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#1 |
Registered Member
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When safety measures are unsafe
5.30 am I am wakened by three dogs that won't stop barking. I look over at the bed clock and its not working. The power is on for the rest of the house but I smell burned electrical smell.
I have one circuit of three k4 power heads hooked to a battery backup system. I also have two of the battery backup small air pumps ----one is on----the other ![]() ![]() ![]() Now this is really freaking me out---anyone have any input as to why this would happen?
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#2 |
Registered Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 10,806
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Dude - glad you and yours are ok!!! I have not got a clue what happened - obviously something shorted.
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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
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#3 | |
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Quote:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 7,629
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Wow....
I have those on all my tanks. Is that the only thing that burned? That sucks but give the dogs a nice treat. Glad you caught it. I wonder if the power went out, it kicked on and then burned or if it was the reason the power went out? I've had those things run for hours with no problems. |
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#5 | |
Registered Member
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Quote:
the pump was connected to the ups backup---the surge part of it-----I am just testing the unit out now to see if it was faulty. The other air pump was doing fine but it was hooked directly to the outlet itself. I have only the 3 k'4 and the battery backup unit hooked to that line because it is part of one of the house circuits. All other units are hooked up to two dedicated lines in the basement which were fine.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chester County PA
Posts: 1,508
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Please keep us posted, I am running one of those on my tank too, hooked up directly to the house current. Yipes! You are soooo lucky to have those dogs. Throw them all an extra Milk-bone, actually maybe a T-bone under the circumstances!
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Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone. |
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#7 |
Moved On
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,263
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Glad you and your home are still with us Capn.
![]() The extensive 'Jackson Pollock electrical' nature of this hobby worries me often. I have a fire alarm directly above my tank. It may also be a good idea to replace any old surge protectors. They do wear out over time and could be related to your problem. Time to hand out the Scooby snacks. ![]() |
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#8 | |
Registered Member
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Quote:
You would be familar with the aps backup systems for a computer system. I have it running on the counter top right now. It does run warm---is that normal. I had one of the k4's hooked up to the backup part of it and the air pump hooked up to the surge part of it.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#9 |
Moved On
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,263
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You'd think, but no, not familiar. Tho I find just about anything electrical gets a little warm.
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#10 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pa.
Posts: 275
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i would think it was the air unit itself that shorted out. looks like 2 wires sat on top of each other got hot melted the jacket on them and poof!. if they were my dogs they would be chewing on a half side of beef.
goodluck
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Chris Current Tank Info: 20g Long, LED Lit |
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#11 |
Obligate Coral Killer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 643
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Yes ups's run warm, but you may be overloading the power bus depending on the normal current draw.
Add up the watts drawn per connected item and compare it to the specs for the ups. BTW, ups's fail too, might be time for a new one (or replace the battery). I've gone though quite a few of the cheaper ones. HTH Ed
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It is NOT a dry heat! Click the little red house to read my 225 thread. Current Tank Info: 200gal NWV, 34ppt, 6" DSB, 750W MH, XM 20K, 220W VHO, CL, MP40W X2, chiller, GAC, Starting NeoZeo 7/18/09 |
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#12 |
Premium Member
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Location: NJ, shore
Posts: 4,376
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I would be more concernd about why the breaker in the house didn't trip. You know that if a breaker ever trips on its own it should be replaced. They are only guarenteed to work once then should be replaced. Now thats not the same thing as if a person switches 1 off to do work on the circuit. Thats OK, but if it trips automatically it should be replaced.
The reason I am saying this is becsause I doubt it was the battery part that shorted. I think it was the 110 A/C part that tells it not to run when the power is on that shorted out. But if it was in fact the battery part then the breaker should not have tripped anyway.
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Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year. |
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#13 | |
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Quote:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#14 |
Registered Member
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I just emailed the company that makes these. I will keep you posted on the explanation they give me.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#15 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Lebanon
Posts: 6,111
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Glad you caught it on time Capn
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390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef |
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#16 |
Premium Member
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Location: NJ, shore
Posts: 4,376
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So the breaker tripped and some devices on that circuit were still on? I don't know what could cause that, if I'm understanding correctly. Maybe the wires in the outlet are crossed between 2 circuits somehow.
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Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year. |
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#17 |
Moved On
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,263
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luther, I'm guessing the UPS kicked on.
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#18 | |
Registered Member
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Quote:
I've now connected the remaining good pump directly to the receptacle instead of the APC.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#19 |
Premium Member
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Location: NJ, shore
Posts: 4,376
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I missed that thanks.
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Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year. |
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#20 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: west coast, canada
Posts: 52
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'made in china'
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#21 |
Premium Member
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Location: NJ, shore
Posts: 4,376
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So is 80% of everthing else these days.
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Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year. |
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#22 | |
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Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 30,279
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![]() The B11 is designed for power on or power off, not maybe power kinda off/kinda on. I suspect the circuitry couldn't take the in between situation. Based on having three B11's for about 5 years and none have ever failed. Even the one that backsiphoned tank water and still works after a good cleaning. jmo
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Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks |
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#23 | |
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Quote:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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#24 |
Moved On
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,263
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So is this to say some equipment can not be safely plugged into backup power?
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#25 | |
Registered Member
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Quote:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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