More Proof GFI Outlets are Indispensible

[cybermeez]

I was poking around tonight moving some asterina stars from the tank to the fuge (some have to survive to have a self sustaining food source for the Harlequin shrimp). I was moving the last one when suddenly the fuge light slid INTO the sump. Plop!

Before I could even here a "pop" or a "tzzz" the GFI outlet tripped and the light went out. After a split second I figured out what had happened and then realized my hand (complete with starfish still in my fingers) was under water in the fuge. Keep in mind that the fuge light was plugged into a power strip with a circuit breaker, but it didn't trip, only the GFI wall outlet did.

So, the moral of the story is don't trust any power strip to save your life. Spend the extra $10 at Home Depot and install a GFI for every outlet your tank's equipment is plugged into.

Robin

 

[PhoenixOne]

Wow. Thank God. That is a good idea. I am going to get some as well. But me and electricity don't mix. I can't tell you how many times I have shocked myself doing simple 101 stuff. Need to find handy electrical person. Good post. All should do the same if they haven't already.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yeah I agree, Thank god.

 

[inkblue]

:wow: cLose call. glad you are saFe!

 

[aaron23]

i should get to installing one tomorrow...
Quick question, im going to install one myself

What amp size should be used for this application?

 

[dreko]

I've bought the heavy gauge GFI extention cords from Home Depot and I've found them to be incredibly 'touchy' and trip off many many times
Has anyone else had the same experience with these yellow GFI cords?

 

[aaron23]

somebody who knows how this stuff works, please fill us in thanks.

 

[jhale]

aaron it will be 15 or 20 amps, look in the breaker box and see what amp breaker covers the outlet.

 

[bronxer]

My friend had a similar experience a few years ago, but didn't have GFI. He had a leak in his tank, and did not even have his outlets elevated off the floor. When he saw the leak he went to turn off the power and got burned.

So the first thing I did when I set up my tank was install GFI outlets.

 

[cybermeez]

aaron it will be 15 or 20 amps, look in the breaker box and see what amp breaker covers the outlet.

Out of curiosity, what would happen if you had 20 amp breakers in the breaker box, but put in a 15 amp GFI outlet? Would it be dangerous or just cause the circuit to trip at a lower threshold than the box would?

 

[Bob 1000]

Also stabilize your equipment.... That helps... I learned this a long time ago because I'm in my tank way to much some times

 

[jab161]

a gfi works by measuring the current drawn by a device to the current returned from the device once that amount differs it trips. it is not meant to protect against over current which is when too much current is drawn and the breaker trips. You should use a 20 amp gfi if you are running on a 20 amp breaker.

 

[jab161]

also one gfi outlet can be used to protect another outlet in the sme box or on the same line. The back of the outlet has an "in and out" just put the feed from the panel into the "in" and the wires going to the other outlets in the "out" and they will be gfi protected from that outlet. This would save money if multiple outlets are needed.

 

[jhale]

if you have a 20amp breaker and there is a dedicated outlet it must be a 20amp receptacle. you may have multiple 15amp receptacles on a 20amp breaker.
note, I'm not an electrician or inspector, I just do a lot of DIY projects

 

[inkblue]

 

[Wes]

aaron it will be 15 or 20 amps, look in the breaker box and see what amp breaker covers the outlet.

or 30. My condo is wired w/ 30 amp circuits.

 

[budman0418]

gfi

the reason why to power strip didnt trip is because the gfi trips in 1/160 of a second the power strip(which ever one you have) is higher then that so the gfi will trip first. now you can put more outlets on the same circuit as gfi but gfi has to be the first outlet from power from breakerpanel and you should only have one gfi on a circuit.as for 15 outlets on a 20amp breaker, well its ok but code wise they should be the same 20 amp with 20 amp, 15 amp with 15 amp, but you need to see what type wire you have also. 14 gauge is for 15 amp and 12 gauge is for 20 amp. you put a 20 amp outlet on 14 gauge wire and you might have a problem, can it be done YES but there is a chance of fire is wire gets too hot.also its not the amps that trip gfi it is current,amps is for how much stuff you have on one circuit(meaning mag 7 might draw 3 amps, skimmer 2 amps,and so on if when they all on at same time you have to add them to see what toatl draw is in amps, then to make sure you breaker can support it.)well that was a litle off starting subject but someone asked how it worked i think. and questions plz feel free to pm me, i will answer what i can..
Former local 25 electrician. hope this helped a bit

 

[jab161]

also its not the amps that trip gfi it is current
Former local 25 electrician. hope this helped a bit

budman what is current measured in?

 

[Wes]

amperes

 

[e.muehlbauer]

I use those extension GFI's from Home Depot...all my tank equipment is plugged into power strips, which in turn are plugged into the GFI's. I've never had a problem....the one time they went off (not counting the time I burnt one out by using the wrong kind of extension cord...my bad...) was after some water accidentally splashed a power strip during a water change...shut off instantly.