Everyday I play around with my set up but never gave much mind to electrical safety. I have lighting suspended over water, more plugs to pumps, heater, fuge lighting etc. than one could shake a stick at and yet while I'm not a thrill seeker it dawned on me today that my wall outlet is not a ground fault outlet (gfci) nor do I have a grounding probe in use. Seems like I have not been as pro active as I should be, or am I just over reacting looking for a problem where there is none? What precautionary steps do you feel make the most sense as we "play" with our water and electricity? Are grounding probes really necessary? Will a gfci outlet mean a greater risk of a false trip quietly turning off the power to my set up when I may not be around. I am just curious as to what type of precautions are employed by most in the hobby.
electrical safety
- Thread starter cmchap
- Start date
Fizz71
FragSwapper
In the 3? years my system has been up I've had maybe 3 false trips. I also had one that saved me...I had water drip into my MH lighting from above which by itself was ok, but as soon as I had my hand in the tank and grazed the reflector I got zapped and the GFI tripped.
I have the tank on two circuit breakers and each with it's own GFI..one upstairs, one downstairs. The advantage of that is if the one false trips, the other still gives SOME circulation to my main tank (the sump return). I also have power strips suspended above my sump in the basement which makes me nervous, but used VERY SHORT cords so that there is NO way for the power strip to make it to the sump and still be plugged in.
I will also note that my MHs are putting stray current in my tank...it bugs me, but I cannot figure out how..I can lift the hood right of the tank and it goes away, but if it's sitting over the tank it shows up..and the hood is all wood.
Anyway...I'm letting that go until I rebuild my system....I hope I at least answered your question.
--Fizz
I have the tank on two circuit breakers and each with it's own GFI..one upstairs, one downstairs. The advantage of that is if the one false trips, the other still gives SOME circulation to my main tank (the sump return). I also have power strips suspended above my sump in the basement which makes me nervous, but used VERY SHORT cords so that there is NO way for the power strip to make it to the sump and still be plugged in.
I will also note that my MHs are putting stray current in my tank...it bugs me, but I cannot figure out how..I can lift the hood right of the tank and it goes away, but if it's sitting over the tank it shows up..and the hood is all wood.
Anyway...I'm letting that go until I rebuild my system....I hope I at least answered your question.
--Fizz
fishtk75
New member
I have GFI's and Titanium Ground Probes one in each of my tanks and one in the sump so if the heaters leaks I am grounded.
Saltwater works faster than freshwater.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/probe/Class//T1/F20AX+0047+0530/EDP/13514/Itemdy00.aspx
As they say better safe then sorry it only takes a second and it too late.
Saltwater works faster than freshwater.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/probe/Class//T1/F20AX+0047+0530/EDP/13514/Itemdy00.aspx
As they say better safe then sorry it only takes a second and it too late.
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