Creating a Power Center?

[johnd651]

Wow, that is really complex.

Well thanks all for the advice.

I did get around to HD, and put this together after work one day. There is a lot of construction where i work (its a big complex thats build to suite) so i managed to gather some wire and such that was to going to get chucked anyway so I did manage to save some money.

It has 4 outlets that are not on the GFCI, and 4 that are. The last two are going to be for the lights, one day (which is the timer for 10000K and actinics) and one night (blue leds, still need the timer)

when i get around to building the stand, this will get mounted permanently into it

 

[RJS8540]

Here's mine for inspiration, in the little cabinet under my 15g long reef:

So tell me do the timers at the top control two of the outlets below? If so please show me how that's done.

 

[Rybren]

Tagging along here....

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and also need some help with a DIY power center. I'd like to put together 6 outlets, each individually controlled by its own switch. The entire unit would then plug into a GFCI. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to wire it all together.

I've searched till my fingers ache but can't seem to find a wiring diagram. Can anyone help?

Thx.

 

[johnd651]

Tagging along here....

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and also need some help with a DIY power center. I'd like to put together 6 outlets, each individually controlled by its own switch. The entire unit would then plug into a GFCI. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to wire it all together.

I've searched till my fingers ache but can't seem to find a wiring diagram. Can anyone help?

Thx.

u can go about it in many ways.

you can get a GFCI outlet and wire it into the power center. if it is wired first, everything after it will be protected. only thing is if you plug it into a GFCI and something sets it off, all the outlets will go out.

onto the switched outlets. you can buy outlets with switches

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

this will let you wire in the switch, and then the outlet will be switched.

you can get six of them, and wire them in parallel.

also, how many watts will you be running? if you are on a 15A circuit thats ~1800Watts total, so make sure you stay under that. and thats only if the power center is on that circuit, if you have other stuff in the house on that circuit it will be less.

also, make sure you use 14 gauge cable, or 12 gauge wire and ground everything

 

[7designs]

Some very nice ones there.

Here is mine:
http://7designs.com/aquamaniacs/post/Electrical-Center-for-Aquarium.aspx

 

[Rybren]

Thanks for the inputs guys.

7designs: I'd like to do something like yours. Any chance you have a wiring diagram to share?

Thx

 

[johnd651]

7designs is what i was sort of going for

i do like how it looks installed. i did opt out for the switches though, since everything will be on timers, and if i really am going to shut something down, it will be once in a while, so im not worried about physically unplugging it.

i will be building the tank into a bar, so i will actually be installing the electrical device into the under-bar stand i build.

i hope it looks as good as that when its finally done

 

[7designs]

Thanks for the inputs guys.

7designs: I'd like to do something like yours. Any chance you have a wiring diagram to share?

Thx

@Rybren - I do not have a diagram I have been wiring things since I was a little kid but maybe this link can help you:
http://www.electrical-online.com/wiringdiagrams.htm

7designs is what i was sort of going for

i do like how it looks installed. i did opt out for the switches though, since everything will be on timers, and if i really am going to shut something down, it will be once in a while, so im not worried about physically unplugging it.

i will be building the tank into a bar, so i will actually be installing the electrical device into the under-bar stand i build.

i hope it looks as good as that when its finally done

@johnd651 - Thank You. It has worked great, but I do think I want to use the timers for lighting like sdeclipse99 used. The switches have just been nice to shut down the power-head for feeding.

 

[Rybren]

7designs,

Thanks for the link. I'm not 100% sure, but I think that I can figure it out based on those diagrams.

Cheers

 

[stugray]

This is all covered in the link I posted on page 1:

Stu

 

[Rybren]

Hmm,

How'd I miss that? :sad2:

Thanks Stu.

 

[KevinYates]

My DIY power center is on this build thread. Just a little something something

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/nano-reefs/50551-oceanic-30-cube-wall-over-top.html

 

[7designs]

How is it coming? Making any progress?

 

[MAYHEM_AUDIO]

IM WIRING MINE NOW ALL SWITCHES WILL BE IN MY FISH CLOSET THO
CURRENTLY STILL BUILDING I PROJECT 2 DAYS AGO
BLUE TAPE ON WALL SHOW WHERE TANK WILL BE AND T-STAT WILL BE GONE

I WILL HAVE 7 OUTLETS UNDER THE TANK 2 20AMP BREAKERS IN THE BOX I WILL PROP USE GFI BREAKERS

 

[johnd651]

nice progress

 

[7designs]

IM WIRING MINE NOW ALL SWITCHES WILL BE IN MY FISH CLOSET THO
CURRENTLY STILL BUILDING I PROJECT 2 DAYS AGO
BLUE TAPE ON WALL SHOW WHERE TANK WILL BE AND T-STAT WILL BE GONE

I WILL HAVE 7 OUTLETS UNDER THE TANK 2 20AMP BREAKERS IN THE BOX I WILL PROP USE GFI BREAKERS

You should use "GFI BREAKERS "

I like the tape fish

 

[MAYHEM_AUDIO]

i decided i will hace 2 20 am normal breakers in the panel and they will run direcly below the paned to 4 gfi plugs i will also have reg cord ends coming out a juction box and plug into gfci the reason i decided to do it this way it will give 4 diffrent points for the power to be protected and also if we ever have a power outage all i have to do is unplug them from the wall and i can run a few extention cods out my back door to a generator and not have to have cords strung through my house to fish tank

 

[johnd651]

wow...took me forever to notice the tape fish...very nice

just an FYI,
if you can make sure you put the breakers on opposite poles (you probably have 2 120V lines inside the box, like when wiring a 240V dryer) just to distribute the constant load a little more

also, im not sure exactly how the building code works, but do be careful, if you wire the cords into the wall, they may become part of the building and if there ever is an incident, you may not be covered from an insurance stand point.

 

[MAYHEM_AUDIO]

it will i just drew the pic quick and wanted symatry..
i know a thing or 2 about wiring i wired houses and comericial building for 4 years and on my own for a while

 

[johnd651]

sounds good..i might be coming to you when i get my house then...lol