A
Anonymous
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Does anyone know of anyone who actually died from not using a GFCI? How many? Does anyone know anyone who lost a tank to a false trip? How many?
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the key to using a GFCI is redundancy. all you have to do is set up multiple independent GFCI's. Have one GFI for your lights, one for you return pump, one for your closed loop pump, etc, etc. This way only the appliance that trips will be out.
icebox at reefcentral made this diagram... most don't need this many outlets, but you get the idea.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachmen ... id=1571530
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=218987
icebox at reefcentral made this diagram... most don't need this many outlets, but you get the idea.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachmen ... id=1571530
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=218987
smlacy":3cmy8kns said:Does anyone know if it takes a "true" ground for a GFCI to work, or can I just wire a ground probe as "ground" and will that be good enough?
The problem is that my house is very old and none of the outlets are actually grounded.
Steve
My house is very old also, it is time you either did some rewiring or had it done. IMO you shouldn't be running your tank on a non grounded outlet.
My house is knob and tube wiring, but I have rewired anything important into the new service I had put in (for instance, Tank, TV, Computer, Refrigerator, freezer)
Have fun, wiring is fun ouch, just got a little shock, never stick both hands in an electric box. while this will not save you from shock, it will save you from having current go right past your heart!
Bryan
I had a GFCI trip twice, all of the powered items were wired through this GFCI. The second time it tripped we were unfortunately away for the weekend. I lost four of my favorite fish. Now, I have everything but the main pump wired through the GFCI. The main pump is an Iwaki I have located in a utility room behind the display tank. Don't know if I will chance wiring it into a separate GFCI.
As to smlacy's question about needing a "true ground", you can wire the safety ground prong (green wire) to an earthing pole that is driven far enough into the ground. They are available at Home Depot, etc. Be sure and activate the test trip feature before using though!
As to smlacy's question about needing a "true ground", you can wire the safety ground prong (green wire) to an earthing pole that is driven far enough into the ground. They are available at Home Depot, etc. Be sure and activate the test trip feature before using though!
Don't need a ground for a GFI to work. A suggested reno for non-grounded or un-polarized outlets is to install GFIs.
One thing I do notice is lots of people install the GFI under the tank above the sump etc.. Probably not a good practice as salt creep or moisture within the unit itself could be causing false trips.
One thing I do notice is lots of people install the GFI under the tank above the sump etc.. Probably not a good practice as salt creep or moisture within the unit itself could be causing false trips.
As I am sometimes away and my wife or father-in-law helps with my tank at those times, I would never want to hear to that someone close to me died becuase a heater in my aquarium went out or whatever.
Based on that point alone I use them and will always use them.
Brian
BTW my power once blinked for a split second and it tripped my GFCI. Lucvkliy I was at home.
Based on that point alone I use them and will always use them.
Brian
BTW my power once blinked for a split second and it tripped my GFCI. Lucvkliy I was at home.
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