What do I need to know about the electrical circuit of a house?

Seafan · 01-09-2002, 06:43 PM

I am planning to buy a 20-year-old house, we’ll have the inspection this Friday. What do I need to know about the electrical circuit in the house to set up reef tanks? (so I could ask the inspector) I plan to have a reef tank about 180g (finally!), with all the lights and pumps, how do I know if the existing circuit could handle the load?

Thanks,

Jason

Ltspd · 01-09-2002, 08:55 PM

Grounded outlets.

Amp service of the house.

Inspector can explain the benifits of both.

David · 01-10-2002, 10:01 PM

Seafan- 20 is "young" for a house. I am an electrician with 28 years in trade. More important than total service to home (rated in amps) is distribution (number of circuits). The more individual circuits the better. Available space to add circuits to main panel is very good. You should do this for reef tank, seperate it from all existing loads and have more than one circuit. For example you might haver main pump on seperate circuit from powerheads and/ or air pumps. This ensures circulation if a circuit fails. Likewise you might split lights, heaters. etc over several ckts. IMO two is minimal, more is better. If you are going to use GFCI outlets be sure to tell electrician, each circuit will then require it's own neutral. Yeah, I bought my house based on it's compatibilty with aquaculture too, big room on slab with tile floor was high priority, he he he...

01-09-2002, 06:43 PM	#1
Seafan Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: New Orleans, LA, USA Posts: 152	What do I need to know about the electrical circuit of a house? I am planning to buy a 20-year-old house, we’ll have the inspection this Friday. What do I need to know about the electrical circuit in the house to set up reef tanks? (so I could ask the inspector) I plan to have a reef tank about 180g (finally!), with all the lights and pumps, how do I know if the existing circuit could handle the load? Thanks, Jason __________________ Welcome to visit my web site Aquarist Report

01-09-2002, 08:55 PM	#2
Ltspd Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Arden, NC USA Posts: 2,767	Grounded outlets. Amp service of the house. Inspector can explain the benifits of both. __________________ Paul C Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-10-2002, 10:01 PM	#3
David Citizen Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 210	Seafan- 20 is "young" for a house. I am an electrician with 28 years in trade. More important than total service to home (rated in amps) is distribution (number of circuits). The more individual circuits the better. Available space to add circuits to main panel is very good. You should do this for reef tank, seperate it from all existing loads and have more than one circuit. For example you might haver main pump on seperate circuit from powerheads and/ or air pumps. This ensures circulation if a circuit fails. Likewise you might split lights, heaters. etc over several ckts. IMO two is minimal, more is better. If you are going to use GFCI outlets be sure to tell electrician, each circuit will then require it's own neutral. Yeah, I bought my house based on it's compatibilty with aquaculture too, big room on slab with tile floor was high priority, he he he...

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)