2 Outlets gone! Too many components? Help!

[Playdope]

Hey guys... I'm not very good with electrical, and I didn't realize I had too much plugged into the sockets. Is it possible to use one wall socket if I have some kind of a surge protector from home depot?

I have the following to plug in:

432 watt lighting (2 plugs + 2 light timers)
1 PC light - fuge (1 plug + 1 light timer)
2 radio shack fans (1 plug + 1 light timer)
2 powerheads
2 iwaki pumps
1 sedra pump (skimmer)

I was running it this way ...

OUTLET 1:

2 iwaki pumps, 1 powerhead, 2 radio shack fans + 1 lighttimer ====> all on power strip into one socket of an outlet
* the other socket of this outlet had a ground probe connected to it

OUTLET 2:

432 watt lighting (2 plugs + 2 light timers), 1 powerhead =======> all on one powerstrip connected to ANOTHER powerstrip w/: 1 sedra pump (skimmer), 1 PC light (fuge) + 1 light timer
*the other socket has a halogen light in it connected for something else (rarely on - wasn't on at time of blow)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please help me find out what the heck to do. I dont know what happened, but the other day when doing a water change, some water spilled over the back of the tank, and the two outlets I had fishtank stuff hooked to completely went out. I don't know whether it was a coicidence, and this is all due to too much stuff being hooked up to the outlets, or whether the water did some kind of damage. I tried to flip the curcuit breaker, and no matter what I do, the two outlets are dead. I now have all of the tank stuff running with extention cords to other outlets that are further away.

Any help please!

Thanks

 

[Juck]

I run pretty much the same on my setup,, the sockets are GFCI and they only trip-out when I electrocute myself,, which is every month or so.

 

[Anonymous]

I run pretty much the same on my setup,, the sockets are GFCI and they only trip-out when I electrocute myself,, which is every month or so.

I shouldn't laugh, but I found this funny.

 

[tazdevil]

The answer to your questions is actually in one of your questions:

Please help me find out what the heck to do. I dont know what happened, but the other day when doing a water change, some water spilled over the back of the tank, and the two outlets I had fishtank stuff hooked to completely went out.

There's the reason it happened, now, as long as the outlet did not get permanent damage, and is completely dried out, it may work again. Personally, I'd just replace the outlet (too easy to do versus trusting an outlet that's had saltwater enter it). There's always the chance of unseen damage that won't rear its ugly head until you have a short, causing at least damage to your components, or possibly even a house fire. Also, after this outlet is back in use again, DIY yourself a protective cap for it, with the cords coming out the sides of the cap instead of the top. Use plastic to make the cap for it (could be as simple as tupperware container with notches in it for the wires on the side). That would prevent most spills from causing problems, floods are another issue.


Before I forget, if this outlet wasn't a GFCI, I'd take the time to make it one as well at this point.

 

[Anonymous]

yep sounds like you shorted it out somwhere. And since it hasn't came back on, you might have shorted out the wire from the breaker box to the outlet.


It also sounds like the two outlets are on the same circuit/breaker. If they are, you're esentially plugging all the things that run your tank into one outlet. You could make the first one (closest to the breaker box) a gfci, and it will protect the other ones on that circuit.

If it's burned out between the breaker and the first box you'll have to replace the wire. It may be a good time to pull an extra circuit to the tank. That way you'll have the extra amperage for any upgrades.

Oh yeah. make that one a GFCI too. YOu'll thank yourself later when you DON'T get shocked!

B

 

[elpescado]

I would seriously consider having a 20amp breaker or even a dual 20 amp just for the tank. I have 5 power strips going on my reef tank and I was forced to give the tank its own breaker, but backed up by GFCI.

P.S. Try grabbing ahold of the posts of a magnetic start metal halide 400watt capacitor at full charge while standing ontop of a 4 foot ladder. I think I have permenant curly hair now.

 

[Playdope]

GFCI is just an outlet with grounded (3 prong sockets) - right?

All sockets in my apartment are three pronged.

 

[tazdevil]

NO


GFCI is an outlet with a seperate small breaker in it that trips at much lower loads. This is an effort to prevent electrocutions (example- all bathroom outlets, kitchen outlets within a short distance to a water source are GFCI). Three prong is a grounding mechanism, not a safety cut-out device.

 

[Ben1]

House fires are very possible this way. At my old apt. I had 2 x 400 watt MH, 4 x110 watt VHO actinics, lots a powerheads, return pumps, mak 4 for skimmer, kalkreactor pump, and a few other things I am sure I am forgetting plugged in to the same outlet. In the same room I had an entertainment center, and two window A/C units. This room was all on one breaker in my neighbors basement that was only 20 amp. I was in her apt reflipping the breaker switch once week becuase too much power was on that breaker at one time.

Half of the fishtank stuff was all plugged into sockets I screwed into are ceiling fan and ran extention cords over the back of the tank to the plugs. Along with several 6 strips all jumping off each other.

The point to this is, although it ran this way ok for a few years, the breaker was always popping this should have been sign enough. Finally some wires melted in a stairwell wall filling the apt with smoke. The fire dept flipped when they saw the wiring for the tank and pulled all the plugs. The apt was on a ighway and when I called the fire company they shut off the highway both directions with trucks. No fire but lots of smoke and a lesson learned....I think 8O