GFCI

s ruppa · 08/26/2008, 03:08 PM

is there any advantage or disadvantage that anyone can think of to running every item on its own seperate (non series) GFCI plug

thanks
steve

Kieth71 · 08/26/2008, 03:16 PM

I cant think of any advantage if they are all on the same circuit...15 or 20 amps depending on breaker is all your gonna get either way..i guess you would have more places to plug into and if you need them to be spaced in such a way that it would make it neater looking but cant think of any reason that it would help unless they all had their own circuit...hope this helps

ludnix · 08/26/2008, 03:40 PM

If they were all on their own plug, if one item trips the GFCI your other items would not turn off, which maybe be an advantage, although it could also be a problem. For example, if your return pump fails and trips it's GFCI, all the other items would run, including your skimmer which may end up overflowing from the higher water level in your sump. Then again, this could happen regardless of your GFCI setup.

reefergeorge · 08/26/2008, 03:46 PM

The only advantage I see is that a false trip only takes out one piece of equipment.
If I was setting it up for your assumed 210.
I would run two 20 amp circuits from your panel. Then start with two gfcis on each circuit. Then daisy chain three other outlets from each of them. That way you have 16 gfci protected outlets on two different breakers.

GrantMeThePower · 08/26/2008, 04:14 PM

I had to take out my GFCI because my lights were artificially tripping it.

What option do i have?

s ruppa · 08/26/2008, 04:16 PM

it is going to be on the now 220g. i need to update that as of today : )

i liked the idea of having each item protected. so if a heater shorted it would not take out anything else. flase trips also only take out one item.

right now i bringing in a whole new service branched off my main box. 240v 50 amp to the fish room. this will feed a 8-12 space service panel. i think it could be figured out so that i can daisy chain a few together so a trip would take out a small section of my gear. split up the essentials on different breakers and GFCI chains

thanks for the input
steve

s ruppa · 08/26/2008, 04:19 PM

grantmethepower, i had a similar situation. that is why i built my power center in the first place. i had my whole tank on a GFCI. a false trip took out everyting while i was out of town. i lost all my fish except one.

check out melevsreef.com he has good ideas for making a power center with a combination of GFCI and none GFCI

steve

K' Family Reef · 08/26/2008, 04:27 PM

basically
one needs to have 2 gfci... one for the return pump and one for everything else...

dont want a lite or heater to trip up the gfci
(if everything is on one gfci)... bec then there will be no flow in the tank and will end up w/a dead/stressed tank depending on how long it takes for someone to come along...

so by keeping 2 gfci
and atleast one pump on the other opposite the main (return pump) then if the return pump trips there will still be flow in the tank... so one is covered either way no matter which one might get tripped... iow there will be flow in the tank no matter what

one can always use the portable gfci
from hd/lowes... be sure to get the kind that come back on if there is a power outtage (i think most they sell there are like that but be sure to check it when at home)... others will scoff at using these but we have used them successfully for some time on all our tanks... and on 1 occasion it tripped while my hand was in the tank (perhaps water splash somewhere) and another time when i was messing around behind in the sump area... THESE DO WORK... they are designed for HEAVY DUTY commercial use/SAFETY and they will more than meet the needs of reefers... they are portable so if the tank is moved then one is always available to use!

if one doesnt want to install a gfci in the wall
then this is an easy option - bec its not worth it to go without one!

regards

08/26/2008, 03:08 PM	#1
s ruppa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: kenosha, wi Posts: 235	GFCI is there any advantage or disadvantage that anyone can think of to running every item on its own seperate (non series) GFCI plug thanks steve __________________ come hell or high water this sick world will know i was here Current Tank Info: 220g reef

08/26/2008, 03:40 PM	#3
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	If they were all on their own plug, if one item trips the GFCI your other items would not turn off, which maybe be an advantage, although it could also be a problem. For example, if your return pump fails and trips it's GFCI, all the other items would run, including your skimmer which may end up overflowing from the higher water level in your sump. Then again, this could happen regardless of your GFCI setup. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

08/26/2008, 03:46 PM	#4
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	The only advantage I see is that a false trip only takes out one piece of equipment. If I was setting it up for your assumed 210. I would run two 20 amp circuits from your panel. Then start with two gfcis on each circuit. Then daisy chain three other outlets from each of them. That way you have 16 gfci protected outlets on two different breakers. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

08/26/2008, 04:16 PM	#6
s ruppa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: kenosha, wi Posts: 235	it is going to be on the now 220g. i need to update that as of today : ) i liked the idea of having each item protected. so if a heater shorted it would not take out anything else. flase trips also only take out one item. right now i bringing in a whole new service branched off my main box. 240v 50 amp to the fish room. this will feed a 8-12 space service panel. i think it could be figured out so that i can daisy chain a few together so a trip would take out a small section of my gear. split up the essentials on different breakers and GFCI chains thanks for the input steve __________________ come hell or high water this sick world will know i was here Current Tank Info: 220g reef

08/26/2008, 04:19 PM	#7
s ruppa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: kenosha, wi Posts: 235	grantmethepower, i had a similar situation. that is why i built my power center in the first place. i had my whole tank on a GFCI. a false trip took out everyting while i was out of town. i lost all my fish except one. check out melevsreef.com he has good ideas for making a power center with a combination of GFCI and none GFCI steve __________________ come hell or high water this sick world will know i was here Current Tank Info: 220g reef

08/26/2008, 03:16 PM	#2
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	I cant think of any advantage if they are all on the same circuit...15 or 20 amps depending on breaker is all your gonna get either way..i guess you would have more places to plug into and if you need them to be spaced in such a way that it would make it neater looking but cant think of any reason that it would help unless they all had their own circuit...hope this helps

08/26/2008, 04:14 PM	#5
GrantMeThePower Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 234	I had to take out my GFCI because my lights were artificially tripping it. What option do i have?

08/26/2008, 04:27 PM	#8
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	basically one needs to have 2 gfci... one for the return pump and one for everything else... dont want a lite or heater to trip up the gfci (if everything is on one gfci)... bec then there will be no flow in the tank and will end up w/a dead/stressed tank depending on how long it takes for someone to come along... so by keeping 2 gfci and atleast one pump on the other opposite the main (return pump) then if the return pump trips there will still be flow in the tank... so one is covered either way no matter which one might get tripped... iow there will be flow in the tank no matter what one can always use the portable gfci from hd/lowes... be sure to get the kind that come back on if there is a power outtage (i think most they sell there are like that but be sure to check it when at home)... others will scoff at using these but we have used them successfully for some time on all our tanks... and on 1 occasion it tripped while my hand was in the tank (perhaps water splash somewhere) and another time when i was messing around behind in the sump area... THESE DO WORK... they are designed for HEAVY DUTY commercial use/SAFETY and they will more than meet the needs of reefers... they are portable so if the tank is moved then one is always available to use! if one doesnt want to install a gfci in the wall then this is an easy option - bec its not worth it to go without one! regards