Paddy's Ocean - 70 Gallon Mixed Reef **Phoenix Rebuild**

[paddyob]

The next phase of the build has started. dedicated circuit and electrical panel / custom stand.

I have need to run a dedicated circuit for my tank. Old house with mixed up circuits. In order to work in the kitchen I must shut my tank down too. not ok.

I plan to have switches in place to isolate pumps or shut down for maintenance or feeding.

Anyone have a good source for plans or diagrams?


Involved as well will be a new custom stand.

[mike31154]

Run two circuits if you are able. Redundancy in case one circuit breaker or GFCI trips. That way you can split your loads & only lose half in the event of a mishap.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by mike31154

Run two circuits if you are able. Redundancy in case one circuit breaker or GFCI trips. That way you can split your loads & only lose half in the event of a mishap.

Good plan. I'll run lights and power heads on one and return pumps and heater and skimmer on other. Ensures circulation in case one circuit pops.

Thoughts on that?

I have about 10 devices to plug in. And planning 4 extra openings.

[sphelps]

You can run multiple independent GFCIs or combination of unprotected and protected on a single circuit so unless your load is high you won't gain much with two circuits. The redundancy gained with two circuits is really only related to the actual breaker tripping which is highly unlikely and unless you have two return pumps with one on each circuit you haven't gained any additional protection anyway. You can also run 20amp instead of 15amp.

Also keep in mind anytime you modify a component related your household electrical you're technically suppose to bring that area up to code, this can be an issue with older homes.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Also keep in mind anytime you modify a component related your household electrical you're technically suppose to bring that area up to code, this can be an issue with older homes.

Please explain. I would assume by installing new wiring and breakers that it would be up to code?

I bought the Alberta electrical codes book, but I don't get it ha ha.

I have a friend who is an industrial electrician. I am hoping to gain some help form him too..

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Please explain. I would assume by installing new wiring and breakers that it would be up to code?

I bought the Alberta electrical codes book, but I don't get it ha ha.

I have a friend who is an industrial electrician. I am hoping to gain some help form him too..

Should be OK if you're installing a completely new circuit in a new area but for example if you were say upgrading a circuit in your kitchen then technically I believe you're suppose to bring up all kitchen electrical to current code. The code now is very different from when your house was built. Safest bet would be to run external conduit right to the fish tank so the new circuit could only be affiliated with the tank itself.

Of course it doesn't necessarily mean much, I doubt you're pulling permit so you don't have to worry about an inspection, it's more if you do some other renos down the road that you do pull permits which anything you do now could come up later.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by paddyob

I plan to have switches in place to isolate pumps or shut down for maintenance or feeding.

I'd suggest just running 2 x 15A to the tank and plugging a rack-mount dj switch thingy into each. beats messing with a wall of outlets.

I'd certainly run more than 1 circuit. I tripped mine already so I had the luxury of shuffling things around.

[mike31154]

I assume you already have at least one 15 A circuit near your tank now to run things? For safety if not already done, you should be able to have a GFCI receptacle installed in place of the standard receptacle for starters. Then you can think about running a second circuit for redundancy, or even check some of the other receptacles that may be in the same room/area. If you're lucky & they are close enough and on another breaker, then you don't need to do much at all, except maybe install another GFCI. After that, as lastlight suggests, some good quality, heavy duty power bars or dj thingys. If you don't mind opening up the drywall a bit, you could even install a double box in place of a single box and have four receptacles where there were only two before. Could be a code issue though as sphelps suggests. Sometimes what you find when you start opening boxes is not pretty, particularly in older homes.



Some scary stuff I found in the basement hallway. Found some more in my bathroom for the light above the sink last week. Some days I wonder how my place hasn't burned down yet. I've got most of the electrical replaced except some of the circuits running through exterior walls.

[paddyob]

My basement has a false ceiling. I have to run new lines but will be the easiest part.

The current plug is in the living room but when it was done in the 70s they wired it to the kitchen circuit.

Not sure what you are asking about with being near the tank... Unless you mean the plug in?

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Not sure what you are asking about with being near the tank... Unless you mean the plug in?

There must be more than one plug in receptacle in the living room other than the one you're using now? How far away from the tank? If too far, then no good since you don't want a long extension cord running along the floor.

Might actually be a good thing that the current one is wired to the kitchen circuit though, because chances are, some of the other plug ins in your living room are on a separate circuit. If so and they're not already loaded up to the allowable power limit, you could run another branch from one of those to a new plug near the tank and have the redundancy of two circuits without having to run a whole new line including circuit breaker.

Probably a good idea to have your electrician buddy to have a look see before you get too far into anything.