What type of extension cord

[ALLIDOISREEF]

What type of extension cords does everyone use? I need to run my lights to the controller and the cables of course are too short. Are the indoor/outdoor 8 ft ones from home depot with the 3 prongs good enough? My lights are Mars Aqua LED's if it matters. Thanks

 

[Sk8r]

Generally just be sure it's grounded, and plugged into a GFI (ground-fault interrupt) socket. That's the sort that will save your tank, your house, and if lucky, your lights, if water and electricity meet. They may have some extension cords with that feature, and those would be good anywhere such conditions exist.

 

[nereefpat]

How many watts on the lights? This determines how thick the wire in the cord needs to be.

 

[pisanoal]

How many watts on the lights? This determines how thick the wire in the cord needs to be.

Also how long of an extension cord you are using. Shortest you can get away with is better. Although with an led fixture like the mars aqua, voltage drop will not be a problem unless you ran A LOT of them off of one extension cord.

 

[Dr. Reef]

depending on wattage, guage of wire is determined.

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes standard indoor/outdoor 3 prong extension cords are just fine..
A 165W LED fixture is only drawing a little over an amp.. (165/120=1.375Amps)

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

It should say on the extension cord or it's packaging how many Amps or how many Watts it's rated for. Add up all of the power you'd be running off of it, and make sure it is rated for at least that much. For 165W LEDs like you mentioned, any cord with the 3 prongs would do with a GFI outlet, just as S8tr said. Typically, even the cheap looking extension cords are still rated for 1500W or so, which would be more than enough (though they often do not have a ground prong).

 

[ALLIDOISREEF]

Thanks everyone, I figured I was good but it doesn't hurt to double check.