Electrical Cable Bulkhead/Gland Pass Through.

[Solo McReefer]

What is your best or favorite method for running pump electrical cables

Or level sensor cables through the side or top of a water container or tank

Do you use cable gland bulkheads?

Do you cut the plug end off to fish it through; if so, what's best method for connecting it back on, on the outside?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

All my pumps have a connector to the power brick that's only slightly bigger than the cable. So I just drill a hole and shove it though

 

[gbroadbridge]

What is your best or favorite method for running pump electrical cables

Or level sensor cables through the side or top of a water container or tank

Do you use cable gland bulkheads?

Do you cut the plug end off to fish it through; if so, what's best method for connecting it back on, on the outside?

Not sure I understand the question

If the container has an open top I'd just run the cable that way.

Making a hole and then attempting to seal it is very risky in a saltwater environment.
It's just another point of failure.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Not sure I understand the question

Example:

If I wanted you put an ATO pump inside a container such as this one attached

And then lay the container on its side

Example 2:
Or put a mixing pump in a water tank to make fresh saltwater, or a temperature probe, or a heater

How do experienced reefers run wires through plastic water tanks and containers? The best, safest way

 

[VintageReefer]

Through the opening you insert the pump into

 

[gbroadbridge]

How do experienced reefers run wires through plastic water tanks and containers? The best, safest way

We don't

 

[Solo McReefer]

Through the opening you insert the pump into

How do you put the lid on with the wire going through the hole?

That's how I have it now, and looks hillbilly

 

[VintageReefer]

Drill a hole in the lid


Are you working with regular two prong cords or cords that have a barrel connector that can detach?

 

[MoshJosh]

Example:

If I wanted you put an ATO pump inside a container such as this one attached

And then lay the container on its side

Example 2:
Or put a mixing pump in a water tank to make fresh saltwater, or a temperature probe, or a heater

How do experienced reefers run wires through plastic water tanks and containers? The best, safest way

I use one of these jugs for my ATO reservoir. I zip tied the cable to the tube so I can easily remove the pump without tube and cable getting snagged or tangled. I have extra jugs and just switch out the empty one with a full one when needed, instead of topping off the old one.

EDIT: I just leave the lid off the jug and the cord and tube go through that.

 

[VintageReefer]

With that picture you could cut a notch in the lid that fits just the wire and when the lid is screwed on it would look good. It wouldn’t be water tight but it would look ok

 

[Solo McReefer]

Drill a hole in the lid


Are you working with regular two prong cords or cords that have a barrel connector that can detach?

Say a regular pump with a standard plug

Or float switch to alarm with the container is getting empty

 

[KrisReef]

How do you put the lid on with the wire going through the hole?

That's how I have it now, and looks hillbilly

I’m offended by this comment, Hatfield!

 

[VintageReefer]

Measure diameter of lid opening and get one of these to replace the lid

 

[KrisReef]

Otherwise, I have a bulkhead in the side of a 5 gallon bucket that connects to 1/4 hose that gravity feeds to a float switch in the sump that opens up and allows water to flow in when evaporation lowers the water level in the sump.

And I have no idea why this GIF shows up when I search Hillbilly?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

How do experienced reefers run wires through plastic water tanks and containers? The best, safest way

I find this comment a bit comical because an experienced reefer wouldn't get hung up on how it looks rather care more about how it functions.

I discovered that because this hobby promotes slow and steady, new hobbyists need distractions to keep their attention.

So the question should read, "how do reefers that are looking for things to occupy their time while their reef grows in run wires through plastic water tanks and containers"

Because an experienced one would say, "the simplest way you can so that when something fails you're not wasting time removing grommets and bulkheads."

 

[VintageReefer]

Otherwise, I have a bulkhead in the side of a 5 gallon bucket that connects to 1/4 hose that gravity feeds to a float switch in the sump that opens up and allows water to flow in when evaporation lowers the water level in the sump.

And I have no idea why this GIF shows up when I search Hillbilly?

op wants power cables run in the bucket cleanly and ability to have a lid that’s neat to avoid the stigma of being a “hillbilly”

 

[VintageReefer]

Oh here we go @Sisterlimonpot is here to fight

 

[KrisReef]

op wants power cables run in the bucket cleanly and ability to have a lid that’s neat to avoid the stigma of being a “hillbilly”

We Hillbillies need be proud and spend money on frags vs lids. Right?

If it makes a person happy then the lid solution is fine, but it’s going to leak like a broken still when it falls over.

The other way to run a cord is to cut a notch through the threads in th container so the cords are below the lid, which makes filling the container easier.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Oh here we go @Sisterlimonpot is here to fight

Haha.
It's funny how you see that as looking for a fight.

I'm just saying, I care more about the look of this:

And less about the look of this:

 

[VintageReefer]

We Hillbillies need be proud and spend money on frags vs lids. Right?

If it makes a person happy then the lid solution is fine, but it’s going to leak like a broken still when it falls over.

The other way to run a cord is to cut a notch through the threads in th container so the cords are below the lid, which makes filling the container easier.

Put pump in
Drape wire out
Fill spout with water
Seal spout with duct tape layers