Smoke alarm in Stand?

[chaseracing]

Does anyone have a smoke detector mounted in their stand?

I was thinking about this for the last few days. With all of the electrical equipment in the stand, which is right next to a sump, I imagine the chance of short circuits is increased.

Salt creep can get into the electrical components, and I am using 2 of the Coralife timers. These timers have not received the best reviews in the past. The Ballasts can get hot, and with all return pumps, and top offs, and so on........

I thought it would make sense to have a smoke detector mounted in the stand. Anyone else doing this?

-=E=-

 

[ambaratur]

I think it is an interesting suggestion - the thing I would wonder about would be the high humidity in the stand and if that would cause a problem.

If it does you could always mount it on the wall next to the tank to get the same effect.

 

[DrBegalke]

That a good idea, but be sure you have everything on gfi circuits.

 

[kappaknight]

I don't think it's necessary. If that smoke alarm is triggered, it may already be too late by then.

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8343060#post8343060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kappaknight
I don't think it's necessary. If that smoke alarm is triggered, it may already be too late by then.

The idea of a smoke alarm is to let you know there's a fire, so that you are aware of it and can do something about it.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[kappaknight]

Do you have an alarm in your stand then? Are you running out and buying one now? IMHO it sounds like protection overkill and I don't think throwing down the extra money for one is worth it. If you create employ the use of a drip loop and set it up right that way, then you really shouldn't have any problems.

I'm sick of the yes men on this board who are agreeable with everything no matter how brillant or dumb it ends up being.

 

[meschaefer]

Drip loops have nothing to do with it. If you keep your powerstrips inside your stand, the contacts on them WILL corode. As they corode, there is increased resistence at the point of contact between the plug and outlet. Increased resistence equals heat, heat may lead to fire. I have had it happen, the outlet melted by the time I had found it, and there are a number of threads on RC where people talk about fires starting in their stand.

No matter what you think, IT IS NOT A BAD IDEA. That being said, I am not running out and buying a smoke detector, even though it is a MINOR expense.

 

[clsanchez77]

I do not have a smoke detector in the stand but I do have one in the room where the aquarium is. Now I do have a water sensor in the stand and that is tied into my home alarm system and will pickup a sump or aquarium overflow.

Chris

 

[petoonia]

If it will give you peace of mind then do it, smoke alarms are not that expensive.

It would probably be fine in the same room. Instead of in the stand. Even with the best set up, and all the care in the world fires can still happen whether its from your tank or not.

It may be to late to save your tank by the time it goes off, but it might give you enough time to get you and your family safely out of the house. Or wake you up in the middle of the night.

Its definately a good idea.

And I dont consider myself a yes man at all, if I think something is a bad idea I voice my opinion without insulting people, or I just move on to the next thread!

 

[Slickdonkey]

I am planning to install a smoke detector in my fish room that triggers a relay, which instructs my Aquacontroller to call my cell phone. That is, in addition to making lots of noise.

 

[chaseracing]

I need to look into this whole aquacontroller thing. I have heard of these before and I didn't realize it could call you.

I will admit that I have a tendency to be over sensitive to things like fire and what not. I had a full alarm system installed in the house before the cable was actually installed. I have the biggest baddest insurance policies on everything (cars, home, life disability, etc etc). I ever tried to insure my tank.

The drip loops are a great idea, and I have installed GFI outlets. I am having 3 or 4 more outlets installed in the next week or so on dedicated circuits.

I have had strange things happen to my tanks in the past and I was thinking that the $15 or whatever it would cost to buy a smoke detector and place it in the stand is a no brainer. I am going to pick one up at HD the next time I am there. I am surprised no one else has done this? I am sure there are a few people that have the luxury of "Fish Rooms" behind the display tank and I would have to assume that they have installed them.

I figure if for some reason one of the components or something starts to overheat and starts to smoke, then maybe I will be lucky enough to be at home at the time and have enough time to kill the circuit before the stand catches fire. I was thinking I could hook up a smoke alarm that was connected to the home alarm, but that might be going a touch overboard. Who knows.

Anyone have pics of their electrical panels? I would like to get some ideas on how you set yours up.

Thanks!

-=E=-

 

[Slickdonkey]

Here's a link to how I set up my electrical panel for my tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=811051

 

[chaseracing]

Wow. Nice link. Thank you for sharing that with everyone.

It would be cool to have that whole project in a .pdf file.

Thanks!

-=E=-

 

[Slickdonkey]

Yeah I don't know why the pictures wouldn't show inline. Oh well.

 

[clsanchez77]

My alarm monitors both the fire detectors (2 of them) and water sensors (3 of them) as well as all the other house alarm essentials (doors, windows, glass break, motion detectors...)

It is set to call dispatch first and then call my cell phone second (and neighbors third).

I would set up an aquacontroller as well but I went with the Jr and it does not have that capability.

Chris

 

[kryppy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8344375#post8344375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clsanchez77
I do not have a smoke detector in the stand but I do have one in the room where the aquarium is. Now I do have a water sensor in the stand and that is tied into my home alarm system and will pickup a sump or aquarium overflow.

Chris

So do the police and fire department show up when you have an overflow?
Mine would charge after the third trip out...

 

[clsanchez77]

o do the police and fire department show up when you have an overflow?
Mine would charge after the third trip out...

:lol:

No, the dispatch (alarm company) knows what code tripped the alarm and the alarm reports the event as water event so they do not call the police, just me...but then it has not happened yet so maybe they will

 

[Tang Salad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8344274#post8344274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kappaknight
Are you running out and buying one now?

Um, yes, I'm ty.y.y.yping as I r.r.r.run.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8344274#post8344274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kappaknight
I'm sick of the yes men on this board who are agreeable with everything no matter how brillant or dumb it ends up being. [/B]

Sorry to hear that, but you appear to be the only person who thinks this is a dumb idea.


Back OT, I wonder how the high humdity would affect the life of the detector.

 

[sdesi2005]

IMO between the salt creep and the humidity in the hotter months, this thing will prove to be more of a pain in neck than it would help.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

I have always had a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector under my stand (for my C02) it's a small expense for more safety for your family, I have invested alot of time and money on my new electrical system for my tank, from the stand to the panel with dedicated GFCI's, I don't want to have to say I'm sorry to my wife for burning down our home -over my hobby, think about it guys put off the new light system for now and tighten up your stand.