Need some wiring help.....

[Frank]

Ok getting ready to do the wiring along the back wall in the tank. Here is a drawing of how I planed lay out of the plugs. I have done all kind of wiring on every thing else but home . I just want to make sure I get it right so I any one can tell me how this looks plus what else I might have to do...That would be great. Thanks

[Geoff]

What size tank is this going to be for? That is 32 sockets wow!!! That is a lot of GFCI's, why. I only have 2 in my setup, one at the beginning of the circuit and one at the end to help test without tripping the entire circuit. Are all of these plugs going to be on one drop from the circuit breaker? I think that may easily overload a 20A circuit. I think my 400W MH pull 3A on their own. I think you should find out the amp rating for all of your equipment first. You may need to run another drop to the tank. I have two for my 125, just in case. with 2 400w mh and 320w of VHO I am already pushing 12amps.

I am also switching some of my outlets to X10. I am going to use the single controll outlets and then put ampliance modules on the constant on outlet for greater control of equipment.

How are you going to control the MH, timers? just wondering why you would have any normal outlets if you have so many X10 boxes.

Ramble, Ramble, Ramble

G~

[Jimbo]

I'd like to check out your setup, I'm going to seattle on sunday, but am available tuesday-friday. I've done alot of research into x-10 systems and actually had a controller on my old tank several years back, used it to turn power heads on off . A Pet project of mine is a PIC/microntroller based unit that would use relays to turn things on/off. I built a 555 timer device with a solid state relay to run my power heads now. Are you going to have a computer connected, if so what software are you going to use? This sort of setup is awesome with correct probes and interfacing you can collect all kinds of data all day.

~Jimbo

[Frank]

This is for my new 150, I have so many GFCI's cause I work Leviton and I can sample any thing that is also why I have so many X-10. I want to use them to turn off the MH and the fans and other things. I ran a few extra GFCI's and X-10. I will be running to power feeds in one at 20 amp and 1 at 15 amp. I hope to get the aqua controller.
Jimbo,
Anytime you want to come out is fine just let me know. Right now I'm just going to use aqua controller for the light and thing.

[Xwild]

Geoff's right. That does sound like a lot of outlets for one 20A breaker. Also, you only need 1 GFCI, at the very beginning of the run (or a GFCI breaker *more expensive) to protect the entire run. Geoff's idea of one on its own at the end probably is a good idea as a way of testing stuff, but I would probably put that one on a totally different drop just to play it even safer, and just run an extension cord over to the tank when I wanted to use it to test tank equipment.

Ted

[ctel]

if anyone is interested you might want to check with a local alarm company to get them or i could help. Im in the security business and i used an ADEMCO Vista 20p alarm panel for my setup it has x-10 control and relays, and somthing like 64 event timer to turn on relays and the such. The why i set mine up if you have a problem it calls my pager with a alarm report, like power out, pump out or stuff like over heating. You can also hook other things into the alarm zones for low or high water but i havent found anything yet for ph and the such with relay contacts. I do know you can get a x-10 control that hooks up to a computer rs232 port also, there only about $50 and i think the control software is free. Sorry for the long post but i hope it helps a little

Corey

[Piero]

I'm no electrician. But maybe it's overkill?

[steveweast]

Frank, have you made a list of all the proposed equipment and their power draws? It seems that you're real close to being under powered. Just the lights ( I assume 3- 400watts plus maybe 4 VHO's) would come close to pegging that 20 amp line. That leaves the 15 amps for the pumps ( maybe 5 amps), the chiller (maybe 8 amps), plus the small misc. stuff like the reactor, fans,etc. Can you get more power over there..???

[Frank]

This is what I'm going to be using. I'm going with 2, 20amp lines.
On the X-10 side I will be running 2,400 MH and fans and light for the sump. On the other side I will be running Ice cap 660 and dimmer. Iwakia 40 xrlt and 2,gen 2100 GPH, Heater, CA reactor pump, 2 sea swirl. The chillier will come later this summer. Im not sure what else you would run on X-10.

[Frank]

Well, here is were I'am at so far. I ran to 20 amp lines in this should be enough.....

[Piero]

you're gonna be set.