Surge Protector Keeps Burning Out!?! Help!!

[premilove]

This is the 2nd surge protector i went thru today. it keeps burning and smoking. what am i doing wrong? the protector is on the floor underneath my tank. I noticed that my heater plug has been damaged on the side that goes into the outlet. could that be the reason why everything keeps effing up? i also noticed that the outlet that the heater goes into on the surge protector is the only one that is burnt..i am going to assume that its just the heater wire and get a new surge protector?

 

[premilove]

please help. both of my tanks are not running right now due to the surge protector. i am scared of putting them back on, i want to know the right way of doing this. do i need a drip loop? how does that work? help please

 

[premilove]

someone help please.

 

[premilove]

lol ppl post in HD movies before they would post in a thread where someone needs help

 

[1990jpyj]

what kind of surge protector are you useing?
if its a cheapo form wallyworld then go out and buy a good one. you cant run cheap on those. i think mine cost me like $100.00 cuz i bought the best one the store had. i learned from past experences. plus if the surge doesnt work out so well the company covers your loses. its kinda like buying a nice TV with HDTV on it and only watching VHS tapes.
also is the outlet you are using a GFCI? if not i would def look into putting one in just incase water gets on it. HD sell them for like $10 best money you will spend
good luck

 

[premilove]

i was there today and i thought i could find one with more than 3 outlets online. dumb me. i am going back 2m to get one. yeah the sp are probably cheap ones. i will buy 2 good ones 2m. thanks for the help. i found an extra one laying around, raised it higher than the loop for the wires. hopefully i should be ok for a day.

 

[1990jpyj]

go to like B*** b*y and buy some like $45.00 ones that have like 6 plugs on them that covers like $25,000.00 worth of electronis and you should be fine.
but i cant say this enoguht you need to get the GFCI. it probly wouldnt hurt to get a new heater/ cut and fix the old cut up wires.

 

[premilove]

i have another heater in the house, i am just going to use that. i am going to BB 2m, right after work thanks tho i appreciate it man seriously.

 

[1990jpyj]

thats what we are all here for to help each other out. good luck i hope that fixes all your problems

 

[nycbob]

the surge protector will only cover damaged electronic equipments such as computer and tv. it doesnt cover anything sush as aquarium appliances. most surge protector should work quite well and can handle up to 1850w. sounds like a bad heater if its the heater socket that keeps getting burned.

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by premilove
http:///forum/post/2838656
This is the 2nd surge protector i went thru today. it keeps burning and smoking. what am i doing wrong? the protector is on the floor underneath my tank. I noticed that my heater plug has been damaged on the side that goes into the outlet. could that be the reason why everything keeps effing up? i also noticed that the outlet that the heater goes into on the surge protector is the only one that is burnt..i am going to assume that its just the heater wire and get a new surge protector?
i didnt bother reading anyone else s response to this, so sorry if i say something you have already read.
your surge protector should never be on the floor under your tank.. this is the #1 reasons fish tanks cause house fires.hang the power strip either on the wall behind or beside the tank always allowing the cord to slightly loop below the power strip this will prevent any water that may splash onto the cords or moisture build up from dripping onto your power source.. any water that is trapped on the cord will then fall to the floor below the outlets thus preventing the shorting out.

 

[premilove]

yeah i learned that the hard way. thanks unleashed. i fixed everything today.

 

[1990jpyj]

the surge protector will only cover damaged electronic equipments such as computer and tv. it doesnt cover anything sush as aquarium appliances. QUOTE]
that's not 100% true(not to call you a lair nycbob). if you call the company that make the surge protector you can normally have them send you what items they cover. some company will cover fish tank items. i called and made sure they cover all teh equipment. the only thing they will not cover is the powerheads because they arnt really filters or lights. most fish store sell types that are made just for fish tanks and they cover just about everything. i only have a filter, protein skimmer, heater, & a light on mine and i have writen documentation saying that it is all covered. if i didnt get that i probly would have returned the protectors. cuz they were like $100.00 and if it didnt cover anything whats the point.

 

[nycbob]

u calling me a liar? how dare u? jk. i didnt know that. bc i always read on the label of all these surge protectors listing not to be used outdoor and aquarium.

 

[forsfed50]

I had a problem with my protectors also. The drip loop
and plastic inserts for unused plugins no more problems.

 

[scrombus2]

No one addressed the real issue here, namely what caused the surge protectors to burn up in the first place. This was probably caused by the defective plug on the heater. The damaged plug probably had a spot where electrical resistance built up too much heat. If the heater's cord or plug is damaged, pitch it and get a new one. Repairing a cord on any aquarium equipment is not recommended.