Downside of Ground Fault Interrupter

blackdog

blackdog

Member
This morning I went down to check my tank, and everything was off. I realized that the power company had come by to do work on my meter, and had shut off power to my house for a few minutes. The plug-in ground fault interrupter that I had placed between the outlet and power strip needed to be manually reset in order for everything to start up again!
Now I'm all in favor of preventing a short circuit from burning down my house, but if I had been at work like I ordinarily would be, and if I had something other than live rock in a new cycling tank, I would have had a real problem on my hands. Never mind if I had actually been away from home or something.
Going into this adventure, an extended power outage was my biggest fear. However, a couple people have offered ideas that can keep things going during a long winter storm. But now I have to be around in case the power goes out for a few seconds and trips my GFI?!
Anyone have any suggestions? I've read how some people haven't even gone on vacation since they started their reefs, because they're afraid to lose it all. I don't want to be a slave to my tank.
 
wetone

wetone

Member
I have had power go out from storms or house maint and the GFI plug (in the wall, not a strip) never needs to be reset, only if a surge cause it to trip. I would try putting in a regular GFI outlet.
Don't get me wrong my tank is my obsession too...however, stick your hand in a tank with 110vac running thru it because you dont have a GFI and you will quickly find whats worse than losing tank livestock !!
Corals can be replaced you cant (spouse opinion not included!!)
 
fishforme

fishforme

Member
I had the same problem. I went to work last week and the power incidently went out for a few seconds (my wife was home) and the GFI tripped. My tank never started back up again. I took mine out... I need the power restored immediately... And I bought a battery backup system.
 
q

q

Member
Mine have never tripped when the power goes out. My wife has blown the circuit breaker a few times while vacuming :D and when I reset the breaker everything is on. I am using the kind that are installed in the wall though. I mounted them in a custom power strip so they are out of the way.
 
luke

luke

Member
A GFI installed in the circuit (a wall outlet) should not trip when the power blips off for a little while. I have had numerous small outages and lots of 2 second on/offs of the power during wind storms. Never once has the GFI tripped.
Have an electrician install an outlet with a built in GFI. Or, if you know enough about electricity then it is easy to do yourself. Although ONLY do this if you have the know how!!!
Luke
 
ksujason

ksujason

Member
A GFCI works by monitoring the current flowing between hot and neutral. A fluctuation between what is going out and what is coming in as little as 4 to 5 milliamps will trip the unit. Power outages should not trip them. I would recommend the wall type avilable at any home improvement store for around $10. They are very easy to install, just make sure your breaker is off.
 
jamie1010

jamie1010

Member
the reason its triping the gfi is because more energy is used to startup than to run it. usually u start things one at a time rather than all at once. so if u wouldnt have the gfi you would just be triping your breaker.unless u have to small of a gfi they come in different sizes ei 15 amp 20 amp. should be the same size as your circuit breaker, or fuse depending on year of house.
 
blackdog

blackdog

Member
Hey, thanks folks for the good replies. I'll plan to get an installed outlet. And I'll put my plug-in in the rapidly expanding pile of aquarium purchases that aren't quite right <img src="graemlins//yeahright.gif" border="0" alt="[yeahright]" />
 
chocochipper

chocochipper

Member
A GFI measures the "difference" of current on the hot and neutral. It should not trip when power is lost. The initial inrush of current from starting all things at once should not trip the GFI as stated either. That is not it's purpose.
 
skipb

skipb

New Member
Why can't you put an computer type UPS between the house's AC and a downstream. That way current will always be flowing into the GFI and not reset when the supply current is interupted.
 
ksujason

ksujason

Member
You could do this, and with a big enough UPS it would buy you a few minutes without power loss. You could run only the essentials such as a pump and a couple of lights. Problem is the GFCI shouldnt be tripping when power goes out.
 
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