GFCI vs surge protector?
- Thread starter Authentic
- Start date
You should probably have both?
A surge protector prevents a line blowout or lightening strike from frying everything downstream connected to it (on your end of the lightening strike or blowout).
A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) will trip if there is any stray current between your electrical mains and the ground. What this does is that if a wire gets severed in your tank, or a pump starts heavily leaking electricity, this will actually catch the electricity going into the ground plug from something else in the circuit, and will turn itself off (and presumably everything upstream of it). It's like an auto-off switch for a dangerous upstream leaking of electricity.
It's not the same as a grounding probe, but it will use the default grounding from something in your tank (your main pump, a skimmer pump, lights, etc) and when there is a connection between the main AC plugs (standard left right plugs on a plug) and that ground somewhere in your system, it turns off, potentially saving your life and your tank as well.
Worth noting that GFCIs get old and start to falsely fail. You should buy a replacement or two and test the line before going and replacing pumps.
A surge protector prevents a line blowout or lightening strike from frying everything downstream connected to it (on your end of the lightening strike or blowout).
A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) will trip if there is any stray current between your electrical mains and the ground. What this does is that if a wire gets severed in your tank, or a pump starts heavily leaking electricity, this will actually catch the electricity going into the ground plug from something else in the circuit, and will turn itself off (and presumably everything upstream of it). It's like an auto-off switch for a dangerous upstream leaking of electricity.
It's not the same as a grounding probe, but it will use the default grounding from something in your tank (your main pump, a skimmer pump, lights, etc) and when there is a connection between the main AC plugs (standard left right plugs on a plug) and that ground somewhere in your system, it turns off, potentially saving your life and your tank as well.
Worth noting that GFCIs get old and start to falsely fail. You should buy a replacement or two and test the line before going and replacing pumps.
mmn
New member
Yes, it replaces the breaker on the circuit. Pricey though, around $40-$50 clams for a 15-20 amp.
andrewdeme
Member
+ 2 on ReefWreck post. Ok, understand GFCI's but they do fail, not trip, FAIL. Especially exposed to salt air. The concept behind GFCI's is related to life safety issues with electricity and water.
Does the benefit out weigh the risk which is huge. I considered one, as I am in the middle of my 250 rebuild and adding a filer room but decided against it.
Does the benefit out weigh the risk which is huge. I considered one, as I am in the middle of my 250 rebuild and adding a filer room but decided against it.
tonyftlaud
New member
could you use one of the power strips with a built in gfci and surge protector built in?
Or a plug in gfci converter around $6 ans a power strip with surge protector pluged into it. Around $10. That would give you multiple outlets with gfci and surge protection for the price of just a gfci outlet.
Or a plug in gfci converter around $6 ans a power strip with surge protector pluged into it. Around $10. That would give you multiple outlets with gfci and surge protection for the price of just a gfci outlet.
