electrical connection question.

[dgasmd]

I have a 360 gal tank with a 100 gal sump and soon to add another 100 gal sump/refugium/LR. As you can imagine with all the equipment involved, I have tons of cords, extensions, plug ins, and electrical connections and they are all around the sump, skimmer, and all other equipment. Some of the plug ins get some salt spray and water spray for time to time and I find myself cleaning it or trying to work out why the GCFI tripped. I would like to avoid all this. Is it possible and more importantly SAFE to wrap all the electrical connections with some form of plastic like cellofane paper or transparent plastic? I have heard pepople talking about heat shrinking wrap, but have no idea of what it is and where to get it.
This is all eventually going to get redone, but for now it is all sitting in my garage. Eventually, I will isolate all electrical connections and equipment to one side of a wall and leave the wet end of the equipment in another room. For now, I need a more inmediate solution.
Thanks in advance for all the help.

 

[jhaag]

I know it is defiantely fine to wrap them in electrical tape. That being the case, I don't see why you couldn't wrap them in any other type of plastic. Just keep an eye for condensation on the inside of whatever you wrap it with. If the humidity is high enough, this may create a another problem for you if you have them wrapped.

 

[dgasmd]

Thanks. That is why I wanted to wrap it in something transparent so I can see the inside and be able to see if something funky is going on. I was thinking about taking a piece of transparent plastic, wrapping all the connections, and using tape to keep it in place and sealed around the cords.
I'll try to post a couple of pictures of what I want to actually wrap.
Alberto

 

[dgasmd]

Another

 

[dgasmd]

Another one

 

[dgasmd]

Last one

 

[Osama]

Can you get the wiring behind the canopy & above it So water would not drip on it as easily. To protect from splashing how about plastic boxes that can go over your electrical with cutout as needed for wiring. I am not an electrician but avoiding water drips & splashing is crucial in our hobby. Suggest you have GFI on all your electricals. Plastic will not work if area is too hot...

 

[electric130]

man, you are asking for a fire with all of those connections and splitters. i mounted recepatcles inside my stand. each outlet (two per duplex receptacle, jumper bar removed for individual control) is individually controlled by a power switch. the control panel is powered from a GFCI on a dedicated 20A breaker.

 

[Reefguide]

Cool, set-up J.R... Yeah I agree thats a fire hazard !! At the very least add a Power Strip !!

 

[electric130]

thanks. it's nice being able to have quick and easy control over every electrical component in the tank with the flip of a switch. the panlel i built wasn't cheap because i used all industrial grade control components, but i'm glad i did. they're designed for corrosive environments. plus having the outlets above the sump is safer, and it helps to clean things up since once everything is connected, you can strap tie it in place. you don't have to unplug things, just flip a switch. this is great for feeding since i can easily turn my PH's on a wave timer off. main pump too if needed. my switches are illuminated too. no real practical use, just looks cool.

 

[Marcosreef]

man, you are asking for a fire with all of those connections and splitters. i mounted recepatcles inside my stand. each outlet (two per duplex receptacle, jumper bar removed for individual control) is individually controlled by a power switch. the control panel is powered from a GFCI on a dedicated 20A breaker.

I agree about the fire hazard. All electrical outlets and switches should be mounted above the sump.

Electric130, that is one sweet setup.

Marco

 

[electric130]

Electric130, that is one sweet setup.

Marco

thanks, i appreciate it. i put a lot of time in planning it all out. i'm very happy with the results.

 

[Anonymous]

I did the poor mans version of what electric130 did. I got a couple of industrial 10 plug powerstrips and a bunch of regular powerstrips with light up switches. Powerstrips mount in the stand, and each device gets plugged into them. Individual control of each component, with light up conformation (so nice for checking what is on at a glance). Not real expensive at all and easy to set up.

As to the original question, I suggest you get all your electrical connections away from water and salt spray. Get them off the floor where water can collect. You can always extend the cords to get the plugs out of the danger zone. I wouldn't wait, and the literal band aid measures just arent that safe.

RR

 

[electric130]

i wouldn't wrap the connections in any kind of plastic. if something ever did arc and short out, the plastic would only be more fuel for the fire.