Need house electrical-wiring help. Keep blowing cir breaker

[rikacarl]

If moving the tank wasn't hard enough, now I have found that this small old house is not going to handle the tank, TV, stereo and wall AC unit that are all in the family room. The circuit is on a 15 amp breaker and when we turn on the ac with the tank set up, it blows it of course. Moving the ac unit to another room is not possible, and I may use a chiller someday anyhow. So I need to install a new breaker and outlet box in the wall? I don't have much household electrical experience, but I am ready to take on any project. It looks like it may not be too hard since the garage and breaker box are right behind the wall that the tank is along. I could figure out the box and gfci, but the breaker box scares me. I guess I would have to have the pwr company shut me off while I do it? yikes! 8O

 

[tinyreef]

do not touch anything. call an electrican to double your breaker capacity that feeds the room. the electrican should be able to switch your single breaker with a double and run a new line to feed what you need.

you may need more power so get a professional's advice. some of the breakers they're making now are a real pain especially if your panel is older than ten years.

diy should be limited to hoods, refugium, and filters. don't try anything this serious unless you have training. i wouldn't want to read about you in some board as an urban legend to scare new reefers. ;-) good luck!

 

[danmhippo]

Ditto.

If you've never shocked yourself before, take my advice, don't try to do it yourself. Call a certified electrician and install new breaker for the fish tank's sole use. You should install at least 20amp breaker to be on the safe side. Also make sure the electrician use proper gauge wires for the 20amp breaker as well.

 

[rikacarl]

What should I expect as far as cost? I live in silicon valley, so I would bet any electrician is going to charge top dollar rates. Like I said, it looks pretty simple. The tank is located right on the other side of the wall from the breaker box. If I put in a dedicated outlet from a dedicated breaker switch it would not be more than 4 feet of wire to where the tank is at. I know I could at least pull back some drywall from the garage side and install the outlet box with a gfci exactly where I want it. Then should I leave it to the electrician to wire it up to the breaker box and install a 20 amp breaker switch?

 

[danmhippo]

I have my electrician put in 2 20amp breaker and 2 quad GFCI outlets, and run wires for 30 ft. It cost me under $150. However expensive it may be at Fremont area, you can always shop around and there must cheap rates out there. I don't know how comfortable you are with high voltage electricity, but I know I am not going to fooling around with it.

On the side note, I asked the electrician what it feels like touching bare live wires by accident. He said it's not that bad, and ask me if I want to try it. I kindly declined on his generous offer.

 

[goofyreefer]

Speaking as a electrican if your not sure as to what you are doing then do not attempt to do it. I live in the Chicago area and I would guess that if I were sent out to your house to put in 2 circuit breakers and 2 GFI's it would PROBABLY run $150 to $200. It's a small job from what I've read but it's a time killer. some companies/people wouldn't do it just because they could be doing another job which would make them more money. Talk to friends and see if any know any electricians who will do a small side job. If you lived here I'd do it for you. When you have it done though have two breakers dedicated to your tank and 2 GFI's with it. I don't know what the electrical code is in your area but DO NOT LET THEM USE ROMEX. Make sure the wiring is in metal thin wall conduit or flexible metal conduit (we call it BX)

I also just want to say do not decide to try to take the easy way out and switch your 15 amp breaker with a 20 amp breaker.

Good luck and let me know what happens