Opinion on electrical plug

[ah tong]

Need opinion on this, i am currently renovating my place, gonna redo the wiring of the whole house, i was wondering how do you guys load up the electrical supply for your planted tank (3ft and above). Do you plug in all your tank appliance from one 3 pin socket and extend with the usual multiple socket or it is better to have contractors install two 13A 3 pin sockets for the purpose of fish tanks. Looking at the amount of electricity that will be going through one 3 pin socket (4x36W PL lights, fan, filter) will it overload?
Sorry about this cos i am not that familiar with electrical stuff.

[tawauboy]

not much difference, really.
having 2 socket outlet provides more flexibility because end of the day, you'll still need multiple socket extension to cater for all your equipment.

the max load handled by a socket outlet is about 3000w. you'll be able to run all your equipment from 3000w. however, having 2 sockets does not automatically give you 6000w unless you asked your electrical contractor to run separate power circuits.

[ah tong]

tawauboy,

Hey thanks for the reply, i am actually thinking of the cost. A twin 13A socket is around $75 where as a multiple socket extension is around half that price.
Dun wanna waste extra money on unecessary renovation.

[oqs]

Don't think the socket will overload with what normal aquarist plug into the socket. I'm currently using 4x55W, 2 canister filters and fans. I've tried 7x36W, 2 canister filters, 1 internal filter, 2 air pumps and solenoid before. No problems too. I'm sure there are people here who plug a few MH lights and their equipment into 1 socket.

[sherchoo]

My tank is with 2X150W MH, an E2028, solenoid and a 0.5hp chiller. If all device is running con currently, the total does not exceed 700W. This does not really add up to even 4 amps. The socket/plug can easily handle this load with no problems, but the question is whether your extension cable would be able to handle the load.

From what I've seen, some extension cables found 'off the shelf' come with only 1mm sq cable which will not be able to withstand my loading. It will easily melt and short out. I'm using a DIY extension with a 3 core X 2.5mm sq cable which I'm quite sure is good enough to carry the current without overheating.

So back to the topic... it's better to have the twin socket outlet as you can share the load with more flexibility even if you're stuck with thin extension cables. I don't think the cost differs to much from a single to a twin socket.

[Goondoo]

Power=Voltage X Current

Regular home voltages=230V
The MCB "tripper" for power socket=20A
Most 3 pin plugs fused =13A

So it will take approximately 2990w to "burnt" the fuse in your 3-pin socket or 4600w to trip your MCB, but your fused SHOULD (but not necessary true) always go off first.

It will not make a real different (unless you are able to exceed the power stated above) how many different sockets you are using. HDB use one colour phase out of the three (namely red, yellow and blue) for each storey to supply electricity to each house. Can't really remember the figures but I think there is a limit of 10 sockets to each 20A MCB, I dont think it is logical to be able to balanced the total load in a house just by using multiple individual sockets.

However, always use HDB approved extensions sockets...[] [] []


Disclaimer: I study electrical engineering more than 10 yrs back and returned 80% of the studied stuff back to them upon my graduation. I might be wrong

[sherchoo]

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So it will take approximately 2990w to "burnt" the fuse in your 3-pin socket or 4600w to trip your MCB, but your fused SHOULD (but not necessary true) always go off first.

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If it's overloading, fuse should blow first, but if short circuit MCBs will trip first.

[tawauboy]

Sherwin has a good point. the main issue will be the extension socket so get one with a psb sticker.

[ah tong]

Hi guys!
Thanks for the input, gives me a better idea of what's the difference between amphere and wattage now. if i overload fuse goes, if short circuit MCB switches off, so the crux now will be the durability of my extension sockets then. Think my current one is sufficient, got PSB sticker on it la. heh.. heh...