How many things can you safely plus into one outlet?

[olonmv]

I have wondered this. I am on a 15 amp circuit. All pumps are DC(except skimmer pump). All lights are LED. I have pax bellum N18. Ecotech XR30 Pumps are BM Curve 7. 2 MP40 power heads. 2 Hydor Seltz DC circulation pumps. A heater with a separate thermostat. A Milwaukee PH with controller. A doser. All on that one outlet

Manufacturers are required to put load rating labels. For DC and LED you’ll first have a 120v rating, that should tell your wattage draw or amp draw.

out of curiosity, how long do I have to remain in moderator jail?

 

[MNFish]

I have seen more than one person come in with a fuse saying it burned up and wanting to replace it. When asked what they were going to do different they looked dumbfounded. Apparently according to some you are safe until it catches on fire and then you just need to replace it......

 

[olonmv]

I have seen more than one person come in with a fuse saying it burned up and wanting to replace it. When asked what they were going to do different they looked dumbfounded. Apparently according to some you are safe until it catches on fire and then you just need to replace it......

Fire is a sure sign that you’re overloaded haha.

 

[BiggestE222]

Doesn’t the fuse trip before it catches fire. I am not anywhere close to an electrician

 

[Cell]

I should hope so.

 

[MNFish]

Doesn’t the fuse trip before it catches fire. I am not anywhere close to an electrician

That is the idea but people get lazy and fuses get old haha. How many time have you reset a fuse that keeps breaking... people do it a lot

 

[olonmv]

Doesn’t the fuse trip before it catches fire. I am not anywhere close to an electrician

In theory but not always. I’ve seen breakers not trip and looked like it was a welding lead. Been doin electrical for 20+ years. Electricity can be strange.

 

[Beau_B]

This rule doesn’t apply to outlets. Outlets and switch’s have a max amp rating That can be matched but not surpassed.

That is correct, but that outlet is installed on a system controlled by a circuit breaker. If someone attempts to run 2400 continuous watts across a 20A breaker for an extended time the breaker will fail - not just trip.

Furthermore, in almost every residential application, in the US that I have been around, we utilize 15A receptacles even when installed on 20A (12ga) circuits. So using that same 2400 watt recommendation actually exceeds the standard outlet *most* people will find in their homes.

 

[BiggestE222]

That is the idea but people get lazy and fuses get old haha. How many time have you reset a fuse that keeps breaking... people do it a lot

Never happened, if I caused as fuse to trip I would find a way to remove something

 

[laverda]

You just have to add up the total wattage to make sure that you are within the safety margin of the circuit rating. It's about 1,900 watts for a typical 20 amp circuit (look it up for a more precise number).

True but most outlets and breakers are only rated for 15 amps, not 20. 20 Amp recpiticals look different like this one https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton...I-Outlet-White-4-Pack-M42-GFNT2-04W/305340194
Replacing a 15 with a 20 is not really a solution as the breaker is still going to be a 15 amp one and replacing it with a 20 amp is asking for trouble, as the wiring between it and the recepticals is only rated for 15 amps. If you need more than 15 amps devide your load between 2 circuits or have and electrician run a proper 20 amp circuit.

 

[olonmv]

That is correct, but that outlet is installed on a system controlled by a circuit breaker. If someone attempts to run 2400 continuous watts across a 20A breaker for an extended time the breaker will fail - not just trip.

Furthermore, in almost every residential application, in the US that I have been around, we utilize 15A receptacles even when installed on 20A (12ga) circuits. So using that same 2400 watt recommendation actually exceeds the standard outlet *most* people will find in their homes.

15a plugs on 20a branch circuit that feeds multiple outlets is allowed by the NEC. The question was on the device not the breaker. The breaker will not fail when overloaded but becomes weak with each time it trips, therefore manufacturers suggest you swap out the breaker after 6 re-sets....suggests. While it’s true that breakers are rated for 80% of their value that mainly applies for circuits that are constant duty. Constant duty means 3 or more continuous hours. Heaters and such are intermittent so it’s a fine line rule. I’ve seen 20a breakers hold constantly at 21a.

 

[laverda]

I feel like there must be a ballpark gallonage that we can assume is and always will be safe. For instance, can a nano tank come even close to the limit even if it's super high tech?

Not really as it all depends on the equipment used and how much of it there is. One return pump may use close to twice the amps as another of similar size. The easiest way to check would be to get a kilowatt meter plug it into you outlet with you power strip plugged into it. Turn on each piece of equipment one at a time a see and record it's current draw. Having this number can be a good trouble shooting tool in the case of equipment failure.. A pump that is using a higher load may be getting ready to fail. Add up watts or amps for each item for your total load. Then turn everything that is normally on at once and read the current draw again. That will be your maximum normal load for that outlet. Now you just need to figure what else is on the same circuit and measure those items.

 

[olonmv]

Not really as it all depends on the equipment used and how much of it there is. One return pump may use close to twice the amps as another of similar size. The easiest way to check would be to get a kilowatt meter plug it into you outlet with you power strip plugged into it. Turn on each piece of equipment one at a time a see and record it's current draw. Having this number can be a good trouble shooting tool in the case of equipment failure.. A pump that is using a higher load may be getting ready to fail. Add up watts or amps for each item for your total load. Then turn everything that is normally on at once and read the current draw again. That will be your maximum normal load for that outlet. Now you just need to figure what else is on the same circuit and measure those items.

Sound advice.

 

[laverda]

That is the idea but people get lazy and fuses get old haha. How many time have you reset a fuse that keeps breaking... people do it a lot

Worse is when people wrap a fuse in aluminum foil.

 

[Beau_B]

15a plugs on 20a branch circuit that feeds multiple outlets is allowed by the NEC. The question was on the device not the breaker. The breaker will not fail when overloaded but becomes weak with each time it trips, therefore manufacturers suggest you swap out the breaker after 6 re-sets....suggests. While it’s true that breakers are rated for 80% of their value that mainly applies for circuits that are constant duty. Constant duty means 3 or more continuous hours. Heaters and such are intermittent so it’s a fine line rule. I’ve seen 20a breakers hold constantly at 21a.

I am versed in NEC. I think we are probably aligned in our general views, but have different ways of recommending practical use. I’ll step away and let people consult their own sources.

 

[olonmv]

I am versed in NEC. I think we are probably aligned in our general views, but have different ways of recommending practical use. I’ll step away and let people consult their own sources.

not tryna step on toes. I hear ya, Tomato, tomatoe!

 

[KrisReef]

I feel like there must be a ballpark gallonage that we can assume is and always will be safe. For instance, can a nano tank come even close to the limit even if it's super high tech?

One gallon of water on a 20A plug is going to be quite the show, ime.

 

[olonmv]

One gallon of water on a 20A plug is going to be quite the show, ime.

I bet that was interesting.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Setting up a new big tank and I am having an electrician install an additional 20 amp breaker as my previous tank and my hubbies space heaters, the hair dryer and equipment in his office used to throw the breaker all the time. This time, I'll have a dedicated breaker. 2400 watts so I'm figuring out what each pc of equipment will draw. I can use some of the 15 amp we share in my office if needed.

 

[laverda]

Setting up a new big tank and I am having an electrician install an additional 20 amp breaker as my previous tank and my hubbies space heaters, the hair dryer and equipment in his office used to throw the breaker all the time. This time, I'll have a dedicated breaker. 2400 watts so I'm figuring out what each pc of equipment will draw. I can use some of the 15 amp we share in my office if needed.

Smart move! That is the way it should be done if you need more capacity.