Very scary Moment

tito3054

tito3054

Member
This could have been worst. My protein skimmer hangs on the side of my sump. Last night at 230 in the morning i woke up to a zapping sound then an explosion.My protein skimmer started to drip water , but the worst part it was dripping on my power strip. I woke up to smoke through out the house then ran and stripped all the cables out of the wall.
My wall was still hot and burnt but nothing major happened only that my heater was the thing that exploded,"not in the tank but the cord connection".
Now going to buy one since I came from work .
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
A plug that replaces the one in the wall where your tank stuff is plugged, It is a Ground Fault Interrupt Circiut. Whenever there is a fault with anything to do with your tank equipment it will trip and cut the power.Maybe $40 at the Depot or Lowes and easy to install.
 
pacmanmp

pacmanmp

Member
i would also go further then that. Because water will not take long to get thought sheetrock to the wiring. if you what to be really safe i would put a GFI breaker in. this is worth every penny because it does not just protect one plug but an entire circuit which normal covers a whole room
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Plugs a cool because they stop right there before the wall. Just like most bathrooms have in them. Or anywhere there could be water getting into the plug.
 
bdhb12

bdhb12

Member
I got a GFI unit that plugs into the wall over the plugs and I routed all my cables to prevent any water from leaking down to it. I'm in an apartment so I can't run the in-wall model. (for those of us in this situation or not wanting to wire things)
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
GFCI is a MUST have in this hobby. I also mounted all of my power strips into the stand above the water line and have a drip loop. There is a possibility that you have melted the ROMEX wiring in the wall. You should check the plug to make sure the wiring is not melted or burnt in anyway. You may want to find a friend that knows a thing or two about wiring or just call an electrician or handyman.
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
I would not use anything in a metal housing. Use one in a plastic housing that you can easily hang inside your tank stand
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Good advice. I had a skimmer leak once too. I didn't realize that there was an electrified puddle and I stepped in it. Talk about scary stuff. I will always use GFCI, it's worth every penny.
 
shyfish

shyfish

Member
I am going to go right now to my tank and get my power strips off the floor. Hang them up with a loop. Then I am going to the Home Depot store for a GFIC I have them in the bathrooms, and I am going to put them on my fish equipment.
Thank you everyone! I am so glad tito3054 that you and yours are safe and all is okay.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Guess my question is... why would you use a HOB style skimmer OVER a power strip?
Having 17 things plugged in for my tank and most sitting by the sump.. I'm very conscious of what could leak where.. but thank goodness you didn't get hurt or burn your house down.. very scary
 
tito3054

tito3054

Member
I never though that it could happen to me. The skimmer has never leaked so I never noticed how dangerous it was.But everything is fine now.
But either way thanx for you concerns.
 
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