Taming the Octopus

[vic622]

You  may be familiar with the wiring octopus from my 75gal tank build
http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=47968.msg297514#msg297514
It made it's ugly appearance after I plumbed the sump two weeks ago ...



I didn't want this to stay behind the tank & risk falling into the sump so I decided to make a power panel on a 16" x x36" board that would hang on the wall.

I attached the bits with zip-ties that had mounting holes.
Here's the GFCI power outlet, powerbars & timers layed out on the panel :



I put two mounting lag screws into the top edge of the board (~2" into the wood) and then ran a double strand of brass wire between them to hook on 60lb picture hanging hooks that I've put into the plaster:



Once I got this onto the wall, I ran all the plugs from the pumps & lights to the panel.
I've attached them with 3/8" nylon wire clamps to prevent them from dropping into the sump when unplugged.
I've also looped excess wiring, zip-tied it and similarly mounted it to the panel.

I'll sleep a a bit better tonight ... 

[Hookup]

Much better!  A lot of work too

[vic622]

Thanks!

It actually wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be ... once I got the planning out of the way

The build itself only took about 2-1/2hrs, including hanging & hooking up all the connections.

It would have been a ton easier if the sump was under the tank instead of behind it. Having said that, I've now got a portable power panel I can use on the next build if I want!

Much better!  A lot of work too

[NjOyRiD]

ouffff nice

[vic622]

Thanks Phil.
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out & I sure am glad I don't need to worry about all that electrical hanging above the sump!

ouffff nice

[NanoSF]

Some swear by duct-tape, I swear by zip-ties!

Nice and tidy. Hope those two little hooks holding the whole board up are strong 

[vic622]

Some swear by duct-tape, I swear by zip-ties!

Nice and tidy. Hope those two little hooks holding the whole board up are strong 

Couldn't use duck tape on this project, it doesn't stick too well to wood

The hooks are rated for 60lbs/ea. On the package it says to not load at more than 50% of the rating (go figure) so that still gives me a 60lbs total max load and the whole panel weighs no more than 20-30lbs.

[Greatwhite]

Very cool - but would be cooler with a few of these badboys duct taped on there...

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=914023&CatId=1284

[Severum]

Very cool - but would be cooler with a few of these badboys duct taped on there...

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=914023&CatId=1284

I use one of those and absolutely love it!

[Cheebs]

Very nice!! I did something similar, but I like the board you hung up to strap everything to. I ended up fixing my powerbars to my actual drywall, so it isn't as mobile if I ever move the tank. Good idea!

This may not be an issue for you, but I was worried about splashes of water from my open topped tank hitting the power bars, so I made rudimentary water shields out of yoghurt containers to go above them on the wall.  It makes everything pretty much water proof

[vic622]

Very cool - but would be cooler with a few of these badboys duct taped on there...

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=914023&CatId=1284

Oh! I might have to get a couple & replace the regular pair that I have on there - I like the switches, very nice for controlling single pumps etc.

[vic622]

Very nice!! I did something similar, but I like the board you hung up to strap everything to. I ended up fixing my powerbars to my actual drywall, so it isn't as mobile if I ever move the tank. Good idea!

This may not be an issue for you, but I was worried about splashes of water from my open topped tank hitting the power bars, so I made rudimentary water shields out of yoghurt containers to go above them on the wall.  It makes everything pretty much water proof

The other nice thing is I can take the board down to add something to it or to modify it in any way.

I think if it was my wall (not the landlord's) I might have done the same thing as you - Now having done this, I would do it the same in my own place.

I'd really have to try hard to splash on to the panel. It's the same height as the top of the tank & 12" behind it. I know, don't tempt fate ...

I suppose I could make a splash-guard from acrylic to go over the panel, hinged at the top for access. Hmmm, next week's project

[Greatwhite]

Oh! I might have to get a couple & replace the regular pair that I have on there - I like the switches, very nice for controlling single pumps etc.

Indeed.  Individual switches are great - when you remember to turn them back on.

[vic622]

Indeed.  Individual switches are great - when you remember to turn them back on.

ROTFL

The problem of having too many gizmos hooked up to one tank ...

[bt]

Indeed.  Individual switches are great - when you remember to turn them back on.

On that note... what I want is a countdown timer that is OFF when the timer is running.  I don't know if such a thing exists at the consumer level though.

[vic622]

On that note... what I want is a countdown timer that is OFF when the timer is running.  I don't know if such a thing exists at the consumer level though.

Could be done with a relay, but that means wiring & possibly duck-tape

[Greatwhite]

Could be done with a relay, but that means wiring & possibly duck-tape

could also be done with a length of string taped to a switch at one end, and my 2 year old on the other. I figure that the time that she'll actually sit still is plenty of time for fish to eat.  When she wanders off, the string would turn the switch on - bingo.  Free auto-back-on-switchification device.

[vic622]

could also be done with a length of string taped to a switch at one end, and my 2 year old on the other. I figure that the time that she'll actually sit still is plenty of time for fish to eat.  When she wanders off, the string would turn the switch on - bingo.  Free auto-back-on-switchification device.

Complete with audible feedback device ... 'cause I can guarantee she'd squawk when she got to the end of the string ...