Electricity in tank.. HELP?
- Thread starter afss
- Start date
Down here in OZ Safety Switches (GFI's as you call them) have been compulsory in all new homes and additions in the last few years, I therefore have one fitted to my power points on the reef, its never tripped yet (tank 2 years old) and i to have at times felt slight tingles when touching the water or even a salt crusted floro tube.I fill that using a grounding probe and GFI together could cause more tripping because a GFI works by sensing that the current flow between both active and neutral in a three wire electrical installation,is exactly equal, If it becomes out of balance the unit senses this in some .03 of a second and dissconnects the supply, this out of balance is mostly directed to the earth or someone who has become an earth. Therefore i figure a probe could create this required out of balance. It would of course be doing its job and saving your life.This is briefly and simply how the system works DOWN UNDER, maybe some other electrician your way could explain your tripping currents etc. Our standard units here trip at 30mV.
Scott,
You would need a voltmeter that can read current to test it. I would rig a GFI with a small extension cord so you can remove it if necessary. Plug the cord into the wall, and then your powerstrips into the GFI circuit. If it trips, then you can simply plug the powerstrip back into the wall.
Also, I would take everything out of the sump and check as you replace each one. Possibly one or more is "leaking" current more than another.
Ernie
You would need a voltmeter that can read current to test it. I would rig a GFI with a small extension cord so you can remove it if necessary. Plug the cord into the wall, and then your powerstrips into the GFI circuit. If it trips, then you can simply plug the powerstrip back into the wall.
Also, I would take everything out of the sump and check as you replace each one. Possibly one or more is "leaking" current more than another.
Ernie
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by afss:
<strong>Do you also need a GFD... My only concern with one of them is if it trips while I'm not around and I loose power to the system.. how do thoose of you that use GFD's remedy this?
Thanks
Scott</strong><hr></blockquote>
I often shut down every thing to do some maintenance in the tanks and usually late night on the weekend so I forget to turn it back on. I usually remember to turn it back on 12 - 16 hours later.
I completely beleive in stocking your tank to where a 24 hour period without power is of no concern.
Just my thought.
<strong>Do you also need a GFD... My only concern with one of them is if it trips while I'm not around and I loose power to the system.. how do thoose of you that use GFD's remedy this?
Thanks
Scott</strong><hr></blockquote>
I often shut down every thing to do some maintenance in the tanks and usually late night on the weekend so I forget to turn it back on. I usually remember to turn it back on 12 - 16 hours later.
I completely beleive in stocking your tank to where a 24 hour period without power is of no concern.
Just my thought.
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