Electrical Strip Safe/Convienent Placement

[FutureBoyGenius]

So, tonight I was taught a lesson. I confirmed my suspicions of needing a GFCI. I was doing a small water change and was trying to do too many things at once and of course the siphon came out and watered down my electrical strip. I quickly put it back in the bucket so it could siphon out an extra gallon or two onto my floor. :rolleye1:

Anyways, I am getting tight for space under my display inside of my cabinet. I was wondering where you all put your electrical strips, because they need to be relatively centered so your powerheads can all reach, but at the same time that is lying behind my sump. So, I was thinking about mounting the strip to the middle support beam under my tank. Is this a bad idea because of evaporation or will I be better off with evaporated water than risking hosing it down again.

Probably personal gamble, but what are some of your innovations.

 

[FBNitro]

Before I even considered a tank I got a GFCI... do yourself a favor and do it now. If anything happens, insurance won't cover anything if you're found at fault for not spending the couple of bucks to be safe.

I have my powerbars sitting on a shelf below the tank. I don't have a sump though, so evaporation isn't an issue down there. If I had a sump I would mount a removable 2x6, secured by wing nuts across the cabinet above the sump that I could screw the powerbars onto.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

"If anything happens, insurance won't cover anything if you're found at fault for not spending the couple of bucks to be safe.
"....not entirely true.....
HOWever, rest of the advise is solid.

 

[Michael]

how a bout this type of thing it has 10 sockets 5 each side, ok its not compatable with usa plugs and yes its english but im sure you will have something like it over there somewhere, perhaps a diy shop, its just an idea

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-surge-Tower-Extension-Socket/dp/B000OV0CEY

 

[FBNitro]

You mean insurance won't cover anything, or they would in either case?

My insurance co says they'll cover any damages by a tank. If I wasn't vigilant and started a fire (for example) I'm sure they'd come after me and state it was my fault for not doing what the light manufacture suggests. It's right in the manual, page 1 or 2, this device must be plugged into a GFCI protected circuit etc...

I tend to err on the side of covering my own butt, so I could be reading too much into it.

 

[NirvanaFan]

From what I've read, they will usually cover the damages to your house from the water (I'm not sure about fire), but will not cover your tank or it's inhabitants.

 

[Phyxius]

Best bet would be get a GFCI breaker installed or even spend the extra $$ and get a power strip with one on it. Trust me as the cheap power strips are not worth the risk of fire and we had one do just that. Had minimal load on it and NO water was involved. It shorted itself out and NEVER blew its own breaker and caught on fire. Luckily I was at home and saw smoke in the hallway or my sons room and our house would have probably been gone....

Mount it up off the bottom and have drip loops in all the cords and it will help loads. Keep it away from splash zones will also help.


NirvanaFan,
Our insurance guy stated they would cover water damage, the tank and its equipment (like in a fire) but not the live animals. If I could creatively word it they might cove the rock as its actually a filtration system but he stated it would be a touchy area.