GFI at outlet or breaker

[reefkeeperrut]

I'm almost done with my 180g upgrade. I'm working on electrical (actually watching a pro do it) and have a question. I have 4 dedicated 20 amp circuits running to the tank. Should I install GFI breakers in the breaker box for these circuits or install individual GFI sockets in each box? Is there a benefit of using one method over the other?

Is there anything tank related that shouldn't be on a GFI outlet? I've heard mixed reactions in terms of GFI use. Some say the preferred method is to use no GFI outlets or breakers; the logic being too much risk of tripping a critical power supply. It seems the consensus I've read here on RC is to use GFI for safety purposes. Any suggestions? TIA.

Brian

 

[t-bone2]

if you do it i would do individual ones in the box the closer the better and i would say if they trip theres a problem after all thats what they are designed to do you just have to keep up on your matinance

 

[reefkeeperrut]

OK thanks. Why do you say the closer the better?

 

[whiirly]

I have outlets and wish I had done breakers mostly because my outlets are behind the tank and are a REAL Pain in the Butt to get to

 

[aaronpentz]

They both have their good points. Having the breakers is sometimes cheaper and it protects the whole circuit, form the breaker panel to the tank. But the single GFCI's are good as if you have a piece of troublesome equipment that tends to trip a GFCI you wouldnt have a whole tank or circuit shutdown. You could have each piece of hardware on its own GFCI. But more cost is usually involved. My main pump is on its own circuit without a GFCI. But its an external comercial grade pump. My skimmer and other water movement equipment is on another circuit. and the lights are on another.

 

[kerusso316]

Chiller and Main pump DONOT use a GFCI.Over time the outlet will weeken and trip for no reasion.All other intank devices should be on a gfci.There is not much worry unless you are grounded,ie standing on the basement floor barefooted{boy did that hurt}.Any equipment in the stand should be protected....ask JJJimmy,due to leaks that cause a fire.

 

[flapjack1439]

I beg to differ.

Any time you have power near water it should be protected by a gfci device. The only exception might be a pump that turns on and off and draws high amps initially, like a sump or ejector pump and then a single device outlet is used. If it does trip, it's for a reason and no more inconvenient than a short power outage. If it does weaken over time simply replace the device. I, personally, don't think the risk of fire and/or electrocution is worth the gain.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mm949]

ditto w/flapjack....better to run individual outlets so one bad pump doesnt shut down the whole breaker...closer is better cause it will trip .5ms faster...

make sure u are not overload curcuits...break up the electric pigs to even out draw on outlet and make sure to use 12guage wire....

 

[RobTop]

Here is my advice, for what it is worth.
Use lots of curcuits and out lets.
The 1st outlet to each circuit is GFI, that makes the rest of them as well.
Devide up the equipment bewtween curcuits.
My 220 has 2 return pumps on seperate curcuits, which is seperate from the CL pump. I have 3 ballasts, none on the same curcuit. Ca reactor and skimmer are seperated. Heaters are spreat out too. This way I can loose a curcuit and still keep things going. A curcuit nevber trips when you are standing there.
AND MY MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE if you go this way remember that even though 1 tripped and there is water on the floor, your other curcuits are still live and will zap you. I still look like I have a perm

 

[kerusso316]

Comming home from work to a tank that is 94 degrees because of a faltey GFCI is no fun.Many people's main also run there chiller .A main or a chiller will trip a breaker if there is a problem.The likelyhood for one of these to charge the water is remote.The real danger is if the water is hot and you are ground.Use a grounding probe and breaker will trip if there is a problem in the tank{water}.What would we do without the propaganda from OSHA.Over the years I have instaled over 500 GFCI's MANY are falty.pardon the pun.I use two 30 amp circuits on 10 gauge,broken into two sets of 4 outlets all Gfci.The main and chiller are on a 20 amp no GfCI.