Grounded Plugs

susieq

susieq

Member
My tank is in my classroom. OSHA came through yesterday and said no electrical appliances of any kind can have 2 pronged plugs. They all must be three pronged. Does anyone know where I can get heater and filter with grounds? I won't be able to have my tank at school without them. It's been up and running for 6 years. TIA
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Most of the higher end/higher wattage heaters have 3 pronged plugs. Unfortunately you need some kind of controller to use them or a combination heater with external controller. Depending on how large you tank is it might be overkill to have to buy a 500+ watt heater.
MANY of the external canister filters have 3 pronged plugs but again, you might be talking about re-configuring the filtration on your tank.
Since I cant post a link here to another site, you should search for heaters with controllers on them.
Ask the OSHA suits if putting a UPS which you can get for $30 bucks will suffice and then plugging your heater and filters into that.
 
susieq

susieq

Member
Thanks. I don't mind getting a new filter. I've looked on line but most equipment just says, "UL listed" and since the plug is not a major selling point, I don't know what they look like. I've been to six local pet stores but none of the filters or heaters have 3 prong plugs. (Including major brands) We have 5 science teachers working on this. There must be some way to do it. Other schools in my area are hearing the same thing.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
OSHA--the ultimate useless bureaucracy. After they finished in your classroom; they probably measured the height of the bathroom stall walls, one of their major concerns. They have even spawned a new group of Attorneys that deal with nothing else. Wait a few months and all your tank equipment will have to be wind powered. If this was me; I'd just wire the stuff to 3 prong plugs, they didn't say anything about 3 wires too, just plugs.
Edit: After re-reading this I almost deleted it. Its too bitter for me; and almost too sarcastic ( there isn't such a thing as TOO sarcastic). But these humorless OSHA robots almost make dealing with the IRS fun by comparison.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by susieq
http:///forum/post/2986930
Thanks. I don't mind getting a new filter. I've looked on line but most equipment just says, "UL listed" and since the plug is not a major selling point, I don't know what they look like. I've been to six local pet stores but none of the filters or heaters have 3 prong plugs. (Including major brands) We have 5 science teachers working on this. There must be some way to do it. Other schools in my area are hearing the same thing.
OK, let me help. what kind of filtration are you using now? This will help me find an appropriate one for you and a heater. My wife is a teacher so I know how you feel.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2987112
OSHA--the ultimate useless bureaucracy.
Nothing like throwing away a 6 foot ladder because you're not properly trained how to use it and don't have a safety harness
 
susieq

susieq

Member
I currently have a 55 gal tank and run an Aqua-Tech hang on filter. The other problem is the heater. All the teachers in my department have been to multiple pet stores this weekend.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by susieq
http:///forum/post/2987854
I currently have a 55 gal tank and run an Aqua-Tech hang on filter. The other problem is the heater. All the teachers in my department have been to multiple pet stores this weekend.
Skimmer or no?
 
culp

culp

Active Member
i looked and i didn't see a heater with a grounding plug. well i did find one but the smallest one is 500 watts.
 
culp

culp

Active Member
if i were you i would ask OSHA to give you a copy of that law that says that every thing much have three plugs not two. to make sure it isn't some BS that the guy just made up.
that happen to me at Meijer. where a OSHA employee told us one thing and i asked for proof and they never could come up with it and they never said another thing about it.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by Culp
http:///forum/post/2988826
if i were you i would ask OSHA to give you a copy of that law that says that every thing much have three plugs not two. to make sure it isn't some BS that the guy just made up.
that happen to me at Meijer. where a OSHA employee told us one thing and i asked for proof and they never could come up with it and they never said another thing about it.
It isn't My wife is a school teacher and they have been told the same thing. Maybe it's just job security but she doesn't want to lose her tank over this.
 
susieq

susieq

Member
Thank you all for your replies. I am getting ready to pack up my fish and bring them home. This is going to be a losing fight. The nice people at saltwaterfish.com responded to my email and said no heaters have 3 prongs. It doesn't matter what other equipment I have if I can't heat the water.

Now I have to figure out how to make my 6 year old clown fish play nice with my home fish.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by susieq
http:///forum/post/2989493
Thank you all for your replies. I am getting ready to pack up my fish and bring them home. This is going to be a losing fight. The nice people at saltwaterfish.com responded to my email and said no heaters have 3 prongs. It doesn't matter what other equipment I have if I can't heat the water.

Now I have to figure out how to make my 6 year old clown fish play nice with my home fish.
DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE:
CAUSE thats not exactly TRUE though is it. What they should have said was none of the consumer ones have them. ALMOST ALL of the titanium heating elements have them but are higher wattage, and more expensive.
Finnex 300W Deluxe
Titanium Heating Tube
HE-FX-TH300
is 34.95 at another site W/O the controller which is an additional $29.95. AND IT IS THREE PRONGED.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by susieq
http:///forum/post/2989493
Thank you all for your replies. I am getting ready to pack up my fish and bring them home. This is going to be a losing fight. The nice people at saltwaterfish.com responded to my email and said no heaters have 3 prongs. It doesn't matter what other equipment I have if I can't heat the water.

Now I have to figure out how to make my 6 year old clown fish play nice with my home fish.
THIS... Would be a heater with a 3 pronged plug.
 
susieq

susieq

Member
I am starting to feel there might be hope. Thank you. The district has agreed to upgrade my outlets and may also replace my equipment (and everyone elses) if needed. I also received an email from a pre-k teacher who was trying to give away her turtle for the same reasons. Her little students are very attached to the turtle. Hopefully we will all be saved.
 
windlasher

windlasher

Member
Originally Posted by susieq
http:///forum/post/2991614
I am starting to feel there might be hope. Thank you. The district has agreed to upgrade my outlets and may also replace my equipment (and everyone elses) if needed. I also received an email from a pre-k teacher who was trying to give away her turtle for the same reasons. Her little students are very attached to the turtle. Hopefully we will all be saved.
Thats great. I think a tank in a classroom is a great thing. My kids are fascinated with our tanks. Whenever I put something new in, its always a race to see who notices it first.
 
beckto

beckto

Member
What about adding an inline GFCI. I got mine online for $15. This would add the safety into any appliances that run near water.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by beckto
http:///forum/post/2992162
What about adding an inline GFCI. I got mine online for $15. This would add the safety into any appliances that run near water.
Dealing with OSHA, common sense gets you nowhere. I'm surprised PETA isn't after the Kindergarten turtle classroom.
 
beckto

beckto

Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2992447
Dealing with OSHA, common sense gets you nowhere. I'm surprised PETA isn't after the Kindergarten turtle classroom.
I hear ya..I deal with the FRA on a daily basis..."rulemakers", I dont know why they need to treat you as a child to get their point across. A favorite quote of mine; “Bad reasoning as well as good reasoning is possible, and this fact is the foundation of the practical side of logic”
 
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