Almost Had A Fire Last Night

[Captain Bucket]

Smelled electrical smoke at 2AM, just when I was drifting off to sleep. Jumped out of bed and discovered GFI tripped. Burn marks where skimmer pump was plugged in.

I assume there must have been an internal short on the skimmer pump, or perhaps it jammed and overheated (haven't examined it yet). Why would the GFI trip, and not the circuit breaker?

 

[Lumamae]

It wasn't one of those China made pumps, Jebo or Odyssea or similar?

 

[silverwolf72]

It's very easy to have a short that won't trip a breaker all depends on where the short occurs and the type of short. Light bulbs are basically a short just for and example that only pull say .5A and think how hot they get.

 

[Captain Bucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10751666#post10751666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lumamae
It wasn't one of those China made pumps, Jebo or Odyssea or similar?

As a matter of fact it was (well sort of maybe)... Catalina Aquarium CA 4000. Says 'made in Taiwan'

 

[Captain Bucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10751864#post10751864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by silverwolf72
It's very easy to have a short that won't trip a breaker all depends on where the short occurs and the type of short. Light bulbs are basically a short just for and example that only pull say .5A and think how hot they get.

So you think maybe guts heated up, housing melted, and H20 leaked inside tripping the GFI?

 

[Captain Bucket]

Okay, just did a post-mortem on pump. No obvious cracks or leaks, cant tell what else might have happened without cracking open waterproof casing.

Thinking about soaking in vinegar over-night and reassembling impeller and housing and testing unit in bucket of water.

Should I bother, or just toss the unit?

 

[Dwarf Seahorses]

Toss the unit, don't take any risks even if the chances are small. Plus the pump is probably toast anyways.

 

[Captain Bucket]

Can anyone recommend a moderately priced replacement? Skimmer is a Coralife Super Skimmer 220 clone.

 

[sabbath]

The reason the GFI tripped was because there was some current flowing on the ground wire some how.

You could have had 25 amps flowing through the GFI and it would not trip. It is looking for what doesn't come back on the neutral wire.

 

[Captain Bucket]

Thanks Don, does that mean toss the unit? Also, if I had grounding probe inside tank, might the GFI not have tripped?

 

[tinmanny]

Here is a word to the wise From A construction safety trainer
A circut braker will gladely let you fry all day as long as you do not require more amps than it is rated for
A GFCI measures the current going out and comming back if it differs 5mili amps it will trip in 1/40 of a second

the difference is important to know always use one on your tank and you will save your life and stuff
good luck Manny

 

[Captain Bucket]

Wise words Manny, that's why I installed them (GFIs). What I don't understand is why the burning before it tripped?

 

[tinmanny]

the motor had to heat up untill something was damaged if you take it apart you will find it probibaly melted some causing the short by not compleeting the circut
good luck figuring it out
pumps are expensive
Manny

 

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10752526#post10752526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Captain Bucket
Thanks Don, does that mean toss the unit? Also, if I had grounding probe inside tank, might the GFI not have tripped?

Did it look like you where getting any water running down the cord to the plug in? If so that could be the cause and not the pumps fault.

It you have a meter you could test to see if there is any continuity from the ground prong on the pumps plug to the plugs flat prong. There should not be any continuity there.

I have say though, If you have any doubts. Do NOT use that pump.

A ground probe may or may not have tripped the breaker. That is one reason I like to use smaller circuits with less amps per circuit. Just use more circuits. It is safer this way. The breaker will trip at a lower level...

 

[dhnguyen]

FYI.... Catalina CA pumps are the exact same as RIO pumps.

 

[carlso63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10751666#post10751666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lumamae
It wasn't one of those China made pumps, Jebo or Odyssea or similar?

Aren't they pretty much ALL "made in China" ?