Are You Really Loaded?

[dan2x38]

Decided to check into a few things after a recent discussion involving electricity usage. I was surprised somewhat to learn just how much power I am using.

First thing I wanted to know is the maximum amount of safe power consumption on a standard household circuit of 15 amps. It is 1440 watts - yes I also read 1800 but that is is a high end. The number of outlets is calculated by square footage of the room/s but I remember in my dry walling days a rough figure was an outlet every 8' around the room or six loads (outlets and/or lights) on one 15 amp breaker. For A/C and other heavy duty appliances a dedicated outlet is recommended.

OK so now I just have one aquarium a marine 75 gallon with a 30 gallon sump. It runs a 6 bulb x 54w T5HO Tek Light, incandescent fixture running 2 x PC 25w grow bulbs for fuge, DAS EX1 Skimmer, Air Pump & 100w heater for water bin, 300w heater for sump, Quiet One 1200 skimmer return pump, 185 Eco Pump for GFO reactor, MJ 900 for fuge circulation, RIO 2600 return pump, 2 x 1400 Hydor Evolution PH and 2 x 1040 Hydor Evolution PHs. Combined this adds up to almost 1400 watts. Also in the living room is several lamps, large flat panel TV, Blu-Ray player, Home Theater system, Laptop, 3 speed 5 blade ceiling fan and a 10,000 BTU A/C unit. This is all on just 3 outlets plus ceiling lamp connection for fan. I use quality Balkin power bars and NO extension cords ever. I just threw out 2 power bars that had some slight damage when setting stuff back up at this new place so I do not mess around with damaged electrical goods.

Now there are other outlets on this circuit I am sure. Which ones I have no idea but there must be more power consumption on this breaker. Bottom line my aquarium is a big load on this circuit plus with all the electronics we own we must be maxed or more for power consumption. I use to have a fish room with 16 tanks and not on a dedicated box either. I used the long expensive 10' power bars built for heavy loads but was maxed out I am sure.

So how many of you are over loaded? You can check power consumption of any load component just check online for the rating of the product that is how I determined my marine tank setup total wattage. You might just be surprised at what you find out! Remember one 15 amp circuit might include several small rooms. Older buildings have more loads per circuit usually and less outlets per room. Plus older places usually have old wiring with no grounds.

Bottom line just how safe is your circuit loads? Wish I could dedicate a pony box to just my aquarium.At the very least always wanted to add another breaker for just my display tank but since I rent have never had that chance.

[Saltcreep]

O.K., I'll start.

I have never been, am not now, and will never be, overloaded. I won't allow it, it's just too dangerous. And, I respect the limitations put on us by organizations like the ESA. Those limitations are there for a reason, and are drafted by persons with much more knowledge in the field than I have. In fact, I would say I'm over-wired and under-loaded. My home is about 2000 sf with a semi-finished basement containing my cave, workshop (heavily wired), and fishroom. The distribution panel has space for 40 circuits and 38 are in use. Our cottage is similarly wired with a 200A service and 40 space panel. No overloading there either.

[Hookup]

I also am not overloaded.  I've added 5 circuits into my place in the past 2 years for that exact reason.  There was a 1month period where one circuit was overloaded but I fixed that about a 2 weeks ago.  First time ever i was fixing and not preventing, but no one's perfect i guess.

My box is pretty full... and I do most of my own wiring myself.  My father was an industrial electrician and i have been around house-hold wiring a lot with his supervision.  I'd say that I'm at code, but to be honest I have not been trained on what is code so I cannot be sure... I do know quite a few things about what is and is not code for house-hold electrical wiring...

And as a side note, before I moved into this place I saw a few "DIY" wiring jobs in the house so I had the seller give me an assessment from a qualified electrician as they had not gotten a building permit.

I take electricity pretty seriously.  It scares me enough to have a healthy respect for it, but I'm not afraid of it.

[JetJumper]

You overload the circuit the breaker trips   Shuffle some stuff around and good to go!

[ryancarman.com]

I'll chip in here

A 15 amp circuit can have 12 devices on it with the exception of things like fridges that have to be dedicated, and a breaker is designed to handle 75% of it's rating as a constant load

In rough terms 125 watts equals one amp so therefore a 15 amp circuit can handle ~1400w constant load and a peak of ~1875 if you run a constant load of say 1600w the breaker will heat up and eventually trip

[slurik]

Up to code?! HAH! My landlord doesnt even know what GFCI's are. Needless to say, I dont have them. Good Grief :S

[dan2x38]

Up to code?! HAH! My landlord doesnt even know what GFCI's are. Needless to say, I dont have them. Good Grief :S

Guess your saying your Loaded then? Well it is Saturday... hope you at least have some quality power bars in service?

[beertech]

I did all my own electrical work for the basement reno, which includes bedrooms, rec room and my fish room. I ran 2 dedicated GFCI circuits for the fish room, and 2 seperate Arc fault interuption circuits for the rest of the basement ( required for bedrooms). I had all the work inspected by the ESA. It's well worth the $150 fee, especially cuz I saved a bundle by doing the work myself.  The inspector gave me some good advice and tips, great for peace of mind, and also insurance coverage! 

[dan2x38]

We were looking for the ESA coming into our place for an inspection I think they said it is now $250. Either way agree it would be comforting knowing everything is OK.

My circuits I have no control over. They are maxed but all my equipment is not on at the same time several things are on timers but others run 24/7. This hobby requires more dedicated hydro then anything else I've ever done. I use build race cars with my brother and we each had a home shop in our garages. Years ago my brother had a custom bike (murdercycles) shop too. I was lucky already had a dedicated box for the shop plus he was a welder/engineer he was able to do anything I/he needed. But he is back in New Brunswick and now I rent. Either way building cars or bikes (included painting booth) didn't require as much hydro as this hobby especially for a hi-end marine tank or hi-tech planted system - then throw in a fish room your drawing a whack of current.

[ryancarman.com]

ESA inspections fees increase with your device count...

see page 10 of this pdf http://www.esasafe.com/pdf/2010_Fee_Schedule.pdf

We were looking for the ESA coming into our place for an inspection I think they said it is now $250. Either way agree it would be comforting knowing everything is OK.

My circuits I have no control over. They are maxed but all my equipment is not on at the same time several things are on timers but others run 24/7. This hobby requires more dedicated hydro then anything else I've ever done. I use build race cars with my brother and we each had a home shop in our garages. Years ago my brother had a custom bike (murdercycles) shop too. I was lucky already had a dedicated box for the shop plus he was a welder/engineer he was able to do anything I/he needed. But he is back in New Brunswick and now I rent. Either way building cars or bikes (included painting booth) didn't require as much hydro as this hobby especially for a hi-end marine tank or hi-tech planted system - then throw in a fish room your drawing a whack of current.

[Saltcreep]

.........  I'd say that I'm at code, but to be honest I have not been trained on what is code so I cannot be sure... I do know quite a few things about what is and is not code for house-hold electrical wiring............

If you do your own wiring and want it to be to code, the best $20 you could ever spend would be on this publication. It covers everything from pole requirements, to main service, to number of plugs you'll need, and where. Explains how to wire three-way and four-way switches, and a whole lot more. Very comprehensive and written in plain english for plain folks. I don't think HD carries it anymore, but I got this copy at Lowe's.

[Hookup]

thanks saltcreep.. looks like a good $20 for sure. 

[Saltcreep]

I know electricians that carry this book in their bag for a quick reference.

[ryancarman.com]

If you do your own wiring and want it to be to code, the best $20 you could ever spend would be on this publication. It covers everything from pole requirements, to main service, to number of plugs you'll need, and where. Explains how to wire three-way and four-way switches, and a whole lot more. Very comprehensive and written in plain english for plain folks. I don't think HD carries it anymore, but I got this copy at Lowe's.

i'm re wiring my house right now and i'll +1 that

my first inspection ended with "you've done a good job i'm impressed"

[Nerine]

good to hear ryancarman!

not over loaded here! whew! we're really careful! everything has it's own circuit, which makes things really easy, instead of shutting down the whole house when changing something, just flick a switch in the panel. helps with saving power, turn off rooms/outdoors when not needed. saves a few $$'s

when we re-wired and bulbs changed we went from spending almost 500 a month to 200, we even had a bill that was 198 but the re-wiring helped as things were divided and turned off from the box during the day

[Hookup]

If/when I build my own place, I'll have a big hand and say in the wiring, and plumbing for that matter.. but with wiring, I want each room on two breakers. one for all the plugs and one for the lights.  It's a lot of overkill on the panel, but in the end it means if something trips a circuit I can still have light! 

I'll also have a main GFI as well as GFI's on EACH of the respective plugs, not just one in-line with all the bathrooms like they build em today... (lame lame lame)...

There are so many corners cut on building today because of CODE, or more specifically, building to code minimums, that it is sickening.   For a net cost of a few thousand more, 3-5% max of your average house, you'd have a far superior house... lowered costs of gas/hrydro etc... would quickly pay-off, and the house would have a smaller carbon footprint to boot...

don't even get me started on architectural issues with houses... maintaining all that extra wasted space.

[dan2x38]

Well there are house panels with 40 slots just need enough power in on your drop.

That is a great idea of the lights on separate breakers. Hate if you trip a breaker having to find the flash light then fumble around in the dark.

I'd love to be able to have or had say in the wiring anywhere I live. I've approached landlords suggesting a new breaker and told them I'd pay for it but they said no. Not had my own place for many years - since getting divorced. I lived in Vars had a huge garage with it's own panel. Before we rewired and added more breakers I left but I wanted breakers for each room none shared no matter how small the other room was.

An rarely does any contractor build anything above code. I think homes should be rated by code compliance levels like B, A, A+, A++, etc.

As for plumbing that is a joke. Our entire drains are linked together. Sinks, washers drain into toilet drains. If grease, lint, etc. build up it can plug the main drain then the toilet drain is clogged and a volcano of sewage erupts. This has happened to us. There are set-ups with separate drains and I would insure this if I ever was involved again in our own place. Besides now in this hobby I'd have lots of new ideas for more plumbing... 

[JetJumper]

Besides now in this hobby I'd have lots of new ideas for more plumbing... 

I tried to put a protein skimmer on my main drain of my house, but... well.. lets just say it kept getting plugged   hahahaha