Are power outlet modifications necessary for saltwater tank setups?

[Littorina]

Hi there!

      Do you usually have to modify/upgrade existing power outlets when setting up a saltwater system?  The system I'd like to set up would be as basic as I could - all in one 20 or 30 gallon nano tank- so I'd have a skimmer cord, a heater cord, LED light cord, power head cord.....

Just wondering if a standard wall outlet is strong enough for all of this?  Read on one forum that it's preferable to change your outlet to the kind found around a kitchen sink (automatic shut off), in case of water drips down your power cords.....

Thoughts? 

[Mike L]

 Doesn't sound to me like you will be drawing more then 150 watts. A standard circuit is rated 15amps and codes requires no more then 6 outlet per circuit. I would think that the existing one is sufficient. If you blow the circuit then you might have to see what else is on and if possible move some thing to different circuits. As for the water drips. Get a power bar mount it so that when all the items are plugged in there is a drip loop on all cords. If water does travel down the cord it will drip off at the lowest point and not creep to the plug. I will send you a PM as well. Mike

[Littorina]

Thank you 

[lucius]

A little while back, I bought this energy monitor on sale.  I was curious to see what my 90 gallon was pulling.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/hampton-energy-monitor-0529208p.html#.UxZjNLCYaUk

With a canister filter, AC500, 250W heater and four 54W T5 bulbs, it was reading 311W and 3.26Amps with no problems on one plug.

Where as my computer (750w) and printer (445w) being on at the same time will cause my desk lamp to flicker.

[Canoe]

Do have your layout of cords, etc., take in consideration the advice given above.

A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) is a very good idea to have (like current code requires within range of a kitchen sink). It triggers off if it detects an imbalance between the current going out vs. the current returning.

No need to change the receptacle to a GFCI receptacle (but you can if you want to), as a plug-in GFCI is available. Some plugin directly, others plug in through a cord. No electrician necessary.

Some like having a Ground Probe in the tank, plugging into the GFCI supplied power. That way, should a device have a fault and energize the tank, current will flow down the ground probe and trigger the GFCI off. The idea is it takes that path instead of through you.

A perfect setup has a separate GFCI for each device that is plugged in.
http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=55610.msg313660#msg313660
But that can get expensive.

[Littorina]

I have another question related to electrical power and tank equipment.............

      I presume most of you have your equipment plugged into some sort of surge-protector power bar, correct?  Are there some that are better than others? 

Thanks!

[Greatwhite]

I bought a power bar from Tiger Direct with each plug switched.  This is very handy when you want to shut down the skimmer for cleaning, but leave on the powerheads and lights.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7869994&CatId=232

Something else to consider is a battery backup like you'd plug a computer into.  Power outages are a pain in the butt.  Probably not as bad with an all-in-one system like you're building, but when my power goes out, I get "excess water" in my sump.  When the power comes back on, my skimmer goes loopy because the water level is too high.

I have my return pump and powerheads in the tank plugged into my computer's UPS so when power goes out, I'm still circulating some water.  You could plug your powerheads and heater in.  My backup lasts about an hour (I think? I've never tested it because of the annoying beeping).  Since my return pump and powerheads are DC powered now, I'm sure I could last a while on the battery.

[Littorina]

Oh yes, I was told to purchase a battery back up; that I would do for sure! Thanks for the reminder Great White.     Power outages are what would worry me the most!!

I saw a really cool Belkin 8 outlet power bar, with pivoting outlet heads, but reviews about it said the on/off button eventually broke.....

I'll check out your powerbar suggestion, thanks!