Electrocuted myself earlier, have some questions about safety. Plus gfci/ground poll!

[hogfanreefer]

Those that run multiple GFCI's. How does that work if you use a controller?

 

[xdestry]

By the way, if you have vortech pumps, you really don't need to put them on a GFCI-protected circuit. The electricity that runs a Vortech, by design, is completely isolated from the tank - the wetside has no electricity running to it.

Ah yeah that makes sense, however if theyre connected to an apex unit energy bar I guess you wouldn't be able to have one on a non-gfci anyway since the energy bar would have to be plugged into the gfci right? I haven't set up my apex unit yet, is there even any point to have the vortechs controlled by the apex? Seems like it can be programmed itself

 

[alton]

i disagree with having a grounding probe with gfci. All a grounding probe will do is help complete any circuit in the water if there is a voltage leak and either trip the gfci while you are out of town or cause health issues inside the tank if the current is not enough to trip the gfci but enough to harm the inhabitants. If the voltage leak is dangerous the circuit will trip when you put your hand in the tank.

i have a different approach: Gfci and grounding probe. I do not want it to be my body that completes the circuit and trips the gfci. I also do not want wires from a broken heater or such exposed to the tank water without anything telling me there is a problem (a gfci+ ground will detect that, a gfci alone may not). Fwiw, i have had many heaters break and trip the gfci over the years.

If you are concerned about something happening when you are away on vacation, and think the ground probe caused it, it is easy enough to remove the probe when away, or put critical things on regular ac with no gfci when no one is home.

x2

 

[Silly clownfish]

I keep a GFCI power strip, have a GFCI outlet, all on a circuit breaker and have a grounding probe on my main tank.

I had once had a 10g jail tank for a nasty damsel and dropped a non-submersible heater in the tank (I don't think they sell those things any more). It was not on GFCI and did not trip the breaker. I needed to run to the basement to turn off the breaker. I didn't touch the tank so I didn't get zapped. But that was one pi$$ed damsel! It gave a whole new meaning to the name electric blue damsel. It was super bright blue for a while. I still had that fish for years after, but had to move it to yet another holding tank because the fried heater left an oily black film on the water.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Ah yeah that makes sense, however if theyre connected to an apex unit energy bar I guess you wouldn't be able to have one on a non-gfci anyway since the energy bar would have to be plugged into the gfci right? I haven't set up my apex unit yet, is there even any point to have the vortechs controlled by the apex? Seems like it can be programmed itself

The only reason that I can see to have the Vortechs plugged into the Energy Bar is to either monitor power usage, have a more convenient means of switching them off for maintenance than the idiot lights/buttons on the pump controller, or both. In other words, I wouldn't plug them into the EB unless I just had spare, unused outlets.

I should mention that I dislike the "universal, no language translation required" control/button indicators on the Vortechs enough to the point that I bought the Apex wxm module - works like a champ, and a heck of a lot easier to program/change settings. Otherwise, I found myself getting out the Vortech manual every time because I couldn't remember the stupid button/LED sequences.

 

[ca1ore]

I should mention that I dislike the "universal, no language translation required" control/button indicators on the Vortechs enough to the point that I bought the Apex wxm module - works like a champ, and a heck of a lot easier to program/change settings. Otherwise, I found myself getting out the Vortech manual every time because I couldn't remember the stupid button/LED sequences.

Glad I'm not the only one. WXM has made adjusting these pumps a piece of cake. Wireless range is good enough to cover all of my tanks too.

Oh yes, I'm in the GFCI and probe camp - though the last time I looked at the probe it was so caked with coraline I doubt it actually does much. BTW, those styro lids from DD/LA make great insulating pads to stand on while fussing with my sump. No probe or stray in the DT.