Running out of sockets

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2009
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Cincinnati - The 513
My wall has two electrical sockets. One has 75g lights plugged in, and the other has one of those things that is basically more sockets. It added 6 more, five of which are in use. I wanted to add a 10g in between my 75g and 40g, but there's only one electrical socket... So could I add another thing that is like six sockets? or would that be to much and cause a fire?

wow, I typed sockets so much that it doesn't even sound like a word... :nilly:
 
two things (and if there are any electricians on the board please jump in and correct me):

1. first, find out if those two sockets are on the same circuit.

next, add up the total wattage of all things that are running of that circuit (aquarium stuff, lamps etc).

the total wattage (assuming it is a 15 amp breaker) should not exceed roughly 1500 watts. the theoretical maximum is 1800w, but you want to run a maximum of 80% of the circuit load continuously, so that is where the 1500w comes from.

2. there may be an electrical code that limits the number of inputs (plugs) that you can put on one circuit. for example, here in ontario it is 12 I believe.

hope this helps some.

I ran into similiar issues in my basement. my whole basement is one one circuit and I run a 150g and a 65g plus a few lights down there. it is safe as is (around 1200w) but I can't add another tank down there until I upgrade the electrical..:(
 
Ok thanks you!

How do I find out if they're on the same circuit and how do I find out the wattage of lights and filters?
 
You can use another power strip if you like. If the breaker trips, you plugged in too much stuff.
 
Are you talking about two sockets on one outlet, or two outlets? Either way, they would probably be on the same circuit if they are on the same wall, but the only way to know for sure is to turn off one breaker to the first one and see if the other still has power.
 
I am sure there is a better way to determine what is on each circuit, but what I have done is turn on all lights and appliances and flip the circuit breaker off. Then I check each outlet (using a plug in radio or something) and notice which lights go out. As long as the wiring throughout the house is not like spagetti it is fairly easy to determine. Also hopefully the electrician that wired your house wrote which rooms are included on the circuit breaker, but that only gives you a start you still would need to check outlets and lights near that area.

Determining watts is sometimes trickier. Often it will be included somewhere on the device with a sticker or something similar. Or if you have the model # you can often find the information by googling the device online and finding product specs. Sometimes you can only find amperes on the device or online. You can multiply amperes times 120 to determine watts (the 120 is assuming a standard small appliance in the US there are exceptions with electric dryers, etc).

If all else fails there are electric useage monitoring devices that you plug into a wall and then plug the appliance into it and it will give you a digital readout of the watts being used. In that case though you have to remember that is not always the max wattage (for example if it is a aquarium heater and the heater is not running then clearly it wont be giving you the correct number of watts).
 
Pharaoh;3834170; said:
Are you talking about two sockets on one outlet, or two outlets? Either way, they would probably be on the same circuit if they are on the same wall, but the only way to know for sure is to turn off one breaker to the first one and see if the other still has power.
Click to expand...

Agree that two sockets in one outlet are going to be on the same circuit, but if he is measuring total load on that circuit he needs to identify all other oulets, lights, etc that are on that circuit.
 
Ok, it's two sockets on one outlet...

If I put to much wattage on a circuit by accident, what would happen? Could it cause a fire etc or just knock the power off?
 
OH put a fork in the socket if u die then u shld have engh electricity to run ur tanks......jk i hope u knw
 
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