How do you spread your power?

[fritz]

I assume that most of us don't have 10 wall outlets behind our tanks to tap into. I use an RK2 but still need three more outlets. I've been reading and reading of the dangers of using power strips / surge protectors for anything that has a constant draw, not to mention the ambient humidity. Seems the most common cause of fires is arcing which is what happens when a powerstrip has an outlet with a constant draw.

So what does everyone use? Some sort of "for outdoor use" power tap or all metal surge protector?

 

[Craig]

RK2 and a DJ Power strip on a gfci wall outlet. My halide ballast is connected to a different outlet on a different circuit break and connected to the RK2 via the expansion module.

Alll of this is kept to the side of my tank to try to cut down on exposure to humidity.

 

[jhale]

I have a dry electric section in my stand, it's cut off from the sump by a solid wall. two 15amp DJ strips into dedicated 20amp outlets.
I put a power strip on the sump side, I needed the extra outlets there. that's also on a dedicated 20 amp, all the outlets are gfci.

 

[PalmTree]

I have a RK2 mounted inside the stand up high. Drip loops wherever I can. There is a buffer of about 14 inches between that and any water. Probably could do more but not that much space to begin with.

 

[fritz]

As I mentioned it's not the water that I'm worried about. Here's the deal, with power strips and surge protectors they are just strips of metal that run along the outlets. When you place a circulation pump on one of those outlets or anything with a constant draw of power you begin to oxidize that metal strip. After awhile electricity cannot pass that oxidation spot so it "jumps" over it or arcs. That arc is arcing electricity and it melts the plastic in your powerstrip which then catches fire. The plastic continues to burn and drip and catch other things on fire. If you're "lucky" your tank will fall and put out the fire, or melt and putout the fire.

There are 30 or so people that this has happened on the lesser reefing sites and RC has tons of people that this has happened to. Browsing around some fire safety sites they claim the #1 cause of fires is from arcing powerstrips.

GFCIs do NOTHING to protect you from arcing. So is everyone using plastic powerstrips (FIRE HAZARD) or is there some other solution I don't know about?

 

[ShaunW]

These threads scare me! What else can you use besides a powerstrip?

 

[Deanos]

Fritz: In your opinion, are Direct Connect boxes at risk as well? Or metal encased power strips?

 

[inline6]

It's hard to find powerstrips these days that are metal, I use two of them, however I do use some plastic ones.

In your opinion this oxidation process takes a few years, right? (in a ideal dry environment)
So if your plastic powerstrips are somewhat new it should be ok, right?

 

[home wrecker]

hey guys this is what i did ...instead of usin to power strips
as u could see its not the best looking project but it gets the job done

 

[thepudge]

Aren't computers constant draws as well? Clocks? etc etc. There are lots of appliances that are constantly on and not a fire hazard when run off of strips. I think the humidity and salt we deal with are the real risks. I try to replace my powerstrips every year or so, but I think as long as you keep them dry (and have well-made strips) they are usually safe.

 

[cali_reef]

Fred, all these years with multiple saltwater tanks I had only two power strip melting, both were caused by water dripping on the power strip. My friend Andrew killed his entire 120 gallon tank when he did some maintenance and the tank stand caught fire few hours later, NYFD blamed on water dripping on the power strip. GFCI will kick off if the hot lead is passing electricity to the ground and not the neutral leg, so it should work and have in my cases.

I have never seen or heard good quality power strips arcing when it is installed properly and no water was dripped into it.

 

[Bob 1000]

GFCI that's my vote. I got 3 coralife with timer built in. I also have a hidden extension cord coming from the other side of the room..GFCI also..

 

[jhale]

my DJ strips are metal and look to be heavy duty, I've not taken one apart yet so I can't say how well they are built.
if you want to be really safe you could build your own electric supply box, make sure it's to code or better, and enclose your ballasts in electricians boxes.

 

[House of Laughter]

I tend to agree with Cali - get the strips with the appropriate Jule ratings to handle the draw and that problem won't happen (I think, I am no engineer).

I use Belkin's with the highest Jule rating and keep all my circuits above the water line - it's the people who keep piles of wires on the floor that are higher risk.

JMO

House

 

[Wes]

They make Arc Fault Current interuptors, that might be a good solution...A combination AFCI/GFCI outlet.

A friend had a house fire from a power strip had a beautiful inwall and lost everything. I have never used one on my tank because of what happened to him. I use my RK2 and a couple of those heavy duty 2 ft 1 plug to 3 outlet extention cord thingies. Supposed to be "industrial heavy duty" made for outdoor use.

 

[ellebelle]

I recently bought a very heavy duty powerstrip (metal) specifically designed for computer use. Hopefully it will be better than the plastic one I was using that I dripped water on and shorted the circuit in my entire apartment.

Oops.

 

[fritz]

I'm neither an electrician nor a Fireman, I am not in any way qualified to nor do I have any expertise in this topic. I do not know any of the National Electrical code nor do I know what is "up to code" in any of the local municipalities. I'm just bringing up a reoccurring topic that I see on other sites. I've also seen, on non reefing sites, powerstrips deemed the cause of fires due to arc faults.

FYI there's a thread on RC right now where many people are sharing their
"My coralife powerstrip started a fire in my house...."

 

[drperetz]

...

U guys should create a standard MR DIY for the assembly of electrical units.

and of course which brands to use...

 

[jab161]

If you are really worried about oxidation, take apart an old power strip which you have used on your tank for a while. If you see dicoloration on the copper contacts than maybe you should be worried, if not than maybe just replace power stripps every year or so as suggested above. Also take a look at your electrical pannel. How old is it? are any of the breakers hot? Many older breakers may not trip when excessive current is drawn. so if possible pick up a couple of new breakers for your tank curcuits. if you are realy worried about the plastic strips Wire Mold manufactures metal power strips, im sure you can find them on the web, or at your local electrical supply house (probubly not home depot). i am an electrician so if you have any further questions ask

 

[fritz]

John I love your idea of the "dry" wall to separate the wet from the dry stuff under the stand. I'll be doing that tonight.

jab,
An electrician! Oh man do I have questions!
1. What's your opinion on using a GFCI with a reef tank? I've heard that NY code says you can't use GFCIs on Life Support systems. I doubt they had 100 gallons of salt water in mind when they came up with that but I've heard arguments each way.
2. What's your opinion of using a ground fault interrupter at the breaker for your reef circuit?
3. Inside most of our canopies it gets really hot. Even with an exhaust fan it has to be in the 90s. How bad is that for the insulation on our wires over time?

Thanks

Fred