Power Strip with built in timer?

C

cmsurfr22

Premium Member
so i found these powerstrips at lowes. they look extremely similar to the coralife power center with built in timers only they are $8...however it says right on the back of it:

"This device should not be installed in wet or damp areas exposed to moisture. Not recommended for use with aquriums."

But i'm wondering why? they look exactly like the coralife ones...isn't a powerstrip a powerstrip?

Fish-Tank-135.jpg
 
Because that company is smart enough not to market power strips to the aquarium hobby ... unfortunately coralife isn't. Powerstrips are known to cause fires! I suggest you build a power center. I have no electrical skills and finished mine in less then an hour.

I got a DIY Home Electrical Book from the library
Wired up 8 Home Outlets to individual 3 Prong Extension Cords
Plugged the Outlet cords into a Power Panel by American DJ
Plugged the American DJ Power Panel into a GFCI Extension and Plugged the GFCI Extension into my wall (the GFCI can be left out)

Read through this thread for more instructions ... the pictures make it seem pretty complicated but if you break everything down like I did above it is extremely simple.
 
how does that cause fires tho? i reallize that if something spilled on it that wouldnt be good lol, but if its just a matter of the water causing the spark and stuff...couldnt you just like mount it onto something that you're sure wouldnt get wet? i'd go for it imo...
 
regardless what power strip you use, you should ALWAYS use a GFCI.

This will cut power to all your electrical equipment just in case something happens.

Use it for ALL your aquarium power needs.
 
Home depot actually sells timed power strips with GFCI's built in. They are a little more expensive, but the saftey they provide is worth it. They have 4 timed outlets and 4 constantly on outlets.

Chad
 
I suggest you take a good long look at these 4 threads I pulled up in all of 5 minuted ... I am sure I could have found more too.

I don't know about you but I don't trust my aquarium along with my house and everything inside of it and even my life in the arms of an 8.00 powerstrip.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=584645&highlight=powerstrip+fire

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=810559&highlight=fire

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=446605&highlight=powerstrip

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=475539&highlight=powerstrip

Even if you were to keep it away from the tank and drip loop it accidents still can happen. And I bet you weren't planning on keeping it away from the tank anyway ... most people don't. They just go for the convenient cheap powerstrip under the stand for easy access, BIG NO!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7794057#post7794057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by c9miles
Home depot actually sells timed power strips with GFCI's built in. They are a little more expensive, but the saftey they provide is worth it. They have 4 timed outlets and 4 constantly on outlets.

Chad
Click to expand...

GFCI Outlets are alot safer but mine nuisance tripped alot and I eventualy ditched it after it killed my tank.
 
I dont ant to triple post but I was reminded through a PM that I didnt post the link after I said "read through this thread for more instructions ... the pictures make it seem pretty complicated but if you break everything down like I did above it is extremely simple."

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=765280

Really its only 2 basic steps,

Wire up 8 Home Outlets to individual 3 Prong Extension Cords
Plug the Outlet cords into the back of a Power Panel by American DJ wihc then gets plugged into your wall.

I learned how to wire up home outlets from a library book and purchased everything from home depot except for the power panel wich I got here,

http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-ADJPC100A.html?PHPSESSID=f4ae4b2d28360613ef215e382723117b

77_1.jpg


You can get them on ebay for cheaper

Basicly you plug you lights, pumps ect into an outlet and each outlet gets plugged into the Power Panel wihc has a switch to control each individual oulet. I also suggest you use a GFCI wihc can be installed in wall or you could buy one a GFCI extension like I did. The one I purchased was mentioned in the Power Center Build thread above. There are also some outlet covers to protect from water splashes that I used aswell that were mentioned in the thread.

Hope this helps
 
Any idea's where I could find an inexpensive (or at least reasonable) inline gfci adaptor? I've looked everywhere online and they all seem to be about $25 - $30 each. What I'm thinking of doing is plugging one inline gfci to each of my equipment (4 for lights/fans, 1 for heater, 2 for powerheads and 1 for skimmer) and then plugging that into the American DJ power panel i just ordered. Is this overkill? Obviously 8 inline gfci's at $30 each would be very co$tly and I have to avoid that...lol. Would I be able to get away with just buying 14 gauge extension cords for my equipment, plugging them into the powerpanel and then getting a portable gfci adaptor to plug the powerpanel into? I can't hardwire gfci outlets up as I am definitely NOT Bob Vila and don't want to mess with electricity plus we rent an apartment and i don't want to be doing a bunch of mods to it. Any suggestions???
 
I think that 8 gfci's are going to cost a ton. What I did was buy 2 DJ powerpanels and pluged the power panels into the gfci's. I didnt want my tank to crach if a gfci tripped so I hooked up 2 of my maxi-streams on one power panel, and 2 on the other so if one trips the other keeps going and my tank doesnt get oxgen starved. I also have 2 battery power air pumps that turn on during a power outage.

The number one reason why tanks crash during loss of power is becuase the tank becomes oxygen starved. A powerhead/return will oxygenate your tank so it is important to split them up so if one trips some of your pumps stay running.

A good gfci is about 25-30.00
 
what would you suggest reefnewbie? I don't have a lot of cash, I did purchase one American DJ power panel. I am also planning on buying those socket covers to help shield them from any water. I was thinking of keeping my filter plugged into a normal (covered) outlet with the rest plugged into the power panel and then have the powerpanel plugged into a portable GFCI unit (which says it automatically restarts after power is returned) and plug that into the wall. Any suggestion/opinions would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7808462#post7808462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Saltwater Kid
I am definitely NOT Bob Vila ......
Click to expand...

Maybe not... but wiring a GFCI is not rocket science either. So long as you turn off the main breaker to your home, and can verify that the outlet you are working on is dead (plug a lamp in it to test), the actual replacement of the outlet will only require a screwdriver and a pair of wire cutters.

I was timid at first too... but it wasnt that bad. I too am in an apartment so I just kept their old crappy outlet so that I can put it back in and take my GFCI with me when I leave!

(please dont try if you still arent comfortable working on 120V and dont say it was my fault if you get shocked. Im just trying to help)
 
Typically, the interior wiring on these units is of a smaller guage than say the Romex going to your outlet. For example a household extension cord. Now this is fine if you have a couple of lamps or a few pieces of computer equipment plugged into them. These are typically low wattage items and don't pull that much juice. Now, say you plug in a couple of VHO or halide ballasts into this along with a couple of good sized pumps. Notice the size of cords on these items? Bigger than a household extension cord. This is because these items draw more juice than say a lamp. Think of it as plugging 2 or three refigerators into it. Now, because of physics, if you push more juice through a wire than it is rated for you generate more heat. The wire heats up, melts the insulation and can even set it afire. This is also why you are warned not to overload any individual outlets. These timer strips are fine for those lights you get with your aquarium, but I would never put any of the high intensity lights we use in them or any pump larger than a powerhead.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7794017#post7794017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
how does that cause fires tho? i reallize that if something spilled on it that wouldnt be good lol, but if its just a matter of the water causing the spark and stuff...couldnt you just like mount it onto something that you're sure wouldnt get wet? i'd go for it imo...
Click to expand...
 
<<< Notice the size of cords on these items? Bigger than a household extension cord. This is because these items draw more juice than say a lamp. >>>


Cord size is not always an indication of how much power a device will draw. For example, look at Seio pumps, they come with thick heavy duty cords and the 620 is rated at only 8 watts or so which is nothing.
 
That pic does look very similar to the Coralife units.......the one difference I see is that the Coralife timers have those little colored plastic slides that can close over the outlets that are not being used to help prevent water from splashing in them. Otherwise they look the same from the outside.

BTW.....I've been using the Digital Coralife Timers for about 6 months now with no problems so far.
 
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