Electrical help

[zxanth]

Something is tripping my gfi running my tank. What is the safest way to test which one it is.

Thanks

 

[zxanth]

To test which equipment is tripping it.

 

[chaderic26]

just unplug 1 thing at a time to you narrow it down.

Chad

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

How often is it tripping? Just once in a while or common? If it's common, just like Chad said: unplug things one at a time and test it out. If it takes a long time and unreliable, you obviously wouldn't want to be doing this with your main return pump or other critical pieces. Try to get a volt meter and see if you're getting lots of stray electricity both inside and outside the tank. Might purchase a Kill-a-watt for more information. Even if it doesn't pinpoint the problem, you'll learn what items are drawing however much power.

 

[JR719]

If you cannot narrow it down to equipment, it is possible your gfi is bad. I've replaced more than 1 because of constant tripping.

 

[SuperNoob]

If there is any kind of motor (pump,powerhead,etc.) running using the GFCI it will trip it. ceiling fans are especially bad about this. when a copper wound motor starts there is usually a however small spark and that is what a GFCI is monitoring and what causes them to trip, flouresent lighting can sometimes cause this also. powerstips aren't as sensitive and work much better for what most of us are doing

 

[Reefir]

a gfci is looking for a difference in potential . if it sees a voltage difference of as little as 6 millivolts it will trip . gfi is not good to run on fish tanks with pumps and moisture , they will pop all the time with little reason . and they do go bad which may be your problem .

 

[zxanth]

Thanks for the advices... I checked each piece of equipment n I thinks it my koria pump... Nothing has tripped again. Hope that was it