How much can a normal electrical outlet take?

islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
I remember Mike showing us a power strip insert partially melted. So I wanted to know how much can a regular outlet handle? If the watts is too much what are solutions that one can do inorder to avoid these potential fire hazards? Thanks

Please put in your input of how many power strips you may use with the amount of outlets per strip etc... Thanks. I just want to see what other individuals are doing for this topic
 
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aquemeni5110

New Member
I use 5 power strips. They are all connected to one power strip.

3 strips = 3 outlets for chiller, fuge light, 2 wave making pumps, MH/cooling fans
1 strip = 5 outlets for return pump, heater, ph meter, ATO
1 strip = 4 outlets is used to plug in all the strips

I've never had any problems with this setup (knock on wood). They are setup for easy water changes and other maintainences.
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Hmmm.... Sounds like alot for one /two outlets! There has to be a precationary limit for each outlet. Is anyone familiar with outlets?
 
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aquemeni5110

New Member
Keep in mind that half of my outlets being used are on timers: lights,fans, pumps etc. so they're not all on at the same time.


Here's a pictures of a what my powerplant looks like. There's one more strip that can't be seen in the picture. It's located across from the strip on top.

 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Wow.... if I'm ocrrect this is off of one outlet? Your main powerstrip then 3 others off of that? Yeah, I'm at my parents right now and I just got a frag tank together with a pendant halide. Its been two night with the timer being used and works as it suppose to. Just scared since I'm not there! :shock: Kind of scared leaving something such as that without no supervision.... I like how everythings nicely organized. Is it all screwed into the wall or an extra piece of drywall?
 
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aquemeni5110

New Member
islandcreation said:
Wow.... if I'm ocrrect this is off of one outlet? Your main powerstrip then 3 others off of that? Yeah, I'm at my parents right now and I just got a frag tank together with a pendant halide. Its been two night with the timer being used and works as it suppose to. Just scared since I'm not there! :shock: Kind of scared leaving something such as that without no supervision.... I like how everythings nicely organized. Is it all screwed into the wall or an extra piece of drywall?
Click to expand...

Yes, this is off one outlet. I was skeptical too setting up my 3g nano. My 18w pc's are not covered with a splash shield and moisture builds up. I was afraid of burning the house down but it seems like it's doing just fine.

Everything is screwed to a piece of wood which is also screwed to the back of the stand. Space underneath was tight so I had to get creative. I even trimmed parts of the stand so that I could fit a 5 gallon tank for my top off.
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Jesse, I do have it on it own outlet which the timer is hooked up to. The other outlet has a pwerstrip with everything else hooked up to that. Is that okay? Thanks
 
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Trogdor

New Member
250watts should be fine to put with other appliances. 250w @ 110ac is only ~2.5amps. You should limit your amperage draw on any single circuit to 10amps. You could push 15amps but you risk tripping the breaker. Never tier power strips. That's asking for an overload and a fire.

On a side note, I had my PC power supply catch fire just this past spring. Luckily my wife was right next to it when it started and nothing else caught fire. It's amazing the risks that we run everyday and don't even realize it. BTW it was a cheap PS so I got a named brand after that one.
 
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reefman23

New Member
islandcreation said:
Jesse, I do have it on it own outlet which the timer is hooked up to. The other outlet has a pwerstrip with everything else hooked up to that. Is that okay? Thanks
Click to expand...
That should be fine.

Jesse
 
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Trogdor

New Member
pc, monitor, cordless mouse base, lamp (wasn't on), modem, router

the fire started at my powersupply and not the outlet. Personally I think the inverter took a dump because it didn't affect anything else in my pc (luckily). It melted the ac plug so much that the leads touched and then they shorted against each other. I had melted plastic and fire shooting out from the power supply. :shock: :lol: :mrgreen:
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Trogdor has it. It's not really how many things you have plugged in, but WHAT you have plugged in. If you use cheap powerstrips then they may melt and/or short circuit. Each device pulls amps, keep em low. If you want more juice drop the hundred or two it will cost to have a liscened electrician run a 20 amp circuit to where you want your fish tank. We spends hundreds (thousands...in the long run) on our hobby, why not start with a safe base?
 
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Semo

New Member
I don't recommend the GFCI outlet...they are safer, but you really run the risk of that ground fault tripping when your away. Lots of things cause gfci to trip that really is no harm to anything.

If it trips and you don't catch it for a few days..your really in trouble.

Just don't exceed the current rating on any power strip or circuit and you will be ok.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
islandcreation said:
I remember Mike showing us a power strip insert partially melted. So I wanted to know how much can a regular outlet handle? If the watts is too much what are solutions that one can do inorder to avoid these potential fire hazards? Thanks

Please put in your input of how many power strips you may use with the amount of outlets per strip etc... Thanks. I just want to see what other individuals are doing for this topic
Click to expand...
Just to let you reefers know, I had meltdown because I had was pulling too much current from just two outlets; as a consequence the powerstrip that melted was not rated for the over abundance that I demanded.

The solution was to purchase on the recommendation of Digital Aquatics the expansion socket which relieved my entire system from the high demands of my 1/2 horsepower chiller; that guy by himself pulls 5 amps.

When I didn't have the expansion unit my reeferkeeper kept resetting herself because the cheap powerstrip was damaged and melted and as a result she couldn't draw the power she needed at a constant level.

MG
 
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Semo

New Member
Easiest way is to just look at the current output of anything you intend on plugging into an outlet. Add the current of each item your using to get a total current value.

Most houses are wired with 14-awg wire thats rated at 15 amps. Just don't exceed the 15 amps. You will probably need a outlet strip of some kind, and you would need to buy one thats rated to carry 15 amps as well. If you buy a cheap one thats rated less current...then thats your max current. Just go with 15 amp current strip or higher for the ease of mind.

Keep in mind, that most houses are wired each room at a time. This means every wall outlet in the room will be wired together. This means, to prevent from overloading your circuit breaker in your pannel, you will need to account for lamps, computers...amplifiers for surround sound or anything in the room thats plugged into an outlet.

I hope this makes sense....I have experience in wiring houses and do know the shortcuts many contractors take while wiring a house. I also design and test circuit breakers for a living and have pretty good idea of what they can and can't do.

Bottom line is keep the total current of anything plugged into all the outlets in the room your referring to under 15 amps. Then make sure your power strips are quality with minimum of 15 amp rating...

Hope this helps..
 
islandcreation

islandcreation

New Member
Semo,

Thanks for the guidline. I think this will help alot of individuals who have power strips every where :!: The only reason I posted this topic was due to the look of the power strips I have.

Quick question. So you say I have to account for everything since contractors do short cuts.... What happens if I have my tanks in a living room :?: Each tank has its own wall so, each tank has two outlets for itself. Then I have a entertainment center on another wall... I'm taking it that I have to add all that up? Just want to make sure :mrgreen: Stupid question but what does 15 amps equal to as in watts? I'm not too familiar with electrical, sorry :oops: Thanks for all the knowledge :mrgreen:
 
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