Your Electrician Here

[ChiiBear]

Doesn't water flow between tank and sump serves as a conductor?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

yes it does, with very high resistance. Saltwater is more conductive than fresh, but still it would be a very poor conductor going throe the hose with very minimal volume.

 

[HPD Turbo]

How do you grownd a sump and DT?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Just insert an additional grounding probe to the sump. All a grounding probe is a stainless steel wire with a regular copper wire attached to the end if it and connected to your grounding system. It can be connected also anywhere in a metal fixture chassis, or even a motor chassis providing the chassis is already grounded.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Be somewhat careful of stainless steel around a marine tank. Its corrosion resistance is based on the type of alloy used and they differ. Titanium grounding probes are a better choice.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Kind of hard to find titanium waterkeeper, what could be wrong with high tensile stainless steel ?

 

[Steve 926]

Thanks for the reply 0 Agios.

Thanks for the info. Waterkeeper
Should we need to contact you, will illuminating a large "W" into the sky at night ( 100K watt MH ) work ?
Sometimes the RC forums suddenly go blank due to the server, (I Love that message when I'm surfing)

Steve 926

:smokin:

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Glad to help out

 

[WaterKeeper]

That beam shoud look like a Torpedo (electric) stingray if you have an electrical problem.

 

[blue05]

Fluorescent Lights Tripping GFI

Fluorescent Lights Tripping GFI

I have an external GFI, and everytime I try to turn on the fluorescents, the GFI trips. It can be the only thing I plug in, and they still trip the external GFI. However, if I plug them into the house GFI in the kitchen or garage, those do not trip. How can I fix this? I am ready to get all of my lights on a timer so I can start having some consistancy in my tank, as far as lighting goes. Thanks.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Bad GFI try another one

 

[Steve 926]

800 watt. DC~AC Invertor

800 watt. DC~AC Invertor

Hello O Agios.

I would like to install an 800 watt invertor (12v DC~AC) as a back up for my pumps. Both pump's draw less than 2 amps together. I need to place the unit about 20 ft. away from the power source, can I use 12 / 2 romex for the run from the 12v dc car battery, or what do you recomend. Also, should I gnd. the invertor base to the AC pannel gnd.

As Always
Thanks For A Reply

Steve 926

:smokin:

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Let me do the calculations using Ohms Law and suggest to you to run the high voltage 20ft if you can instead of the 12 volts. Ok here we go 2Amps * 120 volts = 240 watts. Convert to 12 volts --- 240 watts / 12 = 20 Amps. A#12 gage wire can carry the voltage but I am suggesting A # 10 gage to compensate for the distance. If we calculate for 800 watts then 800w/12v= 66.66 amps You would need a very large cable , minimum # 4 gage. If you want to run this #4 go to an auto parts store they sell cables even thicker than that that are multi strand, like welding cables or if you want the cheapest way out go to home depot and just use regular # 4 THHN cable. Hope this helps.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

The way I would do it Is install the inverter next to the car and run any extension cord to the pumps

 

[Steve 926]

Thanks O Agios

ONLY MOM TREATED ME BETTER !

It would be easier to install the inverter unit in the garage, & then run an extension line to the tank. The inverter has 2 receptacles on it, I guess that they are bridged & 1 extension line would suffice for up to 5~6 amps to operate both pumps, or a total of 7~8 amp draw.

Once Again,

Thank You :thumbsup:

Steve 926

:smokin:

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Another satisfied customer !!!, ladies and gentleman of RC.
"Thanks O Agios

ONLY MOM TREATED ME BETTER ! "

 

[Reefghoul]

I could use some help please see the following thread...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1160901

 

[Young Frankenstein]

QESTION FROM REEFGHOUL :So today... My DC8 all of the sudden started kicking my home GFIC off, when the chiller would come on and be on for a while...Moved it the plug to many different plugs in my apartment (with an extension cord), 3 different circuts, and they all blew the fuse in the box, I hook the chiller up on its own and no problems...It has been running like this for roughly a month or so...with no issues...

What could be the problem??????????? I know I did not give much info. so please ask questions and let me know what other info. you need to help me figure this out.

Thanks.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

I need the voltage and amperage of the DC8, gauge of extension cord used, and when you say "3 different circuits" does that mean 3 different fuses or circuit breakers or are you talking about the same fuse or breaker tripping ? Also when using the DC8 are the breakers getting hot ?

 

[RobbyG]

Just a guess but I bet that extension cord is a 2 prong type and that's why its working. I bet he's got a short in the compressor coil that is sending current back to the ground.