aware of. I think you may want to take a look at the ratings.

[scotchy]

hope it's not an icecap electronic MH ballast and VHO's are old technology!

No it's not icecap, I believe it's a coralvue, one of those setups he had on sale a while ago. As for the T5's what type of ballast does one need to run them? I only want the actinics for morning-evening, cause I have a 14k bulb, but with the tank being 24" tall I figured normal output wouldn't be bright enough.


Scott

[SuperFudge]

boo! hope it's not an icecap electronic MH ballast and VHO's are old technology! talk to Jayson and get yourself some T5 actinics, you'll be glad you did!

Whats Wrong with Icecap E Ballasts ?

[BMW Rider]

There is no plug that a standard house hol appliance will plug into that is rated for 20 A that I am aware of. I think you may want to take a look at the ratings.

The 20A plugs come in several configurations including the standard duplex style. They are more expensive than the 15A rated plugs, probably because they are better built and less commonly used. You can even get a GFCI in 20A. All the ones I am using are normal looking plugs.

Here are just a few examples.

http://www.levitonhelpdesk.com/catalog/productimages/device5822.jpg

http://www.levitonhelpdesk.com/catalog/productimages/device16342.jpg

http://www.levitonhelpdesk.com/catalog/productimages/deviceACGF2.jpg

[Invigor]

Whats Wrong with Icecap E Ballasts ?

I guess it depends what you're looking for, economy or performance. Icecap lives on the economic side of the fence.

[SuperFudge]

I guess it depends what you're looking for, economy or performance. Icecap lives on the economic side of the fence.


Oh, I see.
Except, that was the whole idea behind T-5 lighting...certainly cant be for the performance.

[Invigor]

T5s were designed to compete with VHOs. I think with comparable output versus half the input, T5s perform quite well.

[SuperFudge]

T5s were designed to compete with VHOs. I think with comparable output versus half the input, T5s perform quite well.

They are not a comparable output.

Thats the problem, you would have to give me, at say, 28w per 4' t-5 tube.... 4 tubes to equall 1 VHO 4'.... this just tells me you have 4x the bulb replacement.

Now multiply wattages needed to power those four, and cut an VHO ballasts power consumption by a 1/4 to run one bulb, for a true power consumption comparison....then, i dont think its such a big factor anymore.

Those reasons seem to make T-5`s not so cost effective and efficient anymore.

Really, from what ive seen of t-5`s, they definatly have their place....but it seems to have to be very close to whatever your trying to grow. :wink:

[Invigor]

I was meaning high output T5s, which are 54w for a 48" tube, 39w for a 36" tube, etc. Get a parabolic aluminum reflector (up to 300% more light redirected, like this: http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/product_info.php?products_id=963 ) for the bulb and BANG.

Now if you're comparing normal output T5s to VHOs, you're correct, there -is- no comparison.

(sorry for hijacking the thread)

[scotchy]

Ha. So much for happy endings. Went to my breaker box today to start with the wiring and the bloody thing is full. (About 6 breakers weren't labeled so I assumed they were empty) I love it when a plan comes together. So now to find what has the least draw on it and use that I guess. I hate flippin breakers to find out what does what, I had to do that in my old house because it had no label on it.

Scott

[BMW Rider]

Your other option, which involves a little more work, is to add a sub panel. Basically you will need to remove some of the breakers and replace them with a larger one which will feed the sub panel. Then run a heavy guage wire from that breaker to the new panel. Next, place the removed breakers into the new sub panel (you'll have to move the wires over too) as well as the new ones you want to add. It is exactly like you would do if you were running power to an outbuilding except you are just puttting it beside the main panel.

[dacyn46]

hello i live in chilliwack too, it's been three months and a half since we started with our tank, well almost four,, we have 50 pounds of live rock, three damsels, one maroon clown, a coral beauty, a cleaner shirmp , brittle star and 15 snails and about 15 crabs,, we have been through cyanobacteria, diatoma bloom and now we are plagued with brown and green algae,, we have done everything, everythinh we have been told,, we clean the fishtank and ten minutes after the gravel is just so brown,, we have a fluval 404, a protein skimmer, a power head 802 and lately we bought seal 620,,,, we are so frustrated and desesperated :rolleyes: ,, we dont know what to do,,, maybe you can give us a good advice,,or maybe you can give us a call ,,, thanks a lot .... dave

(604) 7926421 plsssss :cry:

[SuperFudge]

Dave,

start a thread, with all the questions you have and title it accordingly...it may not get seen in here, its a different topic.