DANGER!! please note possible safety issue

[benf]

I have a few of the Penn Plax Silent Air B11 Battery Backups and my daughter smelled something burning...when i went to investigate i noticed water coming out of one of them...some how the unit started a vacuum of tank water which proceeded to run out of the unit which caused it to start smoking. It also tripped my CGFI, thank God!! I have had these units since the beginning of Hurricaine season with no issues, but just wanted you to beware of possible dangers...this unit could have started a fire left unchecked or if I wasnt home. Below is a link to what i am referring too!

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/pro...rce=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=212719

 

[shibumi]

I have the same ones but I have an Air Line Check Valve in each one of them to prevent back-siphoning.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10422/product.web

Did you have that?

 

[WarDaddy]

Airline check valve or keep the pump above the water level...you have to do the same with any air pump.

 

[benf]

make sense, but why now after 5 months? weired!

 

[WarDaddy]

That is funny you said that. I had one behave the same way, a normal air pump on a cichlid tank. Came home to a pool of water, doh! for a year it was fine, then one day, water... don't know. Guess Murphy's Law rules in the aquarium world, not a matter of if, just when.