Powering a 220 Gallon in an apartment.

[HornetMech242]

How do you apartment dwellers power your tank? I see people run dedicated circuits to there large tanks but obviously i cant do that living in an apartment. I was thinking i can set the tank up by a outlet, determin what breaker that outlet is attatched to and then run one extension cord to a outlet that is on a different breaker. Is this a bad idea? In theory i will be running it off two seperate circuits but the extension cord i am unsure about.

Chris

 

[Bebo77]

the biggest power draw are the lights... what are you running?

 

[HornetMech242]

I am still in the planning stages but its going to be three 250 Watt MH's and four 96 Watt T5. I just ordered the reflectors about three hours ago.

Chris

 

[ccorpse27]

Does your apartment allow you to have such a large tank? Better check into that if you haven't already. Don't want to see any tears after the fact.

 

[chinaman4u]

I run the lighting through my 220V electric stove. 3x175W and 1x250W

Saving the 120V outlets for everything else.

 

[HornetMech242]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8854328#post8854328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccorpse27
Does your apartment allow you to have such a large tank? Better check into that if you haven't already. Don't want to see any tears after the fact.

I am planning ahead, i am still in Iraq. We dont even have an apartment as of now. So if they do allow them i will already have a plan in place to power it.

 

[AcroSteve]

You plan on running a heavy gage cord from another breaker is a good one. One circuit should handle your lights just fine.

 

[Bebo77]

i would run pure T5's on that tank... less power.. less heat

 

[frazier]

I doing the same thing...but I have a 180g,,,with 3 250HQI's... I'm going to running them on the breaker for my washer... and everything else is on the room breaker... better check and see if your Apt will let you have a big tank.. my place will only allow 30g tanks..lol but I know the owner of the place... I wonder if one breaker can handle that much power??? anybody know

 

[chinaman4u]

To figure out what load you can take; Watts = volts X amps

so 240V x 50 amps(fuse) = 12,000 Watts max load (9,600 with 20% safety margin)
120V x 20 amps(fuse) = 2400 Watts max load (1,920 with 20%)

anyone please correct me if my assumption is wrong, I am not an expert.

So a 250W ballast at 120V is 250/120 = 2.1 amps
(3 x 250W = 3(2.1) = 6.3 amps total draw)

 

[frazier]

so your saying a 120V fuse would hold a big light system...and maybe some pumps???

 

[chinaman4u]

you mean a 20 amp fuse = 2400W of power. Some outlets have only a 10 amp fuse (1200W) which is stamped on your breakers.

 

[frazier]

yeah that's what I mean... I have a 20amp fuse so I can put up to 2400w of power on it right??

 

[chinaman4u]

and subtract 20% for a safety margin. So I'd prefer just 1920w of power on it.

 

[frazier]

looks like I'm going to run a heavy duty EX cord to a nother room...lol

 

[Jasen Hicks]

Dont forget about the starting surge on the ballasts to make the bulbs initially fire! While Steady State you are absolutely fine, the ballast will initially draw more current to send the starting surge to the bulb.

Jasen

 

[djr2001]

Gooooood luck.
When I lived in a small 1 bdrm, I couldn't run my lights (2x250w halides and 2x160w vho) computer and iron at the same time without tripping the breaker every 10 minutes..

 

[HornetMech242]

Thanks for all the good info. If the apartment does not work out i can put the tank at my parents house. I might end up doing that anyways.

Chris

 

[lpkirby]

Are you being discharged or will this be another temp duty station? I survived my wounds and now I can enjoy my tanks. Find a house if you can, hard I know cost wise if you are going back to San Diego.

 

[HornetMech242]

Yes, i will be EAS'ing. Glad to hear you are recovering. We are going to look for a house (for in wall setup) and hopefully find one but as a last resort we will have to get an apartment.

Chris