Apex 2016 Energy Bar Extension Cord Question

[Dan I]

Hey everyone, I am in the process of building a new tank and am running into an issue. So, currently I am renting a house for the next couple of years and am placing my tank in the garage. I am getting an Apex 2016 with two energy bars to fit my needs for the tank. Issue is, I have one outlet by the area where I am placing the tank. The other outlet is by the garage door opener in the top middle. What I have in mind is connecting one energy bar to the outlet near the tank and the other one connected to the middle outlet with an extension cord. From what I am reading, I would need a 10 gauge extension cord or of that sort? For some idea of what I am running there is a list below this paragraph. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Tank Equipment

First Energy Bar

• Deltec 1000IX Skimmer
• 2 200W Heaters
• Jebao DCP 10,000 Return
• 2 Jebao Wavemakers or 2 MP40QD (undecided)
• Algae Turf Scrubber

Second Energy Bar

• 48" Photon V2
• 48" ATI Hybrid
• Chiller
• ATS Lights
• Other add ons if needed

 

[SuncrestReef]

It's going to depend on the extension cord length. The EB832 is rated for 15 amps. If the cord is 50 feet long, 14 gauge would work. If it's 100 feet, then 12 gauge is needed. 150 feet would require 10 gauge.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm no electrician, but the wiring inside your walls that runs for many hundreds of feet is 12 gauge on 110 volt 20 amp circuits and 14 gauge on 15 amp circuits. Hard to see why you'd need 10 gauge wire under any circumstances. I've used DiY extension cords on my EB8s using good quality connectors and 12 gauge wire. All are quite short though - 12 feet is the longest.

 

[nagreen8]

Under constant load wires get hot and run a risk of fire even when rated for the proper amperage. Wires that run 100% of the time should only have an 80% load

 

[Dan I]

It's going to depend on the extension cord length. The EB832 is rated for 15 amps. If the cord is 50 feet long, 14 gauge would work. If it's 100 feet, then 12 gauge is needed. 150 feet would require 10 gauge.

I'm no electrician, but the wiring inside your walls that runs for many hundreds of feet is 12 gauge on 110 volt 20 amp circuits and 14 gauge on 15 amp circuits. Hard to see why you'd need 10 gauge wire under any circumstances. I've used DiY extension cords on my EB8s using good quality connectors and 12 gauge wire. All are quite short though - 12 feet is the longest.

Okay, so between these two which would fit my needs better.

Option A

Option B

 

[chris k.]

I would put the bigger load on the wall and the lighter load on the extension cord.

 

[SuncrestReef]

Okay, so between these two which would fit my needs better.

Option A

Option B

Option B (14 gauge) will be fine. The other one is way overkill for such a short length.