Metal Halide/Chiller

Good evening, currently just set up/upgraded to my new 120 gallon aquarium. I am running 2 (250 watt) metal halide bulbs along with a 1/4 horse power chiller. When the chiller turns on sometimes the lights brighten up a tad as the chiller kicks in and then remain constant. It appears as if this happens every other time roughly. Curious if this is okay, am I going to burn something out. The room that my tank is in all outlets come off of the same circuit breaker, any additional information needed please just let me know. I believe I can handle approximately 15 amps and I believe I am right around 10 amps. Thoughts?

 

Do you have the chiller and the halides on the same circuit?

You are most likely noticing the increase after a short decrease in brightness. When the compressor starts on your chiller, it sucks a lot of juice. The circuit most likely cannot handle the initial load of the chiller and the halides.

 

That is what I was figuring and guess I need to figure out what my options are, have an electrician and try to upgrade circuit? There has to be a solution.

 

Honestly, you chance of damage to any of the equipment is minimal. You are more likely to cause the breaker to prematurely fail. This could take years though.

I have my tank split across two breakers. Both breakers go to a single outlet and that outlet is the only thing on the breakers. That gives me a full 40 Amps to use. I should have no problems of ever needing more juice.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I just don't want to damage any of the equipment, that is my biggest concern and not to burn the house down. Started getting everything bought for the new tank and upgraded and then started to wonder about all the power I was going to be using and how to run everything.

 

How old is the wiring in the house?

 

just about 5 yrs old, we bought the house new, and I mean townhouse.

 

Fantastic. You should have no problems then. You will not burn your house down. It would not be a horrible idea to have an electrician run an additional circuit for you. I would not be in a rush to do it though.

 

thanks so much for some input, it means a lot.

 

You might see if you can borrow a Kill A Watt meter from a fellow reefer and see what your power consumption is doing. I bought one for like $25 and they are a nice piece of equipment to have. I ended up splitting my needs over two circuits, an existing 15A and a new 20A dedicated strictly to the tank.
I also have 2x250w MH plus 2x140w VHO in a totally enclosed canopy and by using fans I have now disconnected and removed my 1/4HP chiller completely. The tank stays 79-81 year round with two 4" computer fans in the canopy and a single 7" Wal Mart clip on fan over the sump. Its been since April 2008 since the chiller last ran so just last week I pulled it out and put it up for sale.