DIY Power Center

[racer69]

Check out the power center I just built. It work perfectly, and has plenty of room.

 

[CastleRock]

Thats pretty slick Todd

 

[DownTown]

Looks like 16 outlets on a 15 amp circuit. What will you be plugging into the power center? What kind of load will be going on that circuit ?

D.T.

 

[DownTown]

oops - duplicate post

 

[Crit21]

Interior pics?

Total cost?

Are those timers?

 

[Leopard Wrasse]

Nice setup.

 

[Deuce67]

Todd!! Im so proud of you!! If you wanna change careers, let me know.

 

[BLUEMANDJ]

the only thing missing is GFCI.

 

[Joe69]

Sweet, I forgot you were building that. Do you have interior pics?

 

[clsanchez77]

Agree, GFCI is missing. I did similar for my planted F/W tank, used X-10 outlets instead of regualr and had the X-10 6-button switches mounted on the surface of the stand. I also had a GFCI switch on each row. Curious, why is the top row of outlets upside down.

Overall very cool :thumbsup:

 

[justmiles]

I built one very similar for my 29 & 60 gallon tanks, but yours is a much cleaner install.
Love the timers, I used the same kind. They can be tempermental at first, but once they are setup and working they rock.

 

[Deuce67]

If the outlet the power center will be plugged in is GFI protected, then the power center does not need a GFI since it will already be GFI protected.

 

[clsanchez77]

That is true, but then the entire system is under the protection of a single GFCI; Principle is the same but it is not necessarily desirable to have everything shut down because a single powerhead siezed and leaked voltage.

But again very clean, also where did you get/what did you use to build the cabinet

 

[racer69]

Ok guys, there are 4 separate power chords coming out the left side. I only had one when I took the picture, and added the other three in the wire clamps that you can barely see. One chord for the top row, one for the middle row, and one for each of the timers. The timed chords are run to a 20 amp GFI breaker, and the other two are on a separate 15 amp GFI. Both are dedicated and no other electric pull comes off of them. (I did this when I knew I was getting a 180). Also I didn't get any interior pics, but it is just wired with romex and wire nuts with silicone sealer in the nuts. I was real tired of trying to turn off a ph or a skimmer and having to pull the chord out of a power strip or directly out of the wall, this just makes it so much easier. The total cost without the steel box (I am a fabricator and this was scrap steel LOL) was a little steep at $120 and is listed below.

Intermatic In-wall timers $35 x 2 =$70
Box of 10 outlets =$15
Four outlet covers $3 x 3 =$9
3 circuit switch $15 x 2 =$30
Total---------------------------$124

Worth it to me!!!!!

 

[murfman]

so why IS the top row upside down?

 

[clsanchez77]

Worth it to me!!!!!

I'd bet you could sell for a lot more than $124.00. Despite the comments (even from me), the product is excellent and neat. If you worked in the GFCI's, you would have a complete plug'n'play product.

Now about that top row?

 

[Crit21]

Hey, he's a fabricator, not an electrician.

 

[The Haj]

I believe the reason why outlets are upside down on houses is that that outlet is controlled by a switch. Todd might of overlooked that question. On this application I do not know why.I am sure Todd will let us know..

 

[Deuce67]

Why do you guys think that the top row is upside down? There is nothing in NEC 70 (National Electrical Code book) that says that the ground has to be on the bottom.

 

[racer69]

Why do you guys think that the top row is upside down? There is nothing in NEC 70 (National Electrical Code book) that says that the ground has to be on the bottom.

Russ, you are correct. The reason that it looks upside down is that each of the chords coming into that row are coming from the top of the cabinet and it just made them easier to plug in.