Custom Cabinet for 90g Reef (Build Thread)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11281296#post11281296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
The issue is not with what load you are putting on the circuit, but the rated ampacity of the wire you used with the 30A breaker. #12 is ONLY rated to 20A because drawing more amps will overheat the wire.
Click to expand...

Correct. And if you go back and read my post, you'll see I used 10 gauge wire (rated at 30amps) going to the circuit breaker.

The 12-guage wire people are fussing about is used ONLY inside the cabinet itself, to wire four outlets together which are then plugged into the 30A circuit.
 
I've been following your build for a while now and I have to say that this has been a good build thread - very impressive wood work!

Good Job - can't wait to see it all setup with live stocks.
 
The panel in your cabinet

The panel in your cabinet

Hey Red-

Thanks for sending me the link back to this thread. This has truly been an awesome ride to tag along with you. I have enjoyed the degree of thought and workmanship you have invested into your cabinet and this site. Wow! Your cabinet ROCKS! I'm gonna have a hard time trying to out do yours!:D

I had a flashback, from earlier in your thread, while I was reading these last few posts regarding your current electrical work being questioned, I went back and glanced at it to be sure. About 3/4 of the way down on page 9 of your thread, you enlightened us with the panel you fabricated for your GFIs and switches. I am not an electrical buff by any means, I know enough by past experience and gained a lot when I built my wood shop back a few years ago. My question is this: I am curious if your electricity in these switches and GFIs continues past the first switch/GFI that is supplied electricity, if the first one trips? I'm assuming you must have tied each GFI into the main power wire coming in, is this right? or did you tie into each one down the line, if so, is your power cut off to GFI devices further down the line? I hope you are able to receive my question without much confusion.

In case my question is unclear: There are many mobile homes built with multiple GFIs on the same power circuit. With this said, this is what typically happens in the event of a ground fault protected incident. I.e., if you are in the second bathroom, and the first bathroom GFI trips, then you have to go back to the first bathroom to reset the GFI. It's just assumed that this configuration provides a dual protected interruption circuit. I hope this isn't the case for you, I wanted to put this out there for you. I would hate for you to later be disappointed by surprise.

Take care Dustin, I have saved your thread and I look forward to future updates, God bless.

Respectfully,

Brian
 
It is absolutely gorgeous!!! You should be very proud of yourself. Beutiful build.......I'm jealous:p .
 
Re: The panel in your cabinet

Re: The panel in your cabinet

I am curious if your electricity in these switches and GFIs continues past the first switch/GFI that is supplied electricity, if the first one trips? I'm assuming you must have tied each GFI into the main power wire coming in, is this right? or did you tie into each one down the line, if so, is your power cut off to GFI devices further down the line?
Click to expand...

I wired the GFIs in parallel, not in series, so that if one trips the others do not trip. That's why I used four GFI outlets, I didn't want one tripping in the future and shutting down everything in my tank. The way I have it, if one trips, at the most only two devices will stop running.

Good eye :)

Take care,
Dustin
 
We added a 3" Regal Blue Tang and a 2" Flame Angel yesterday. Hopefully the flame will leave my corals alone in the future; as it's one of the most attractive fish I've seen. I think my next addition will be a small yellow tang. I know those are probably the most common fish to see in a reef tank, but it's still one of my favorites. You can count on them to stay out in the open and not spend all their time hiding behind rocks.
 
I have a flame in my 75g...I agree, one beautiful fish...mine goes around grazing on the algae on the rocks all day...have yet to see him nip at any of the corals...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11281283#post11281283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MeuserReef
Red -

Im not trying to spar with you but....

Realistic would be to put a 20A breaker on a circuit that "will require only 13 amps of current".
Click to expand...

My original concern was that the receptacles that you choose to put in to the house wall were probably not rated to 30A. Code would require them to be if they're they only yoke device on the entire circuit.

The other comments about the smaller sized wire are definately a concern as well.

I'd fix it and do it right, if I were you. Even so for peace of mind. Accidents do happen. One day maybe you'll get a chiller or something and forget that you have undersized wiring.

You essentially have a marine envirnment there. The increased resistance due to corrosion could cause a fire with undersized wiring/devices or oversized breakers--however you want to look at it.

As the comment indicated, your insurance company would probably not pay out if the fault was your wiring that wasn't up to code and done without permit.

I'm going to drop it at this point though.

Jason
 
Inspiring job, great design.
I joined back in Sept. and I've been following this thread since then, I can't wait to see more pictures. I've learned a lot from this and other RC threads and now I'm planning to build a canopy with lights and your ideas will help me a lot.
Keep your enthusiasm and good work and don't forget new pictures, the tank should be almost ready by now.
good luck,
Cesar
 
Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11303225#post11303225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RedEDGE2k1
I wired the GFIs in parallel, not in series, so that if one trips the others do not trip. That's why I used four GFI outlets, I didn't want one tripping in the future and shutting down everything in my tank. The way I have it, if one trips, at the most only two devices will stop running.

Good eye :)

Take care,
Dustin
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as wiring an outlet in series, if you tried to do that, you would have voltage drops on the circuit. Anyway, GFCI's will protect all other outlets downstream from themselves. So, If you have 4 GFCI outlets and the first one trips, your other three stop working as well. To do what you wanted, you needed separate circuits.
 
Re: Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

Re: Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11313842#post11313842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjakes24
There is no such thing as wiring an outlet in series, if you tried to do that, you would have voltage drops on the circuit. Anyway, GFCI's will protect all other outlets downstream from themselves. So, If you have 4 GFCI outlets and the first one trips, your other three stop working as well. To do what you wanted, you needed separate circuits.
Click to expand...

He has that...1 power wire, split off to 4 seperate GFCI outlets with 1 outlet downstream from each of those...that way if 1 of the GFCI's trips, it will only affect that part of the system and not the rest of the system...
 
Re: Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

Re: Re: Re: The panel in your cabinet

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11313842#post11313842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjakes24
So, If you have 4 GFCI outlets and the first one trips, your other three stop working as well. To do what you wanted, you needed separate circuits.
Click to expand...

No, they won't, not the way I have them wired. Nothing is "downstream" from the GFI outlets. Go back and read my posts from the panel build.

WiringDiagram-1.jpg


If one of the GFI outlets inside the cabinet trips, the remaining three stay on. All four outlets are wired, in parallel, to a power cord which is in turn plugged into a standard wall outlet. The DC8 is not plugged into the in-cabinet GFI outlets; it is plugged into a GFI outlet on the wall behind the cabinet.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11313842#post11313842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjakes24
There is no such thing as wiring an outlet in series
Click to expand...

And there definitely is, this is exacly how you retro wire a seperate dimming control on a fan lighting circuit.
 
Not to mention wiring standard outlets "downstream" from a GFI outlet, as he refers to, causing all outlets to lose power when the GFI trips.
 
Which would kind of go against the point of having the breaker local to the plug BUTTTT anyways the stand is looking great. I completely and unshamefully copied your plans, learned google sketch to adjust for my tank and am now waiting on doors. Will post since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11318813#post11318813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mlrtime99
Which would kind of go against the point of having the breaker local to the plug
Click to expand...

What do you mean? My four GFI outlets in the cabinet are wired in parallel and plugged into a standard, non-GFI wall outlet. The DC8 is plugged into a GFI wall outlet, since it is not plugged into the "power panel" built into the tank (where the four GFIs are).

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11318813#post11318813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mlrtime99
I completely and unshamefully copied your plans, learned google sketch to adjust for my tank and am now waiting on doors. Will post since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Glad I could help. I had fun drawing the cabinet in SketchUp, I love that program. I can't imagine how much $$$ it saved me drawing it 100% before ever buying/cutting a single piece of plywood.

But remember...if you're going to paint it, BUY BIRCH PLYWOOD NOT OAK! :)

And of course, I demand a build thread of your own! It'd be fun to follow along with pictures.
 
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