Amps on the Circuit Breaker Box

[Beth]

Ok, I'm an electrical dummy, but I am going reef soon and need to make sure the 2 electrical outlets I have can take care of my tanks without a problem.

Is there a way to read how much ampage is on a circuit? My electrical box trip-switches on each circuit has a number reading either 20, 30 or 60. Does this designate ampage?

[GregD]

Beth,

Yes on most circuit breakers in your circuit box/fuse box there will be a number labeling the amps the circuit breaker is capable of handling before it trips.

In general a good rule of thumb for household wiring is not to exceed 15 amps on a single circuit. Keep in mind more than one outlet may be wired to the same circuit breaker. Also keep in mind that just because your circuit breaker says it handles X number of amps...you should also have a comfort level that the wiring that connects the outlets to the breaker is capable of handling the load as well.

An easy way to calculate the load on a circuit is to remember the formula "WATTS divided by VOLTS = AMPS" (Approximately) This can be useful when trying to figure out the load on a circuit however it does not include spikes that are caused by motors when they first start up (ie. compressors, pumps, etc.). When each of these types of appliances starts, they will draw more power for several seconds.

All of the electricians or EE majors please let me know if I am off base here. Hopefully, this was in terms that were fairly easy to understand.

HTH,
Greg

[Beth]

Yes I do understand, and thanks for your reply.
I am going to reef lighting, which is what is concerning me the most. I know my 2 outlets are on separate breakers, and I think that, if they are sharing with other outlets, those other outlets are basically not in use. Hopefully, these will be hobby deadicated outlets, but only 1 of the 2 are gfi [unfortunately].
Thanks for your info.

[Rin]

Your circiut breaker may be 20 amps, but all the outlets must also be rated for 20 amps. A 20 amp outlet has one hole that is a slot and the other hole is a sideways T. A 15 amp outlet has two slots (one is bigger than the other).

Otherwise it's pretty much as Greg has already stated.

[Beth]

Well, this will be my electrical load:
4 PH's
1 15 watt UV
pump for the UV
1 prizm skimmer
grounding probe
cooling fans [probably 2], probably Icecaps
Lighing: Probably VHO 4 36" tubes, or, perhaps 2 MH's with either NO bulbs [2] or 2 VHO. VHO's, or if I use MH's, will have Icecap e-ballasts.
A Solar dimmer for the lights

Since I have 2 outlets on 2 different circuits that I can deadicate to the tank, I figured I would put everything that comes into contact with water on my gfi outlet, and then put the heavier electrical load [lighing] on the non-gfi outlet.

[Reinhold]

I use the North Dakota method: I pretty much load up one outlet with plug-ins until the breaker trips, then back off by one electrical device.

[Rin]

:eek3: Yikes, I must have missed that method when I was in ND.

[Bgywrinkle]

Beth,

Another concern I've run into up here in the north is wire size. It is not uncommon to find the wrong size breaker on a circuit with wiring that is too small. People change their own breakers sometime when they are tripped and put in a higher rated breaker to stop the tripping.

It is my understanding (I'm not an electrician) that a 20A breaker should only be used with 12/2 or heavier wire and 15A with 14/2 wire.
You can find the wire size stamped on the outside covering of the wire.

Hope this does'nt muddy the water too much.

Don