I'm thinking about putting up a 200g oceanic rr tank in a room, but the problem is electricity. How much work/money does it take to put in an extra 20 amp circuit? I would like an electrician to come out and give me a bit more POWER!!! Will need it for something of that size. TIA
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electricity
- Thread starter fichpoo
- Start date
Cost will most likely depend on access. If you have an attic or basement, it will help. If they have to dig a trench outside it will add to the labor and also potentially require you to get a permit.
Don't forget to check with your insurance company or policy first to make sure you use an electrician that satisfies your policy's requirements.
Don't forget to check with your insurance company or policy first to make sure you use an electrician that satisfies your policy's requirements.
Do you have any extra room on your breaker box?
If you do you can add a 20 amp circuit and
run it to your room. If you don't have any
more space at your breaker box you need to
call an electrician. If you have no idea
of what you are doing call an electrition or
get a household project book (readers digest)
they are handy to have around the house for
many different projects.
I doubt you will need a permit to add circuit
breaker but nowadays who knows.
If you do you can add a 20 amp circuit and
run it to your room. If you don't have any
more space at your breaker box you need to
call an electrician. If you have no idea
of what you are doing call an electrition or
get a household project book (readers digest)
they are handy to have around the house for
many different projects.
I doubt you will need a permit to add circuit
breaker but nowadays who knows.
Depends. Do you just want a breaker in? Most likely, you will need him to re-wire through the wall for you. This is where the word "depend" comes in. How far is it? How difficult to run the wires? Do you have attic? Do you have crawspace? Do you have "thick" insulation between the studs and thw drywall? All these plays factors on how much its going to cost you.
Call an electrician to do an estimate. Some companies offer free estimate - no travel charge.
Call an electrician to do an estimate. Some companies offer free estimate - no travel charge.
I'd leave it to the professionals. While you normally can stay within the law doing your own electrical work on your own house- it's critical you do it properly. I've seen some of the shabby patchwork people have done themselves, and you're just asking for problems. Wouldn't you rather have piece of mind knowing your house wasn't at risk of an electrical fire due to your own DIY outlet?
Another thing to check into is the building specs in your area. In Chicago- you have to use conduit for pretty much all your wiring. (Hardware stores must love that).
Find a qualified electrician and get it done right the first time.
JMO
Goph
Another thing to check into is the building specs in your area. In Chicago- you have to use conduit for pretty much all your wiring. (Hardware stores must love that).
Find a qualified electrician and get it done right the first time.
JMO
Goph
First off plan this thing properly.Gather up all the necessary info on how many amps your going to need,pumps,lighting,heaters,chiller,etc.This will dictate what size breaker you will need.Then call a licensed, reputable electrition explain to him what you are trying to accomplish and he should know the calculations to determine what size circuit is appropriate for your application,and if it is even feasible!I would highly recommend getting a licensed contractor!!1
Hey Austin TX
If you can drop down through the attic and out a wall behind the tank, great.
Do you have room for another breaker in your box? Do you have another smaller box in your garage? Make it a GFCI breaker dedicated to your tank.
This would not be difficult to do. The hardest part would be the heat this time of year.
If you haven't already, check out the new club that is starting up: http://www.ausreefkeepers.com/
Aquatek started a prop tank for members.
If you can drop down through the attic and out a wall behind the tank, great.
Do you have room for another breaker in your box? Do you have another smaller box in your garage? Make it a GFCI breaker dedicated to your tank.
This would not be difficult to do. The hardest part would be the heat this time of year.
If you haven't already, check out the new club that is starting up: http://www.ausreefkeepers.com/
Aquatek started a prop tank for members.
I am an IBEW Electrician....
There are so amny varibles you really need an electrician to come and look at your wiring. A 20 amp circuit requires #12 wire. You possibly have the #12 awg on the 15amp breaker already. Space for a 20amp..or a piggy back break could be used.
In fact, its possible you may not need another circuit. You may have two circuits in the room already. You may have two homeruns of wire from that room that he could dedicate for your reef.
I could go on. There are so many varibles that you will never get the real answer from a board like this. You need a person to look at what you have and tell you the options. You will need to be able to tell him what all you are going to use. MH and/or light wattages, pumps amperage, heaters, etc.. AND what else is in the room using electricity so he can calulate the needs of this room. It may be you have enough there even. Reef systems dont take as much electricity as you might think. Most will use less than 10 amps total.
If your going to have him wire up a new room, consider a 220v hookup for the MH which will cut the cost of the MH lamp usage in half. (Aprox...half of 2amps on 110v is just a savings of 1 amp) See...its not that much current we are speaking of.
There are so amny varibles you really need an electrician to come and look at your wiring. A 20 amp circuit requires #12 wire. You possibly have the #12 awg on the 15amp breaker already. Space for a 20amp..or a piggy back break could be used.
In fact, its possible you may not need another circuit. You may have two circuits in the room already. You may have two homeruns of wire from that room that he could dedicate for your reef.
I could go on. There are so many varibles that you will never get the real answer from a board like this. You need a person to look at what you have and tell you the options. You will need to be able to tell him what all you are going to use. MH and/or light wattages, pumps amperage, heaters, etc.. AND what else is in the room using electricity so he can calulate the needs of this room. It may be you have enough there even. Reef systems dont take as much electricity as you might think. Most will use less than 10 amps total.
If your going to have him wire up a new room, consider a 220v hookup for the MH which will cut the cost of the MH lamp usage in half. (Aprox...half of 2amps on 110v is just a savings of 1 amp) See...its not that much current we are speaking of.
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