Running a dedicated circuit

[platax88]

stugray -- well put.

Well let me ask this? If i have 2 dedicated circuits ran and something cause one to trip, will it most likely cause the other to trip?

Also, can i have a GFCI hooked up on the main elect input from the circuit and then have all other sockets on this circuit be non-GFCI?

 

[BeanAnimal]

No, one tripped GFCI will not trip another.

You best bet is to split each branch circuit into multiple GFCIs and put each critical system or on its own GFCI. That way, a faulting piece of equipment or nuisance trip will not bring the whole system down.

 

[platax88]

BeanAnimal -- That makes sense and if i split equipment up properly should not allow a tank crash UNLESS all circuits trip.

My concern is that a lot of my equipment is controlled with a DC8 on an aquacontroller.(Heating/cooling, ATO and dosing) Flow and return are separate

 

[8BALL_99]

Flow is what matters for the most part.. Just split your pumps up on two or three GFCIs and your good to go. Heating and cooling and your ATO are important.. But if you loose that stuff while your at work your tank should be fine.. Now if your out of town for a week that could be a problem, BUT like others said so could your entire house burning down. Most setups have NP at all going with out lighting heating and cooling for a day or so.. Just have someone look in on your tank if your out of town.

 

[platax88]

I guess the ATO can be resolved by using float valves instead of float switches (like i have now with a solenoid) and having a large reservoir that will hold at least a weeks worth of RO. Dosing is through a kalk reactor that will still work if gravity fed.

Temp is pretty constant in that room at around 76 degrees. So, theoretically i should not need heaters if it trips. Lighting is my concern if it does trip and i am out of town for an extended period. I guess what i can do is in preparation for a long trip is disconnect the lights form the DC8 and hook them up independently on three different CFGIs and just control the with basic timers. That way if one or even two lights fail, i will still have some lighting.

Sorry guys, just looking for redundancy ... One thing is for sure though, i will be running CFGIs

Thanks for all your help so far

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13731241#post13731241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
BeanAnimal -- That makes sense and if i split equipment up properly should not allow a tank crash UNLESS all circuits trip.

My concern is that a lot of my equipment is controlled with a DC8 on an aquacontroller.(Heating/cooling, ATO and dosing) Flow and return are separate

You can plug GFCIs into the DC8 outputs

Just build yourself some dubplex GFCI boxes with SO cord and commercial grade plugs.

 

[platax88]

So, dont connect the actual DC* to a GFCI and instead have a CGI plug connect to the inputs of the DC8 and then the equipment to that?

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13731811#post13731811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by platax88
So, dont connect the actual DC* to a GFCI and instead have a CGI plug connect to the inputs of the DC8 and then the equipment to that?

Right, one of my DC8s is plugged into the only standard outlet I have in my Equipment room.. I just have GFCIs on the outlets. This is a lot of trouble though cause you will need 8 GFCIs Vs 1 In my case its not so bad cause a few of my outlets dont have GFCIs like the solenoid valves ect.. I think as long as you split yoru pumps up you will be fine.. Lighting and heating and cooling really dont matter for a couple of days in most cases.. Your ATO might, But you do the same as me.. I have Kalk Stirrers.. So if I loose my Controller I also want the ATO to cut off. Same goes with the lighting.. If I loose cooling I want the lights to go also. Some cases if you loose one thing you want to loose the other

 

[platax88]

Makes sense... thank you all for your time.
You guys may have saved my life! ... or destroyed my tank :eek1: .. JUST KIDDING!

 

[8BALL_99]

Haha, No worries. If you use half the info people have posted here your tank will probably twice as safe as most reef tanks.. Most people dont even consider redundancy.