Power management - what do you do?

[Sailor_jon]

Wanted to see what everyone else is doing to manage the spaghetti nest of wires timer and plugs. Is there a good system that helps with all this stuff? I got pumps, skimmers, lights refugium lights, powerheads, makeup water pumps, reactor pumps....Geesh.

I also know that spilled water and electricity dont seem to mix. Whats a good way to resolve it all? Put it somehwere other than under the tank? Mount it to a board?

Love to see some ideas!

 

[bpd964]

Re: Power management - what do you do?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9280808#post9280808 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sailor_jon
Wanted to see what everyone else is doing to manage the spaghetti nest of wires timer and plugs. Is there a good system that helps with all this stuff? I got pumps, skimmers, lights refugium lights, powerheads, makeup water pumps, reactor pumps....Geesh.

I also know that spilled water and electricity dont seem to mix. Whats a good way to resolve it all? Put it somehwere other than under the tank? Mount it to a board?

Love to see some ideas!

If electricity and water don't mix, then electricity and saltwater is 10x worse...

I try to make everything as neat as possible. Its nearly impossible to make it look extra pretty because the cords are all different lengths. I have wires under my stand and away from the corners and ledges incase water drips down the side of the glass..

 

[UFreefer]

Here's a shot of what i did.
Wall switches for all of my powered equipment that I need to turn on and off (skimmer, sump light etc...)

Outdoor water resistant Wall outlets inside the stand(wires behind the stand...makes it easier to roll up all of the excess wires

All of my lights are on water resistant sprinkler timers that have day light savings built in so you never have to touch them and have easy push power over ride switch to turn the lights on when its not the specified time

Hope this helps

 

[Sailor_jon]

"Water resistant sprinker timers" - arent most of those 24v ac. How do you configure it to run 120v?

Sounds like a great idea!

 

[UFreefer]

these came 12v, you can see them just to the left of the skimmer. Home depot sells them, pricey but worth it

 

[mlivvy]

 

[playa0069u]

I have a nest lol

 

[Sailor_jon]

Im trying to figure out how the 12v controller operates 120v pumps, lights etc? Can you help me with that. Thanks.

 

[UFreefer]

sorry i meant 120V, I didnt have to convert anything

 

[alizarin]

If you use hang the wires with drip loops, use a non-latching GFCI, and don't leave extention cords on the floor where they could get in a puddle you're mostly safe I think.

Mine's still a mess though. I've been afraid of mounting my stuff under my sump in case there were busted plumbing and everything got wet. Instead I'm going to plug everything into a powerstrip above my tank on a shelf I'm building to hold my lights.

 

[Sailor_jon]

I gotcha now UFreefer. I was thinking of mounting surge supressors to a plywood panel..and hardwiring pigtails from them to plug outlets for each pump...etc. Then hanging the whole pre assembled panel inside the enclosure wall. Right now my stuff is sitting helter skelter and keeps getting wet. Seems to be an unresolved issue for a lot of folks. I do like the irrigation timer idea...I will check HD to see what they may have to help simplify. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[luminary]

http://www.liquidchaos.net/aquarium/electrical-plumbing.php

Each column is a dedicated 20 Amp circuit with a GFCI as the first socket in the series. It's positioned so that there is no water flowing above it. Other than the panel, I use zip ties to keep the wiring as organized as possible.

It's changed slightly in that I'm no longer using the digital timers that are in the second row. The Intermatic digital timers are crap and I haven't had a chance to get better ones. Just using the plug in dial ones at the moment.

 

[Sailor_jon]

Matt - now thats a nice setup...I was thinking mounted to a board..I like the idea of enclosed and safe and dry. Now Id like to figure out how to build in timers..with multiple outlets, rather than plug in and outlet with pigtails. I agree those digital timers are crap. I have one for my porch lights and its off by 7 minutes a day..By the end of the week..the lights dont come on before dark anymore...not to mention its a bear to program. Nice concept..but poor execution by intermatic. Thanks for your help.

 

[BlueCoast]

That is a nice clean setup Lum. LOL i have 1 of those timers myself at the bottom of a junk drawer somewhere. I agree with you on the dial timers till i can afford one of those fancy ReefKeepers.
I do a lot with computer cables and swear by velcro strips. Home Deopt sells a roll of 100 or so for under $10. Like zip ties but reusable and they tend not to pinch cables like zip ties can. Okay, I'm off the soapbox.

 

[luminary]

Thanks guys...the only thing that I would have done differently if I did it again is how I made the surface. I used a sheet of masonite so that I could write on it with a dry erase marker if I needed to for any reason. Problem is I didn't put enough interior support so you have to be a bit carefull pushing in plugs because it bends the wood. If you look real closely in the middle of all the outlets, you can see where I broke it once and glued it back together.

I've tried running my lights with the timers and they always crap out within months. In fairness to Intermatic, they're not rated to run MH lighting. There are a few other brands available online that are supposed to be suprerior (and properly rated), but they cost a bit more. Another option is to have the digital timer trip a relay which then turns on/off the lights.

Velcro is a good idea but I like the semipermanent zip ties...If it was velcro I'd be fiddling with it every time I was in the closet. At least with zip ties I have to go find a scissor!