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Hey Everybody,
I know that there are tons of STC-1000 wiring how-to threads out there, however I have a couple of specific questions around wiring up multiple, 2 in my case STC-1000s.
Below is a wiring diagram that I put together. I am not an EE, or even an electrician for that matter, so I will explain what I am trying to depict in the drawing:
I have a mini-fridge that I was using for serving, but I recently upgraded to a GE 5 CUFT chest freezer for serving, so moving forward I will be using the mini-fridge for fermenting. I plan to install 2 STC-1000s in a makeshift control panel. Each STC will be wired to 1-15 amp dual receptacle. A third 15 amp dual receptacle will be added and wired directly to the main feed for a "constant on". 1 of the STC-1000s and outlets will be used to power the mini-fridge (fermentation chamber) and the other will be used to power the chest freezer for serving. Each STC and receptacle will be wired identical as shown in the diagram. I plan on using the "constant on" receptacle to run 2-4" fans - 1 for the mini-fridge and 1 for the chest freezer.
The questions I have are below the diagram (I just realized as I was going to post this that the labels on the STC and the outlets in the diagram are flip-flopped, but I think it still gets the point across):
1. Can I run just one main line into the control panel (as shown in the diagram) and splice it to provide power to both STC-1000s? This essentially means that I could be running the mini-fridge and chest freezer at the same time through the control panel that is plugged into 1-15 amp outlet tied into a 15 amp breaker, that is responsible for the load of other lights and outlets in the house as well.
NOTE: The GE chest freezer is spec'd at 15 amps, I am assuming thats at the moment that the freezer turns on, probably does not run at 15 amps once up and running? GE just says 15 amps though.
2. Should I just play it safe and run 2 main lines in, one for each STC vs splicing one main between 2 STC-1000s? Even then, could I run the mini-fridge and chest freezer off of 1-15 amp dual receptacle that, as mentioned above, is tied into a 15 amp break? If both happened to turn on at the same instant could the sudden draw of power flip the breaker?
3. If I run 2 main lines, and the chest freezer requires ~15 amps, there is no need for me to put the inline fuse in place is there? Considering the circuit is 15 amps? Would the fuse blow before the circuit flips? If so the fuse could save some irritation of lights and other outlets going out if this setup happens to pull too much power.
4. Do I need to have a fan for the mini-fridge (about 4.5 CUFT)? If not, should I wire the main line into one of the outlets for my chest freezer receptacle (which would reduce my total receptacle count from 3 to 2)? As shown in the diagram I am wiring the heat up to one of the outlets but will probably not be using the heat, just the cool. Could I use the other as the "constant on" for a fan for the chest freezer?
5. Should I add ventilation to the control panel for the STC-1000s? I have read that they do not produce that much heat, however, here in the Texas hill country we can get consecutive days over 100 in the summer time, and I do plan to keep this setup outside on the back porch?
That is everything I can think of right now. My main concern is the power draw running the two appliances off of one 15 amp outlet that is tied to one 15 amp circuit.
I really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
John
I know that there are tons of STC-1000 wiring how-to threads out there, however I have a couple of specific questions around wiring up multiple, 2 in my case STC-1000s.
Below is a wiring diagram that I put together. I am not an EE, or even an electrician for that matter, so I will explain what I am trying to depict in the drawing:
I have a mini-fridge that I was using for serving, but I recently upgraded to a GE 5 CUFT chest freezer for serving, so moving forward I will be using the mini-fridge for fermenting. I plan to install 2 STC-1000s in a makeshift control panel. Each STC will be wired to 1-15 amp dual receptacle. A third 15 amp dual receptacle will be added and wired directly to the main feed for a "constant on". 1 of the STC-1000s and outlets will be used to power the mini-fridge (fermentation chamber) and the other will be used to power the chest freezer for serving. Each STC and receptacle will be wired identical as shown in the diagram. I plan on using the "constant on" receptacle to run 2-4" fans - 1 for the mini-fridge and 1 for the chest freezer.
The questions I have are below the diagram (I just realized as I was going to post this that the labels on the STC and the outlets in the diagram are flip-flopped, but I think it still gets the point across):
1. Can I run just one main line into the control panel (as shown in the diagram) and splice it to provide power to both STC-1000s? This essentially means that I could be running the mini-fridge and chest freezer at the same time through the control panel that is plugged into 1-15 amp outlet tied into a 15 amp breaker, that is responsible for the load of other lights and outlets in the house as well.
NOTE: The GE chest freezer is spec'd at 15 amps, I am assuming thats at the moment that the freezer turns on, probably does not run at 15 amps once up and running? GE just says 15 amps though.
2. Should I just play it safe and run 2 main lines in, one for each STC vs splicing one main between 2 STC-1000s? Even then, could I run the mini-fridge and chest freezer off of 1-15 amp dual receptacle that, as mentioned above, is tied into a 15 amp break? If both happened to turn on at the same instant could the sudden draw of power flip the breaker?
3. If I run 2 main lines, and the chest freezer requires ~15 amps, there is no need for me to put the inline fuse in place is there? Considering the circuit is 15 amps? Would the fuse blow before the circuit flips? If so the fuse could save some irritation of lights and other outlets going out if this setup happens to pull too much power.
4. Do I need to have a fan for the mini-fridge (about 4.5 CUFT)? If not, should I wire the main line into one of the outlets for my chest freezer receptacle (which would reduce my total receptacle count from 3 to 2)? As shown in the diagram I am wiring the heat up to one of the outlets but will probably not be using the heat, just the cool. Could I use the other as the "constant on" for a fan for the chest freezer?
5. Should I add ventilation to the control panel for the STC-1000s? I have read that they do not produce that much heat, however, here in the Texas hill country we can get consecutive days over 100 in the summer time, and I do plan to keep this setup outside on the back porch?
That is everything I can think of right now. My main concern is the power draw running the two appliances off of one 15 amp outlet that is tied to one 15 amp circuit.
I really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
John