Electrical Question

I am not sure where to post this so if I am in the wrong place sorry -

I have to run electric to where I am going to house my sump, and pumps etc. Being the set up is a little elaborate and most likely will add a chiller at some time - should I run a 20amp line & fuse or is a 15amp okay? It will have a dedicated line to the fuse box that is just for the tank.

The lights will be on a different line as there is already electric where the tank is.

One more thing - I definitely want to use a GFI at the main plug right?

Mike

 

I'd reccomend running the 20a. You may not need it but I'll tell you this..it'll be a lot easier and cheaper in the long run if you just run the 20a now rather than run the 15a now then find out it isn't enough and have to tear it out to run a 20a service. And yes defiantly run a gfci.

 

Thanks - yeah I was leading to that, off to home depot. My 2nd favorite store!

 

No need for a GFI behind the tank though right? Just the lights and wavemakers up there? I was going to use a strip mounted on the wall and use drip lines or should I just switch that out while I have the tank empty? Okay I can answer my own questions. Lot easier to do it now.

 

If you have the knowledge to install a GFCI outlet then I would reccomend doing it anywhere water could come into contact with electricity. Make sure its GFCI and not GFI.

 

Thanks - I will make sure, and I agree it is best to do it right the first time.

 

Agreed with the GFCI - especially around salt water. I have a plug in the ceiling for justmy lights, and it is no where near the water, and I even made that a GFCI. Better safe than sorry

 

Good luck with everything.

 

So I am running a 20A line.

It will come into an GFCI outlet - then a plug - then a switch and 3 more sets of plugs. This way I can have my heaters / light always on and can flip the stitch to turn off pumps for maintenance,

the entire system will be on its own line - so if I get any power outs I can hook to the generator easily.

 

Oh yeah - I switched out the outlet by the tank for the lights to a GFCI as well.