Wiring Mains Power For Your Tank...

[hoarp001]

Hi, I have just finished making a complicated wiring system for my tank. I have two external filters, two airpumps a heater and the light all plugged in. Because the airpumps hum, I have made a separate circuit whereby I can turn the airpumps off at night by flicking a switch (dont worry, the filters break the surface enough to airate the water).

The light is on a pull apart socket so It can be removed and also has a switch to turn it on and off. The plugs for all the various filters and pumps go through holes into one part of the cabinet where they are all plugged in.

Does everyone do this? or is it usual to have a big wirey mess in the cabinet?

 

[SkiFletch]

An electrician would hate me 8)

 

[hoarp001]

Is that lamp a worklamp?

I reckon I could give you a run for your money:

The fluval boxes stuck the the walls are holding the air pumps. I found that lining the boxes with felt and stapeling them to the inside walls of the cabinet reduced noise.

 

[Lateral Line]

Airpumps/stones do not aerate the water directly, rather they agitate the surface enabling gas exchange. Unless you have specific requirements, they are not necessary if the filters are moving the surface.

Remember with electrics and water, they don't mix well. Always be careful to keep them apart. Remeber also that water tends to run down surfaces rather then drip, so always have a drip loop in your cables such that if wter from an unexpected source runs down your wire, it will drip off the lowest point before running up to your sockets.

 

[hoarp001]

The surface of the water is constantly rippling from the filter so thats ok. I put the airstones in because it looks nice and interesting.

I konw about water and electricity, ive worked it all out. Its also got a circuit breaker incase anything shorts.

 

[Tolak]

The best thing you can do is install a ground fault outlet or breaker. Not only will these trip if there is a short, they detect any fault between the power going in, the power going to neuteral, and the ground. This could save you from a nasty shock.

My fishroom is an electrician's nightmare, 3 duplex outlets, somewhere around 8 power strips, and all the associated filters, heaters, powerheads, air pumps, & lights that go with 12 tanks. I'm real tempted to pull the whole thing apart, run a dozen outlets, central air system, & drill overflows in the tanks. That may be a winter project.

I'll try to post some floor pics, I'm due for taking & posting some fish pics anyway.

 

[Lateral Line]

I have to admit to being a bit wary of those Earth leakage breakers.

A place I had before this one used to trip whenever there was any lightning around. I am guessing, the house wiring loom was somehow picking up enough rf from the lightning discharge to create small currents, exactly as an aerial/antenna would work. These seemed to be enough to trip the breaker. If that happened when I was away, that could have been a disaster.

Just an observation from experience, they may be better now.

 

[hoarp001]

Mines got a £30,000 connected equipment warranty, so I can claim for any deaths

 

[rfisher]

Mines got a £30,000 connected equipment warranty, so I can claim for any deaths

Hi,

Does that cover aquarium equipment though?

Rich

 

[hoarp001]

its connected equipment isnt it?

 

[Lateral Line]

A lot of people think they are "covered" for all manner of things. The truth is more often the company doing the insuring makes sure they are liable for as little as possible, bad for profits you see. I should read the small print very carefully, and if you are not familiar with legal terminology, even reading it carefully might not be good enough.

A true story. On another board I use, (holidays), a party of six had booked a villa in Greece. Three weeks before they were leaving, one had to drop out. As it was late, she lost 80% of her costs. The others, then were dumped a £300 "under occupancy surcharge" as there were only 5 now and the property was rated for 6. They countered that they had paid 80% of the sixth place therefore at most should only pay 20% of the under occupancy charge. No no, the travel firm say, read the small print - they did, there was nothing they could do.