Gfci

one/eighth

one/eighth

Member
I always thought that surge protectors protected from a fire incase of a water spill. I guessed wrong? So now Im hearing a lot of talk about GFCI and how I NEED one. If it wil help protect me and my fish ten I will get it. My question is, Do I have to replace my regular grounded outlet with a GFCI wall outlet? If I have to do that will using a surge protector or power strip still be safe?
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by One/Eighth
http:///forum/post/2722119
My question is, Do I have to replace my regular grounded outlet with a GFCI wall outlet?
No, but I would. (and did) It's easy to do and eliminates the threat of water running down the wall behind your plug-in GFCI unit.
Originally Posted by One/Eighth
http:///forum/post/2722119
If I have to do that will using a surge protector or power strip still be safe?
Yes. A GFCI adds a breaker to the circuit. Other than that it functions the same way a standard outlet does.
 
fraggle_a

fraggle_a

Member
I thought about that.
I just invested in a simple Batter Backup for a computer / server.
Works a treat!.
Just add drip loops to all the cable and its pretty much fool proof.
Trust me, my power goes out everytime theres a storm. (lakeland electric in floirda) So the Backup keeps the main pump running while the power is out and the aux outlets stop any other power issues hitting my lights.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
I dont really get what a GFCI does that your regular circuit breaker doesn't do. When my tank broke the outlet circuit got wet and the circuit breaker flipped. I changed the outlet and flipped that circuit back on the main circuit breaker and it was back to normal.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
http:///forum/post/2722195
I dont really get what a GFCI does that your regular circuit breaker doesn't do. When my tank broke the outlet circuit got wet and the circuit breaker flipped. I changed the outlet and flipped that circuit back on the main circuit breaker and it was back to normal.
Your outlet can heat up and cause a fire without tripping the breaker for that circuit. A GFCI is a $7 second line of defense protecting your family, not to mention your home and belongings. I think that $7 and 5 minutes of time to install it is worth the effort.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
GFI are a must everyone should have one!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you cant get one or put it in yourself there are POWER STRIPS with built in GFI.
good luck.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Yes, get a GFCI power strip. It is a must. Water is a conductor of electricity. Until the water hits a ground it will shock/electrocute your fish and yourself if you put your hands in the tank. Lets say your heater breaks and you put your hands into the tank to pick up broken pieces of heater glass. Why chance it?
 
savagewill

savagewill

New Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
http:///forum/post/2722195
I dont really get what a GFCI does that your regular circuit breaker doesn't do. When my tank broke the outlet circuit got wet and the circuit breaker flipped. I changed the outlet and flipped that circuit back on the main circuit breaker and it was back to normal.
i am actually going to school to be an electrician. A GFCI is a safety device to protect people. a breaker is a safety device to protect equipment. a gfci measures amps going out and amps coming in and if there is any differance it will trip where as a breaker will only trip if you are drawing to many amps through a circuit. so with something breaking and getting wet a gfci will trip imidiatly where a breaker can take a couple of seconds longer which when water is involved could be a couple of seconds to long.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Well, lemme tell you how I feel about having them....
At one point (last saturday) I did not have them........





First thing Sunday morning they were installed...... get one!
 
jimvette1

jimvette1

Member
Originally Posted by SavageWill
http:///forum/post/2722693
i am actually going to school to be an electrician. A GFCI is a safety device to protect people. a breaker is a safety device to protect equipment. a gfci measures amps going out and amps coming in and if there is any differance it will trip where as a breaker will only trip if you are drawing to many amps through a circuit. so with something breaking and getting wet a gfci will trip imidiatly where a breaker can take a couple of seconds longer which when water is involved could be a couple of seconds to long.
Great trade to be in, personally I have had over 32 years as a union electrician and am now retired and if I may add to your response, which is right on.
I have seen 20 amp circuit breakers hold for over 25 amps and never trip.
How the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) Works
In the home's wiring system, the GFCI constantly monitors electricity flowing in a circuit, to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning, the GFCI quickly switches off power to that circuit. The GFCI interrupts power faster than a blink of an eye to prevent a lethal dose of electricity. You may receive a painful shock, but you should not be electrocuted or receive a serious shock injury.
Here's how it may work in your house. Suppose a bare wire inside an appliance touches the metal case. The case is then charged with electricity. If you touch the appliance with one hand while the other hand is touching a grounded metal object, like a water faucet, you will receive a shock. If the appliance is plugged into an outlet protected by a GFCI, the power will be shut off before a fatal shock would occur.
People we are talking in milliseconds here, much faster than a lethal shock can be administered.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
I too am a retired Master Electrician and can say that, on more than one occasion, have found water to be fully energized with livestock unaffected. The danger begins when a ground source is introduced. Then the electricity has a path to travel - all too often people have been that source of ground and the result is not good. A GFCI will trip in a miilisecond and reduce the shock to you to what amounts to a pin prick. I once measured full circuit voltage in a customers tank. It takes in excess of twenty amps to trip a circuit and only 1/10th of one amp to kill the average adult - the resistance of the human body actually prevents the circuit from overloading in most cases involving water thus resulting in electrocution. GET THE GFCI !! Be it strip, breaker, or receptacle.... how much is YOUR life worth?
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
Cranberry - I'm glad to see that you were one of the fortunate ones and only suffered minor damage and inconvenience - keep those tokens as "show and tell" items for your local reef club.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I look like Tammy Faye Bakker from the Fallout.... get one!
Doood... the kids could have been alone in the house when that happened... or no one home but my 2 senior dogs..... they are horrid thoughts.... get one!
 
jimvette1

jimvette1

Member
Cranberry,
Man are you one lucky dude.

I'm glad that is all the damage you received and you and your family are safe and here to show us what can happen..

One more very good point to make:
Don't go cheap! Buy the best brand name not some cheap knock-off.
And TEST the GFCI EVERY MONTH!
Also one better is Arch-Fault breakers:
Similar to GFCI devices, I expect AFCI device requirements will migrate over to commercial and industrial applications in due course. E.g., Fire station sleeping areas, military housing, hospitals, outpatient clinics, rest homes, retirement homes, or other locations where extension cords or cord-connected equipment may be used, and where the general occupancy may be at risk.
A ground fault circuit interrupter compares the current between the hot and ground looking for leakage current, or an imbalance. An arc fault circuit interrupter looks for an unintentional electrical discharge. The arc fault does not go to ground. Things that would create an arc fault might be a damaged extension cord or improperly installed wall receptacles.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
I've been reading a little since. so metal halide ballast shouldn't be used with a GFCI because it will cause the changes in voltage will cause them to constantly trip? only equipment that is actually exposed to the water need to be hooked up to it (pumps, heaters)? what about small flourescent lights (18w sump pc lights), can they be hooked up to a GFCI?
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
http:///forum/post/2723924
I've been reading a little since. so metal halide ballast shouldn't be used with a GFCI because it will cause the changes in voltage will cause them to constantly trip? only equipment that is actually exposed to the water need to be hooked up to it (pumps, heaters)? what about small flourescent lights (18w sump pc lights), can they be hooked up to a GFCI?
Been running everything off my GFCI. (260w PC lights) It tripped once when I first plugged in my Fluval. reset and voila. No issues since.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
Anything within 6 feet of water is supposed to be protected - as a general rule for aquariums, etc I would say that any electrical device that comes into contact with the water and any electrical device that can be reached while touching the water should be protected - (this would include the table lamp on the end table near the tank as an example) even though it has nothing to do with the tank its' proximity can pose a threat.
 
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