Lets Talk About Fish Tank Support - Electrical Question
- Thread starter KMP
- Start date
I had to do a little crawling under the house as well.
corals b 4 bills
New member
Just pokin my head in from B.A.R. here are some pic's of my elect. panel that's hardwired to my sub panel, it has 55 outlets split in half with 2-20 amp GFCI breakers one half for the lighting and the other half for the pumps, my chiller is on it's own 15 amp breaker. (some pic's are older then the others).
Glad to see your making progress. How's the RO unit progressing?
miracles38
Active member
PICS!!!!!!!!
A Canfield
New member
Talking with a "electrician" friend who said that a GFCI outlet is a great idea except that they are so sensitive that a very small power fluctuation could trip it. This could happen while I'm at work and I would never know for the next 9-10 hours.
I'm alittle worried about that...........
Comments???
I'm alittle worried about that...........
Comments???
Anne,
I have installed about a dozen GFCI outlets, and I have never had one go bad on me. I have seen some older ones that should be replaced - but you can say the same thing about circuit breakers. (Hell - I just replaced half of my breakers.) Personally - I would rather risk the chance of a tank crash than having myself (or heaven forbid one of my kids) get electrocuted.
Not to say that there aren't better brands out there - but I have really great luck with Leviton brand GFCI.
Minh
I have installed about a dozen GFCI outlets, and I have never had one go bad on me. I have seen some older ones that should be replaced - but you can say the same thing about circuit breakers. (Hell - I just replaced half of my breakers.) Personally - I would rather risk the chance of a tank crash than having myself (or heaven forbid one of my kids) get electrocuted.
Not to say that there aren't better brands out there - but I have really great luck with Leviton brand GFCI.
Minh
I agree with reefugee. Think about all of the GFI's in your house and how often one of them trips when it shouldn't.
I use 4 different GFI's on my tank so that if one trips there is still other stuff running. Over a period of about 10 hours, maintaining some water flow would be the priority, so make sure you're covering that with more than one GFI.
I use 4 different GFI's on my tank so that if one trips there is still other stuff running. Over a period of about 10 hours, maintaining some water flow would be the priority, so make sure you're covering that with more than one GFI.
A Canfield
New member
Minh.....totally agree with tank crash vs electrocution!
WarrenG.......good point. I have to admit I can't recall when one of these have tripped
Ok...looks like GFIC outlets for the 180
Thanks
WarrenG.......good point. I have to admit I can't recall when one of these have tripped
Ok...looks like GFIC outlets for the 180
Thanks
D&KSac
Premium Member
Heres the thing guys GFCI you should always use local protection around water. Now with that said you should never over load a GFCI and some motors with there motor start like chillers even though there working load is much lower can cause GFCI to fail. Ask Kim what a failed GFCI looks like when i was at her house doing electrical for her new tank. The GFCI was still working even though it was burned to a crisp and fell apart when i took it out of the wall. Also wire nuts inside the box were melted from the wire getting to hot. Im assuming by the number of outlets on the GFI protected circuit that it was caused by overloading the the ciruit. Also another thing to consider. Just like with circuit breakers GFI outlets have a maximum number of times they can be tripped before they should be replaced cant remember the number of off the top of my head but you would all be amazed how low a number it is. I think circuit breakers is like < 5. Sorry if i got off track i dont think i wanderred to far though.
funman1
Active member
Yep...
I know the current thread where this sad thing happened and a GFCI tripped, BUT
A month ago my tank overflowed in the middle of the night (Snail I suspect in the overflow) and the water ran right down the sides of the tank and into the outlets, thus triping the GFCI.
Saltwater and Electricity not only don't mix but start FIRES.
I'm VERY grateful it tripped and did not arc and throw sparks causing a fire.
I will take the chance on a total tank loss for a false trip on a GFCI;
over a burnt down house because of NO trip, ANYDAY.
About 10 years ago my parents were home when their fresh water tank sprung a leak and the power strip behind the tank started arcing and caught the carpet ON FIRE.
Now my mom has a thing for firemen (She married two of them, my father, and my step dad) so we actually had a fire extinguisher in the house to put it out.
But that could have been a total loss of the house simply because of no GFCI.
They may save your life in more ways then electrocution.
You should always test them to make sure they work too.
The newer ones even come with a handy little light to let you know they are working properly now..
I know the current thread where this sad thing happened and a GFCI tripped, BUT
A month ago my tank overflowed in the middle of the night (Snail I suspect in the overflow) and the water ran right down the sides of the tank and into the outlets, thus triping the GFCI.
Saltwater and Electricity not only don't mix but start FIRES.
I'm VERY grateful it tripped and did not arc and throw sparks causing a fire.
I will take the chance on a total tank loss for a false trip on a GFCI;
over a burnt down house because of NO trip, ANYDAY.
About 10 years ago my parents were home when their fresh water tank sprung a leak and the power strip behind the tank started arcing and caught the carpet ON FIRE.
Now my mom has a thing for firemen (She married two of them, my father, and my step dad) so we actually had a fire extinguisher in the house to put it out.
But that could have been a total loss of the house simply because of no GFCI.
They may save your life in more ways then electrocution.
You should always test them to make sure they work too.
The newer ones even come with a handy little light to let you know they are working properly now..
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