Fish Tank

GWfan · Mar 3, 2011

Hi all,

Hope someone can help me with this. I have a fish tank heater (25w, 240v, 50hz, double insulated) with no plug on the end - just the live and neutral wires.

Just to be sure, I would be hugely grateful if someone could possibly let me know exactly what needs to be done in order to safely wire this thing up to a regular UK plug.

Thanks in advance!

telectrix · Mar 3, 2011

it's class 2, double insulated and don't require an earth. just wire plug L and N. ( brown to the fuse obviously) and fuse the plug at 3A. the fuse value is to protect the cable on the heater, you could fit 1A if you can get one.

GWfan · Mar 3, 2011

That's great! Worked a treat. Many thanks for getting back so soon.

Actually, the full setup for the tank included a pump which mechanically died rather than electrically, which is what lead to this repair. It would be great to get the internal lighting and the heater back up and running too, but again, I'm not 100% certain where to start now the pump has been disconnected...

The lid of the tank contains all the electrics and a two-pronged power switch which is currently exposed. There's also a heavy white power box with two twin terminals - one with a single live wire (the second is loose/disconnected) for the power switch, and a second live wire connected to one half of the light bulb connector (the second connector, too, is now disconnected).

There's also a choc block which I've currently hooked the plug and heater up to. The discarded pump also has a live/neutral pair of wires which factors into this somehow, but as I say, will now be replaced by a standalone pump with its own plug.

I should also say the heater (and disconnected pump) are intended to be on constantly. The only thing the power switch controls is the flourescent lightbulb.

Any further help greatly appreciated!

telectrix · Mar 3, 2011

looking at pic. 2 that is the ballast for the light with the wiring diagram on it. the long tube is the lamp, and then whatever S is across the light. not all that clear.

GWfan · Mar 3, 2011

I think the ballast is the small white/green tube at the lower part of the first pic (pic 2).The white power box has two twin terminals which I think communicate with with the choc block in some way, but I don't know how. The only thing I can't figure out for sure is how the power supply keeps the heater and now disconnected pump continually running while simultaneously allowing the power switch to control the light. :/