GFI problems

[Cove Beach]

Has anybody had any problems with MH ballasts dumping GFI outlets? I came home yesterday to a crippled system, the only things running were my return pump and the powerheads in the tank(planned it that way). Everything was doing ok just no lights, skimmer, or heat. Since i'm running over 400 gal the temp stayed pretty close to normal. Since it did it again about 3 pm i yanked the GFI and replaced it with a standard outlet. Anybody?

 

[aquatictec]

we use metal halides and icecap electronic ballasts on gfi's and dont have a problem other than the occasional gfi outlet or breaker going bad. You shouldnt be runnining than 80 percent of max load. That would be 12 amps for most house circuits. If you can borrow an amp meter check the usage at the fuse box and see where you are.

 

[CleveYank]

good advice.

Also,

I had set of lights and pumps all running like a charm.

All of the sudden poppin the GFCI like clockwork. Everytime the lights would get to just about to full brightness. POP.

Tracked everything down to a powerhead.

So far whenever a line with a heavy pump or metal halide rig that I've had a problem like this it has ended up being a powerhead somewhere on that circuit.

Faulty heaters can do this as well.

From my understanding.
Amperage goes way up when heavy duty ballasts, heaters or compressor items first fire up. Once things get running amperage load will drop off sometimes as much as 2/3 of startup. So this point when amperage peaks is the most likely issue unless it's going bad as mentioned prior or you just have too much stuff on the 15amp typical line.

The Killawatt devices and the like a great for a quick check if you note the running of each device on the system before you have problems. If you start popping the circuit and go for the powerhead or heater usual suspects you'll know right way with the prior readings that something is amiss.

A locking up magnetic pump will show sometimes double it's perfect operating amperage readings. Checking things later with the killawatt is also a sweet way to comfirm that they are running properly without having to take things apart.

 

[Cove Beach]

The system is split on three 20A circuits, and since most of the stuff is running on a Reefkeeper2 which is fused for 15 amps max and its not blowing then the problem is in the GFI outlet. I may replace the the breaker with a GFI breaker and see what happens. But at least for now i know the system will remain on. When i get home tomorrow i will go through with my Amprobe and see whats what. Its too late to be playing in the panel tonight.

 

[goteenb]

I had a similar issue with MH during fire-up. I got frustrated and just took them off the GFI. Not perfect but sometimes the 1/2 way solution is 80% as good.

 

[vivek]

i have all my lights and the powerheads on a 20amp circuit. After working well for a few months the gfi started going crazy. Could not keep the lights powered up for more than a few minutes. since the GFI was yanked everything is working like a charm. My electrician kept insisting that there was no need for the GFI. Is that true? i have always heard everyone here recommending that a GFI is a must.

 

[Kreeger1]

gfci outlets are junk IMO.

I won't use them on my tanks and haven't for years.

 

[Cove Beach]

I was kinda thinking the same thing. My old tank was on standard outlets for 4 yrs.

 

[MJAnderson]

There was something in the Aquactinics forums explaining why 2 ballasts turning on at the same time can trip a GFI:

Ray,

There is nothing wrong with your fixture. The problem is with the GFI (note: the GFI is working exactly the way it should be). The Constellation uses multiple ballasts within the fixture. Lighting ballast (all makes and models) have what's called leakage current. The GFI is sensitive enough to detect this "leakage current" and trips. Now typically one ballast on a GFI does not have enough "leakage current" (btw, we are talking within the milliamps "mA") to trip, but when you add more ballast the current goes up usually tripping the circuit. There are a few GFIs out there that have a higher threshold for "leakage current", namely GE and Levion(sp?). The simple solution is to use this fixture on standard outlets as the GFIs were never designed to handle lighting systems.

Thank you,

Tom
Aquactinics

 

[vivek]

MJ said it perfectly. this is exactly what my electrician said--- they cannot handle leakage. i dont know why so many people on RC forums recommend a GFI.

 

[Cove Beach]

Problem solved the GFI is gone. And i do have 3 MH ballasts coming on at once. I also checked the tank for stray voltage and its good.