|
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#27
|
|||
|
|||
yeah it does, I got it from lowes or home depot it was over 20 dollars.
|
#28
|
|||
|
|||
Don't forget to put one on your UPS too.
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
I just have the ShockBuster you buy at Lowes or HD. It works good enough until I can get a more perm one installed.
You may never need one, but if you ever do why risk it when it could save your life? Or someone you love. |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
Just remember, when using a GFCI, DO NOT USE A GROUND PROBE IN YOUR TANK!!!
Tom
__________________
"I got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big..WAVE!" Ed Veddar It's a reef thing, you wouldn't understand! |
#31
|
|||
|
|||
My husband insists on GFCIs, I think we'll eventually have one on every single outlet in the house. Right now we have one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom and one for the 90g, all of which he installed before we even unpacked (we just moved into a new apartment on Sept 1st). We ran out, because we assumed the apt would already have them in the kitchen and bathroom (forgot to check when we viewed the apt), so we still need to get another for the QT and 30g, which are on the same outlet in the bedroom. We're rather far from all the shopping areas in town and have no car and a horrible bus system, so it's been tough to get all the things we need in a new city, but it's no excuse - we need to pick a GFCI up next time we're out.
All our tanks also have power bars that are supposed to trip like a GFCI in the event of emergencies, and we have drip loops and tidy wiring. Electricity and water are a dangerous combo, so we don't want to mess around. A GFCI can cost as little as $9.99 and it can save your life - if your tank isn't on a GFCI now, get one as soon as you can! They're not hard to install, and places like Home Depot or Rona usually have people who can walk you through it. They also come with instructions and if I can follow them, anyone can
__________________
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen |
#32
|
|||
|
|||
A true story.
I have a 55g sump and i use a dual bulb t-5 coralife strip light on it because i keep a lion in the sump and i like to see him. One evening i was feeding him and i somehow knocked a 4 foot strip light into a 4 foot tank with a brace in the middle? Strange thing is, it was still lit up while half of it was underwater! So i reach right in to grab the light, not even thinking... I got nailed as soon as my fingers touched the water and it nearly knocked me down, when i realized what was going on at that point i went and yanked the cords out of the wall and killed power to the whole tank. Quote:
I think im still typin because it was a grounded outlet, but i dont know much about electricity. The light was still on when i yanked the plug. I rinsed it in the shower and dried it out and have been using it ever since, its on right now. LOL Quote:
|
#33
|
|||
|
|||
if its a hardwired recepticle into the box, be sure that its wired correctly based on the instructions. polarity is important also when wiring, if its wired as a standalone unit. if you wire it correctly the other way, all of the downstream recepticles will also be protected by that unit. if its at the tail end of the circuit, it will not matter...
__________________
Got Salt? |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
as mentioned, where concerns of a gfci may trip leaving the entire tank without power, a second gcfi plumbed in line for at least part of the circulation system is a must. my particular true sine wave backup "ups" has a built in gfci, where i have a single powerhead hooked to it. one system backs up the other. and in complete failure mode the ups is resetting and a battery backup air pump will be automatic...
__________________
Got Salt? Last edited by dga; 09/25/2007 at 02:23 AM. |
#35
|
|||
|
|||
Have them on just about every plug circuit I use.
|
#36
|
|||
|
|||
I've got 8 GFCI outlets installed in parallel, so that if 1 trips it doesn't take out my whole tank. Lighting is off one set, Return pump off another, Skimmer has it's own, heater and chiller share one, closed loop and OM share another.
Never heard not to use a grounding probe with GFCI. Must have something to do with the grounding path and Neutral? Anyone have any info on this? |
#37
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
One day I'll be so rich I'll have a closed loop and Tunzes to mix my new saltwater! |
#38
|
|||
|
|||
This is a great thread. I have been thinking about getting one, and after reading this I will definatly pick one up today.
Is this a good one to use? Do I just plug my power strip/surge protector into it? http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...roduct=TW39013
__________________
Do fish drink water? |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#40
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
For example, if you ground your tank and don't have a GFCI the ground in the tank can cause a big problem. Let's say you have stray current running through a metal stand, and then let's say you stick your hand into the fuge while holding on to the stand. That stray electricity will run from the stand through your body and then looking for a ground will run from your body to the ground in the tank. If that electricity runs through the upper part of your body and through your heart...you will mostly die. Remember, eclectricity is always looking for a ground. Now, if that same tank has a GFCI it will recognize the unequal flow of the AC current and once this happens, and within fractions of a second, it shut down the AC current preventing serious shock. If there is no GFCI on a grounded tank...well you know the outcome. The simple rule here is if you ground your tank you MUST HAVE a GFCI.
__________________
Geno Chance favors the prepared mind! |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
Any opnions on using a GFCI breaker instead of using the outlet type? I have an extra GFCI breaker and was wondering if they offer the same advantages, and will they trip if a power outage?
|
#42
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Geno Chance favors the prepared mind! |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#44
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#45
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#46
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
¡ʞuɐʇ ʎɯ ǝʌo1 ı |
#47
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#48
|
|||
|
|||
I've also read that having a ground probe will reduce lateral line disease and hole in the head syndrome in angels. I guess it eliminates stray current from power heads/heaters, that would normally affect them.
|
#49
|
|||
|
|||
I use them.
I did have a situation once with them, not sure if it was good/bad... Ocassionally on my 55 g I would have to reset the GFCI that my lights and tank heater was on. (this happened maybe a few times in a year)... well, I was on vacation and at some point the GFCI tripped. I came home to a 62 deg reef tank... amazingly most of the fish lived. All the sps and a few of the lps/zoas died. i say i'm not sure if this is good or bad b/c maybe the GFCI saved me from a fire? i don't think that's the case though as i was so ****ed off i stopped using the gfci on the lights/heater for about a couple of months and never had a problem.
__________________
~Jason |
#50
|
|||
|
|||
PS
after that, i i started using gfci's for each individual thing, although maybe that's overkill.
__________________
~Jason |
|
|