Electrical question

[CindyKz]

We are remodeling the kitchen and will need to add an electrical panel to bring everything to code. Eventually (hopefully soon) I will be finishing the basement and starting a 180 gal build along with a 75 FOWLR (all plumbed together).

I told the contactor that is doing the kitchen that if he needs to add a panel I would like to incorporate my future tank needs and he said "sure how much power will you need?"

I have no idea how to estimate this. Can I just add the needs of all of my expected equipment? I'd rather have too much than not enough but obviously don't want to waste money. Anyone have suggestions?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

We are remodeling the kitchen and will need to add an electrical panel to bring everything to code. Eventually (hopefully soon) I will be finishing the basement and starting a 180 gal build along with a 75 FOWLR (all plumbed together).

I told the contactor that is doing the kitchen that if he needs to add a panel I would like to incorporate my future tank needs and he said "sure how much power will you need?"

I have no idea how to estimate this. Can I just add the needs of all of my expected equipment? I'd rather have too much than not enough but obviously don't want to waste money. Anyone have suggestions?

I would add the power need for all of the equipment you will need, as well as any extra equipment you may want to add later, with perhaps a safety factor added on as well.

 

[WVNed]

I would add 3 20 amp circuits to the box and have them run to the appropriate places.

 

[Eggs]

When I finished my basement and had a 150g reef and 180g fowlr I put in 3 dedicated 20-amp circuits for the tanks.

 

[CindyKz]

I would add 3 20 amp circuits to the box and have them run to the appropriate places.

Thanks for the specific reply! Super helpful. Would you mind sharing how you got those numbers, just for my learning?

 

[WVNed]

You look at the wattage rating of stuff and add it up. The average fish tank doesn't use that much power really. A large pump (2136 GPH Iwaki at BRS) would only draw about 408 watts, about 5 amps. A large RO skimmer is only 45 watts. Large heaters, large pumps and chillers are typically large loads. The rest don't add up to much unless you like 400 watt MH lighting.
3 circuits gives you redundancy and multiple points for GFCI receptacles.

Stuff is sold to you rated in watts. circuits are installed rated in amps. Volts times amps = watts. Add up the watts and divide by 100 you have a ball park figure of your load on you breaker box.

I am no expert. Just a guy that has done a lot of stuff

Bat signal
@Brew12

 

[CindyKz]

You look at the wattage rating of stuff and add it up. The average fish tank doesn't use that much power really. A large pump (2136 GPH Iwaki at BRS) would only draw about 408 watts, about 5 amps. A large RO skimmer is only 45 watts. Large heaters, large pumps and chillers are typically large loads. The rest don't add up to much unless you like 400 watt MH lighting.
3 circuits gives you redundancy and multiple points for GFCI receptacles.

Stuff is sold to you rated in watts. circuits are installed rated in amps. Volts times amps = watts. Add up the watts and divide by 100 you have a ball park figure of your load on you breaker box.

I am no expert. Just a guy that has done a lot of stuff

Bat signal
@Brew12

Thank you for the explanation! I can't remember the whole "Volts x amps = watts" stuff to save my life LOL.

 

[BZOFIQ]

For your size tank 2 x 20A will give you plenty of juice

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm in agreement that two 20 amp outlets should be more than enough.

 

[mta_morrow]

I just ran 2, 15 amp circuits for my tank. each circuit feed a GFI duplex receptacle. That gives me 4 outlets, 2 on each 15 amp circuit.

In receptacle #1, I plug in my heater. #2 is my switched power strip that is used for items I turn on and off regularly. #3 is for my lights, #4 is another power strip w USB and surge protector, single switch.

I have a whole house surge protector as well.

 

[CindyKz]

Thanks to everyone for your replies this is extremely helpful.

I went onto the BRS website for information and added the power requirements for my "dream" equipment list (go big or go home, right?). The total was 2210 watts. Using WVNed's formula that's 22.1 amps, just a little more than provided by 1 20 amp circuit so I think 2 20 amp circuits should provide enough overage. I'm going to talk to hubs though...a third might still be a good idea to run the rest of the basement. I think he might want a TV LOL.

Thanks again!

 

[Roid Reefs]

1. Try to make sure that the new circuits are gfci to add extra safety measure.
Power is measured in watts. Power = Volts x Current. P=VI.
rearrange this formula to determine how much you would need. P/V = I
Watts / Volts = Amps
A 100W piece of equipment running off 120V runs at .83amps. That is the basic formula.
My advice would be to go plan out the system on a high level, as in a few options for size of equipment, and see how many watts they use. Determine your amperage, and let the electrician know.
Have your electrician come out and measure your total amperage on your house and determine not only what you will need, but also if your main service from the house to the transformer can also handle the additional load. If you happen to burn up the service line due to an increase in load, you could be responsible for the power company's work to redo the service. Im sure your electrician increasing the load will size your equipment accordingly. but from the power company side, I have seen where we have not been contacted and the customers service is overloaded and burnt up.

15A @ 120v = 1800W (1440W @80%)
20A @120v= 2400W (1920W @80%)
30A @ 120v= 3600W (2880W @80%)

I would not go over 80% load factor on a circuit though.


Saw your last post after I contributed my .02.