help with project.

[reeve1987]

hey guys,

so i been rebuilding my ig's terrarium and decided to have all the electronics in one box.

now there is 6 electrical items in the viv all that require electrical sockets and because every item is on a timer plug an extension isnt really viable as the timer plugs are all pretty wide.

so i designed the box in the image below.

my question is will it work soundly electronicaly and how can it be made safer at minimal cost?

it will have a circuit breaker plug on the main power feed cable at the wall socket end.

so a basic break down of it is as follows

one nice thick cable to handle all the power goes into the box and is split into slightly thinner cable in a Y shape via a chock block then that is split into 3 ways via slightly thinner cable again that then feeds 3 sockets each. so the initial cable is split to feed all 6 plug sockets.

i was thinking maybe installing in line fuses for each socket at the the final split. so its split then through the fuse and into the socket.

but dont know where to get these from.

any suggestions on improvement for saftey or efficiency would be appreciated.

by the way its all housed in a box that sits on top of the terrarium.

by the way im not a registered electrician nor to i work in this field.

i've just learnt about electronics by doing if that makes sence.

this seemed the simplest way to wire all this but the saftey of my pets comes first.

thanks for any suggestions

 

[Guest123]

Hi.

Well fair play to you for actually being concerned about making things safe to use.

The RCD socket socket is a good start that'll protect you and your animals from any earth faults, the 13A fuse in the RCD socket will serve as the main overcurrent protection (along with the fuse/MCB in the consumer unit, depending on it's rating).

Installing inline fuses just before each socket in the box wouldn't be a bad idea either as you say you are reducing the size of the wires, so a 5A fuse would probably be enough for the equipment you are using (except the heater maybe)....best to check the rating on this one as you may need larger wire to feed the socket for it, plus the plugtops of the lamps, heater, mister etc will ave fuses in also.

You may need to check that the total rating of all the equipment will be less than your maximum 13A fuse or you may have the fuse blowing....will all the equipment be on at the same time??? if so, and you have a double socket nearby then maybe make up 2 boxes of 3 sockets.

Slydlok fuses are probably your best bet...see link below.

Buy Fuses Online from The Fuse Company

Alternatively there are 3, 4, and 6way extension adapters available.


HTH

 

[reeve1987]

yeah thanks for that. they wont be on all at the same time. the moon lamp will only be on at night and i might be able to remove the basking bulb section all together.

i'll be sure to make sure total ampage doesnt exceed 13 oncei have all of the equipment.

thanks again

would these be okay? im thinking they may be good to keep things tidyer and possibly safer if i need to have someone look after things and a fuse blows, be easier for them to change it rather than playing with wires and trying to dig out the right fuse holder from a bundle of cables lol


Panel Mounting Fuse Holder Finger Release 6 x 32mm 10A on eBay (end time 22-Jan-10 01:12:34 GMT)

also, the box its all in is made from mdf 1cm thick wood. can you recomend an insulation material to line the interior with?


anyone?

 

[Guest123]

Those fuses would be ok as long as you get the correct rating for them.

The ones I suggested can be screwed down also, the picture just isn't very good. Once labelled up any of those two will be ok.

As for insulating the inside....perhaps some thin perspex??? not sure what you are trying to acheive???

 

[reeve1987]

insulation lining to reduce fire hazard of having all the eletrics in a wooden box. perspex may work. but dont know if its really important or not

 

[Guest123]

What about one of these...would it be big enough for you???

 

[reeve1987]

almost large enough but ideally needs the room for 6 sockets and timer plugs, which wont fit onto an extention like the one in the image. sucks tho. a florecent tube starter a 4"x4"x1" mister controller and thermostats (habistats)

 

[dragon-av]

depending on how nuts you want to go i would look at DIN Rail gear ideally, DIN Rail timers and transformers much neater if more expensive.

Link: <blacksmiths way newport - Google Maps>

Muller | Process Control | Timers and Time Switches | Time Switch, DIN | SC28 |SC28.21

Mount it all on a DIN rail in a Plastic box fed from a RCD Switch Spur using 2 channel timers you only need 1 for each of 2 devices which gives you 3 timers for 6 devices you may find you can reduce this further I dont know enough about iguanas to advise.

Digital Compact Timer - Din Rail Mounting | Buy Digital Compact Timer - Din Rail Mounting online at THESITEBOX.COM
ABB Modular DIN Rail Components MDRCs - Modular DIN Rail Products (Low Voltage Products and Systems)

HAve a look at the ABB catalogue I am not a fan or using lots of 3 pin sockets and transformers also you do bneed to consider heat issues in a sealed box.

Hope this helps