4 or 6 gang extension lead with RCD protection??

paddy147

Looking to get a 4 gang/4 plug or even a 6 plug extension lead with a form of RCD/anti surge protection on it.

Its for my aquariam.

Does anyone where is best and cheapst place to get 1.Would any of the electrical wholesalers have this in stock?

I saw some 4 and 6 gang anti surge extension leads in the Argos catalogue,but am a bit wary as to whether they are just crappy useless makes and brands??

Need it asap too,as I have to tidy us the mess of wires at the back and side of the tank.

I have the following things for the aquariam.............

1 x large Eheim 600 litre external water filter/pump
2 x 300W Elite heaters.
1 x T5 tube light system
1 x 24 hour timer (T5 lights and C02 sprayer)
1 x Pro-Flora Digital PH and C02 sprayer/injection system

So thats 6 plugs,so actually I do need a 6 gang RCD/anti surge extension lead.

Where can I get a decent brand 6 gang extension lead with RCD protection??


Thanks.:)

paddy147

paddy147 wrote: »

Looking to get a 4 gang/4 plug or even a 6 plug extension lead with a form of RCD/anti surge protection on it.

Its for my aquariam.

Does anyone where is best and cheapst place to get 1.Would any of the electrical wholesalers have this in stock?

I saw some 4 gang anti surge extension leads in the Argos catalogue,but am a bit wary as to whether they are just crappy useless makes and brands??

Need it asap too,as I have to tidy us the mess of wires at the back and side of the tank.


Thanks.:)

How about one of these


with this* plugged into it




*Or some other model of 6 way surge protected multi-strip.

Argos sell a plug in RCD adaptor but i'd recommend going to a wholesaler for a better choice.

paddy147

shaaane wrote: »

How about one of these


with this* plugged into it




*Or some other model of 6 way surge protected multi-strip.

Argos sell a plug in RCD adaptor but i'd recommend going to a wholesaler for a better choice.

Thanks.:)

Looked at the various anti surge 6 gang leads in the Argos catalogue but I dont know whether thay are cheap/useless makes,also they werent that good on price either.

So hense me asking here,on this forum.;)

Antiquo

IMO I wouldn't bother did you not hear the ESB is going on strike :pac:

Bruthal

I dont see much advantage in having an RCD on the extension lead if your plugging it into a socket that already has RCD protection. Any fault is likely to trip both RCD`s anyway, unless you get one rated down at 10ma or something. And even then it still may trip both, but might give some discrimination though. But a 30ma one wont really.

DublinDilbert

paddy147 wrote: »

Its for my aquariam.

Does your aquariam have a lot of very sensitive equipment in it? Or are you just worried cause it contains water?

(I'm trying to avoid the "plenty more fish in the sea pun" )

Bruthal

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Does your aquariam have a lot of very sensitive equipment in it? Or are you just worried cause it contains water?

(I'm trying to avoid the "plenty more fish in the sea pun" )

Wont make much difference really. Most items in the tank are probably 12v type stuff. But either way, an RCD at the socket feeding the tank wont make much difference to the one already on the sockets, as now its just 2 RCDs in series, unless a 10ma one is used at the socket in question. So if paddy is going to use a seperate one, i would think it needs to be 10ma, or else just dont bother using one.

Even the ones for electric lawn mowers really are not needed if the house has an RCD covering the sockets, the only advantage some of them have is the ones you need to reset if there is a power cut, so people are not looking at blades etc if the power goes, and then it comes back on.

Bruthal

If you are going to get one anyway paddy, i would think myself the 10ma rated one would be what you want. I could be corrected, but cant see much advantage of having a 30ma one plugged in, as you already have one, unless you have a spur wired to the location with no RCD protection.

M cebee

there isn't discrimination without time-delay upstream

you might be looking to avoid loss of power here-10ma won't help that anyhow

i'm not too familiar with this stuff

Bruthal

M cebee wrote: »

there isn't discrimination without time-delay upstream

you might be looking to avoid loss of power here-10ma won't help that anyhow

i'm not too familiar with this stuff

No thats true alright, all 10ma will do is be more sensitive, not really needed. Even a 300ma upstream one for tt systems uses the time-delay exactly like you say.

M cebee

not familiar with this equipment


but pumps and heaters -assuming it requires rcd and maintaining power is important

rcbo and alarm via n/c contactor (wired off rcbo)

is prob best

be a right nuisance -a shared rcd when you have a major problem

Bruthal

Probably 2 x 2 x 5 foot tank or something around that size. Just plug the surge protection extension lead straight in anyway. A water temperature alarm would be all that would be critical in a short time probably, if its a heated aquarium.

indie armada

slightly off topic
we do an rcd plugtop that you hardwire to the lead as opposed to a single adaptor. if one of these is hardwired onto a 4 gang ext socket will it protect all 4 sockets propperly.

Bruthal

Why do it though, if a house already has RCD protected sockets.

M cebee

robbie7730 wrote: »

Probably 2 x 2 x 5 foot tank or something around that size. Just plug the surge protection extension lead straight in anyway. A water temperature alarm would be all that would be critical in a short time probably, if its a heated aquarium.

ya- that would be better if it's water temp that's critical

better protection that way


plug it in:D

paddy147

Its a 5,5 feet long 500 litre tank and the plants and fish that we are going to be keeping (java,discus,congo tetras) need a certain and constant water temp and also need the water filtration and the CO2 injection to thrive and be happy.;)

Some of the devices are sensitive,

The tank is now empty again,and its going to be fully planted up tomorrow afternoon.

My bath is currently full of water with lots of aquariam plants in it,and is heated to 27 degrees C and I also have 2 new 100 litre plastic waste bins in my living room with fresh mains cold water,that is being heated up to 27 degrees C at the moment via 2 heaters.

The water has to be pre heated to around 25-27 degrees C before it can be put into the tank,otheriwze the plants and fish would go into shock from the temp drop of the cold water.:(


Had a quick look in Woodies this evening,and saw a few 6 gang extension leads with anti surge protection,but they wated 25-30 euro for a lead.

So what do your guys recommend then for an extension lead??

What type of extension lead and where to get it??

Thanks.:)

Bruthal

Maybe you could fit a surge protector to the MCB board. Im not sure how much these are. If it was me i`d just plug it straight into all into a standard lead. Does not seem too expensive for that lead in woodies. Did you try any wholesalers?

paddy147

robbie7730 wrote: »

Maybe you could fit a surge protector to the MCB board. Im not sure how much these are. If it was me i`d just plug it straight into all into a standard lead. Does not seem too expensive for that lead in woodies. Did you try any wholesalers?

I never got to any of the wholesalers,as my lovely girlfriend drove me to various pet stores and aquariam shops to buy special soil and nutriant for the tank,also spent out more money on more plants too.Hadnt planned to,but got roped into it,as you know.

Women seem to have a great nack for this type of thing and buying things,that "you" didnt expect to be buying.;):pac::pac:

paddy147

I have 2 double sockets where the tank is.

The socket to the left of the pic and also a double socket on the right,where the external filter and pump is located.

just thinking out loud here

1 x 6 gang socket or 2 x 3 gang anti surge sockets pluged into each of the wall sockets???

decisions decisions>

Bruthal

Its all the same really, except 1 6 gang surge lead would probably be cheaper than 2 3 gang ones. And an aquarium would be only a small load, so a 6 gang would be no problem in that regard.

M cebee

don't know too much on surge protection

but i think it's recommended to fit protection at the consumer unit and the multilead

paddy147

M cebee wrote: »

don't know too much on surge protection

but i think it's recommended to fit protection at the consumer unit and the multilead

Its a rennovation and extension/new build house,so it has brand new wiring and consumer board,so its protected.:)

When you say multi lead,you mean a normal extension lead??

I presume that anti surge lead is better than a bog standard lead?

Thanks.:)

Bruthal

paddy147 wrote: »

Its a rennovation and extension/new build house,so it has brand new wiring and consumer board,so its protected.:)

When you say multi lead,you mean a normal extension lead??

I presume that anti surge lead is better than a bog standard lead?

Thanks.:)

Surge protection just protects against voltage spikes, usually to protect electronic equipment. Thats why i think an aquarium probably does not need it that much. A newly built house would not have surge protection as standard.

Bruthal

M cebee wrote: »

don't know too much on surge protection

but i think it's recommended to fit protection at the consumer unit and the multilead

I bet ye know more than most of us:)

paddy147

robbie7730 wrote: »

Surge protection just protects against voltage spikes, usually to protect electronic equipment. Thats why i think an aquarium probably does not need it that much. A newly built house would not have surge protection as standard.

So an anti surge extension lead is the way to go then??

Thanks.:)

Bruthal

Yes for aquarium stuff its probably not even needed. So the 6 way lead with surge protection would be more than enough.

paddy147

Thanks.:D

paddy147

Right,went and bought 2 x 4 gang anti surge extension leads today and I also bought 2 timers too (1 for the T5 lights and 1 for the CO2 injection system)

Can I ask this now,the lead that came with the CO2 injection kit is a european 2 pin lead,can I cut this off and wire on a normal 3 pin plug instead??

Or is that 2 pin power lead a special lead?

Thanks.:)

M cebee

a UPS is prob another option -standby power,surge and voltage regulation

paddy147

M cebee wrote: »

a UPS is prob another option -standby power,surge and voltage regulation

Where would I get a UPS from and what sort of money are we talking about?

Also what are they like,size wize?

Thanks.:)

Bruthal

I was goin to mention a UPS originally, but for an aquarium that size, its probably overkill. Unless your one of the fish anyway.

paddy147

robbie7730 wrote: »

Unless your one of the fish anyway.

I might end up swimming with the fish,if I take any more pics of my girlfriend planting up the tank and getting it right to her standards.:pac::D

I made plenty of cupps of tea tonight,and sat and watched as she worked away on the tank.Its a hard life indeed you know.:D

Still have to buy some fish for this tank,thats the crazy thing.The tank must be left for 1 month with the plants,lights and CO2 working before any fish can be introduced.

I think that the 2 x 4 gang anti surge extension leads and timers should be fine for the aquariam and the various leccy gadgets.

Maybe a UPS is going a tad OTT and is a bit of overkill and money thrown away???

Bruthal

paddy147 wrote: »

Still have to buy some fish for this tank,thats the crazy thing.The tank must be left for 1 month with the plants,lights and CO2 working before any fish can be introduced.

Yes especially if putting tropical fish in. Probably best to put the fish into tank while still in the bags of water as well, to let the temp gradually equalise. Better to gradually introduce them to the tank too, a couple of fish at a time. A bit of work keeping the tropical setup going.

M cebee

how much time do you have-when the heating stops on these tanks

Bruthal

Depends on the room temp. The aquarium will probably be 25c or so. If the room was 20 degrees it would take a fair while.

It will have a bit of a running cost to keep it warm in a cool room. Probably be a fair few hundred watts of heating needed for that. 500 watts probably.

paddy147

M cebee wrote: »

how much time do you have-when the heating stops on these tanks

Water temp has to be 28 degrees C for the type of plants and fish that are in it and will be in it,in the future.

The heaters are thermostatic and cut out once correct preset temp has been reached and the water holds the temp for a good while before the temp drops back down and the heaters kick back in again.

The tank has 2 x 300 watt heaters in it.

1 watt for 1 litre is the way its done.

The tank is 500 litres so it has 600 watts of heating ability,so its well covered there.:)


Also the reason for 2 heaters,is that if one ever fails,then you have the other heater keeping the water temp up and keeps the fish and plants alive.

It also allows you a few days to go any buy a replacement heater too.

The T5 lights and digital CO2 injection have to be on for at least 10 hours a day,in order for the plants and fish to both survive and also thrive

paddy147

Quick pic of the tank,as of this evening and one of the heaters (side of tank).


Dont mind the mess of wires,as we are in the procerss of planting it up yesterday and all today.