Do U Gfci????

[saltn00b]

lets take a poll shall we?
do you use them?
not sure what it is?
GFCI are the wall outlets that reset, as found most commonly in rest rooms.

i am installing two right now in my new house for my tank move this weekend, and i always see that they are mandatory for use around water, however, they also say DO NOT use for something that needs to be on 24/7, such as our tanks for instance.

 

[teen]

i do use one, but if the power goes out while your on vacation or away from your tank for a day or more, then you can pretty much kiss your tank good bye. i lost a lot of stuff like this over the summer. i was away camping and i guess the power went out, the gfi's do not reset themselves, you have to manually reset them. i came home to no flow, no heater, no light, no skimmer. it was a disaster area. but i guess its better then your house catching on fire from faulty equipment.

 

[oceanists]

I use a GFCI extension cord

 

[judyk]

The GFCI's should not trip because of a power outage. I'm not an electrician but, our power goes out alot and we don't have to reset them when it comes back on. Now, we have had a bad electric storm that blew all of ours and we had to replace every single one. We've been hit by lightning a few times. It's expensive.

 

[teen]

i have the extension cord type, not built into the wall like the picture. i guess thats why it doesnt turn back on.

 

[saltn00b]

Originally Posted by Oceanists
I use a GFCI extension cord
do you mean those power strips / surge protectors, like monster cable would manufacture?

 

[reefkprz]

surge protectors are different from GFCI in that a surge protector is designed to interrupt power surges before they can damage whats plugged into them or to trip if there is an over load, a GFCI is designed to trip before you can die from electrocution, using a power strip or surge device will NOT protect you from being killed by electrocution.
Just another fun fact sponsored by your local Coroners office.
PS I use both GFCI and A surge protector thats gauranteed for up to $10,000 in damages to any equipment plugged into it. and rated for surges up to 25,000 joules.

 

[ravennreef]

They are a good safety item but as teen said, if they get tripped when you are gone it can be a disaster. If they get even a little water on them they will turn the circuit off and cut power. And in the saltwater hobby spills happen....

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by teen
i have the extension cord type, not built into the wall like the picture. i guess thats why it doesnt turn back on.

The built in ones have to be reset manually too. the black button is to test or trip the gfci to make sure its still working and the red button resets or turns it back on.

 

[big]

Here is one of the 2 external units I use on my setup. They are about 25 bucks at the big hardware stores, with 3 outlets each.
Yes they do kick out every little power loss, but that beats the heck out of being DEAD when one sticks his or her hand into a shorted tank!!!!!!

In addition I run a large external canister on a non GRI outlet to keep things circulation if I an away during a Power loss........Warren

 

[teen]

^^ thats the same one i use.

 

[psusocr1]

if you dont use one you should...i had a real bad experince and almost killed myself due to a "spill" i much rather my power go off that get shocked into next year! these things are life savers and wonderfull !

 

[dragonladylea]

I have a grounding probe in the tank, a surge protector powerstrip and GCFI,
I also thank God have my son, who accidently dropped the lights into the tank. As he so eloquently stated "It was just reflex that I grabbed for them". Please, Please people these are very inexpensive precautions that could save you or your loved ones life!!!!

 

[dejaco]

My entire system is on 4 outlets. All of them GFI. The power has gone out and come back on without throwing them. However the electrician who connected the system for me suggested running two new breakers; one 20 for most ecetrical and a dedicated 30 for the lighting and return pumps.
So far so good.

 

[ol'salty]

Instead of replacing an outlet for each aqaurium, you can by a gfic breaker that does the same thing. I think mine was about 13 bucks. It has the test and reset button in the breaker box and just has an extra white wire coming out that you ground to your ground strip in the box. Not too bad for 13 bucks, it;s just like having a gfic at every outlet. 1 more thing, if you don't feel comfortable changing this yourself it would be best to have this done by a proffessional. If you do attempt this on your own, just turn off the main before attempting.

 

[psusocr1]

i also not only have a GFCI in every outlet i have my whole entire two tanks on a seperate breaker so that if anythign goes wrong all i have to do is trip the whole thing...as said above if it happens to you, you will realize how important these things are! they willalso prevent seriosu fires if somethign gets a "bit" wet when your not home.. once again i rather have a shut off tank that a burnt down house

 

[taznut]

i have a power bar with a trip switch thing but the outlet is normal...

 

[lazypinoy]

yea i use a gfci right after i got shocked by my 5 outlet extesnion....always had that "what if feeling" after that and i dindt want to take chances. so i bought one and would recomend it to anyone with fishtanks because water+electricity=to not so good things.

. like someone b4 me said its better than having ur house burned down or u dieing! :scared:

 

[saltn00b]

hey PSU - or someone else who might know, i am renting a house and just installed 2 GFCI to move my 150 in. In doing so unfortunately i found that they are both on the same breaker switch, as well as finding out that each recepticle will only handle 15 amps, will that allow me to run a 150 Reef, or am i screwed?

 

[catawaba]

Dedicated breakers, GFI outlets, surge protector strips and grounding probe.