GFI's???

mboos · 02/28/2010, 08:46 AM

I read in a post yesterday that you shouldn't plug your return pump into a GFI. Is this correct and if so, is there any other piece of equipment that should not be plugged into a GFI?

If this is incorrect, is there anything that should not be plugged into a GFI?

thanks

johnd651 · 02/28/2010, 10:11 AM

in a perfect world, everything around the aquarium should be plugged into GFCI's but it seems that they do trip sometimes with out warning/reason. so if you have a pump plugged into one, and it trips, you will lose flow and circulation.

alot of times, people also only use one GFCI and then everything else goes onto the load side. so if it trips, everything turns off. you might be safer, if you have multiple separate GFCIs. That way if one trips, the others still stay on.

EDIT: as for the return pump, if your overflow is not setup correctly, it is possible that if your return pump turns off (GFCI trips) it will overflow the sump

WestTxReefer · 02/28/2010, 10:44 AM

i have everything in my tanks plugged into GFI's, and yes sometimes it will trip and cut off everything. I have my sump and overflow set up so that when this happens, i still have about a 10 gallon safe zone, and dont have to worry about over flows into the bottom of my stand.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/28/2010, 10:50 AM

I definitely recommend everything on GFCI, and on as many different GFCI's as possible to reduce the likelihood of multiple things shutting down if something fails and triggers it.

tspors · 02/28/2010, 10:51 AM

Everything should be inline from the GFI. If you have a dedicated line from your circuit breaker to a GFI, then 4 more outlets after it. I have two dedicated 20amp circuits to the tank with first outlets being GFCI then 3 outlets tied to them. Then eveything is plugged into the GFI technically.

gpkozmp · 02/28/2010, 10:59 AM

Okay so here is a question;

I have an American DJ Power Strip with 8 outlets on it and I believe it has a breaker in it. I am going to be installing a GFCI in the wall behind the tank and it is going to have it's own dedicated 20 AMP circut.

I am planning on getting a battery backup and have the power strip plugged into that so therefore I would essentially only have one cord going from my tank to the wall.

What are your thought's on that?

HaroldT · 02/28/2010, 11:01 AM

I use GFI's but some can be more sensitive than others and trip sometimes when they shouldnt.

tspors · 02/28/2010, 11:09 AM

GP
As long as the power strip is plugged into the GFCI you are fine. If the power strip zaps the GFCI will trip and the hit will never go back to the Circuit Breaker.

gpkozmp · 02/28/2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tspors

GP
As long as the power strip is plugged into the GFCI you are fine. If the power strip zaps the GFCI will trip and the hit will never go back to the Circuit Breaker.

tspors,

thanks for your advice I just need to get a battery backup that is worth it now so I have to start looking. My build is a slow thing.

bertoni · 02/28/2010, 06:46 PM

I built a bunch of GFCI boxes, with 4 GFCIs per box, out of parts from Home Depot. Then, I put basically everything on its own GFCI, and had multiple pumps per tank. It took a bit of time, but I think it was worth it.

gpkozmp · 03/03/2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I built a bunch of GFCI boxes, with 4 GFCIs per box, out of parts from Home Depot. Then, I put basically everything on its own GFCI, and had multiple pumps per tank. It took a bit of time, but I think it was worth it.

Do you have a picture of it?

bertoni · 03/03/2010, 01:42 PM

The GFDIs are packed away for a move right now, but I'll see what I can do. The HW stores sell standard boxes that hold 4 plug outlets; they're not very elegant, to say the least.

Reefugee · 03/03/2010, 01:52 PM

You are proposing the following:

Wall Outlet (GFCI) >> UPS >> Power Strip.

If your GFCI trips, you still have power from the UPS. Essentially, you still are not protected.

You should consider the following

Wall outlet (non-GFCI) >> UPS >> GFCI Outlet >> Power Strip.

For the GFCI, you can use one of those "plugin" GFCI.

IMO - ALL equipment should be plugged into a GFCI. Like other people said, you may want multiple circuits, but each circuit is protected by a GFCI. In my tank, if the circuit that the return pump is on trips, I still have a my power head running because it's on a different circuit. My heaters are on two different circuits for the same reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpkozmp

Okay so here is a question;

I have an American DJ Power Strip with 8 outlets on it and I believe it has a breaker in it. I am going to be installing a GFCI in the wall behind the tank and it is going to have it's own dedicated 20 AMP circut.

I am planning on getting a battery backup and have the power strip plugged into that so therefore I would essentially only have one cord going from my tank to the wall.

What are your thought's on that?

justisathomesea · 03/03/2010, 06:00 PM

If you are going to put a new dedicated circuit from you panel to a recpt. behind your fish tank I would do a GFI recpt. I would put in a GFI breaker, they dont seem to trip out as much as the recpts. do. That will keep you from having to get behind your tank to reset the recpt. plus then the whole circuit from the panel and to how ever many recpt. you put for your tank will be covered

wooden_reefer · 03/03/2010, 07:10 PM

I have to say GFI is a very tough decision for me.

It is personal safety over important cons in false trips.

In order to have redundancy in equipment on two separate GFI's, much expense will be additional.

02/28/2010, 08:46 AM	#1
mboos Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Poconos Posts: 56	GFI's??? I read in a post yesterday that you shouldn't plug your return pump into a GFI. Is this correct and if so, is there any other piece of equipment that should not be plugged into a GFI? If this is incorrect, is there anything that should not be plugged into a GFI? thanks __________________ We don't inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children. ~ David Brower

02/28/2010, 10:11 AM	#2
johnd651 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UT Posts: 406	in a perfect world, everything around the aquarium should be plugged into GFCI's but it seems that they do trip sometimes with out warning/reason. so if you have a pump plugged into one, and it trips, you will lose flow and circulation. alot of times, people also only use one GFCI and then everything else goes onto the load side. so if it trips, everything turns off. you might be safer, if you have multiple separate GFCIs. That way if one trips, the others still stay on. EDIT: as for the return pump, if your overflow is not setup correctly, it is possible that if your return pump turns off (GFCI trips) it will overflow the sump __________________ -John D 55 Gal - Agg African Cichlid ~ 55 Gal - Comm African Cichlid ~ 75 Gal - Empty ~ 75 Gal Hex - Empty ~ 10 Gal - Fish Timeout tank (N. Fusco) ~ 5 Gal Marineland - Fry Tank(24 M. Auratus) ~ 240 Gal Acrylic - Empty and possibly failure waiting to happen Last edited by johnd651; 02/28/2010 at 10:12 AM. Reason: return pump reason

02/28/2010, 10:44 AM	#3
WestTxReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: odessa, Tx Posts: 221	i have everything in my tanks plugged into GFI's, and yes sometimes it will trip and cut off everything. I have my sump and overflow set up so that when this happens, i still have about a 10 gallon safe zone, and dont have to worry about over flows into the bottom of my stand. __________________ tacos? did someone say tacos? Current Tank Info: 150 DD Marineland, upcoming shallow reef tank

02/28/2010, 10:50 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I definitely recommend everything on GFCI, and on as many different GFCI's as possible to reduce the likelihood of multiple things shutting down if something fails and triggers it. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/28/2010, 10:51 AM	#5
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	Everything should be inline from the GFI. If you have a dedicated line from your circuit breaker to a GFI, then 4 more outlets after it. I have two dedicated 20amp circuits to the tank with first outlets being GFCI then 3 outlets tied to them. Then eveything is plugged into the GFI technically. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

02/28/2010, 10:59 AM	#6
gpkozmp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 460	Okay so here is a question; I have an American DJ Power Strip with 8 outlets on it and I believe it has a breaker in it. I am going to be installing a GFCI in the wall behind the tank and it is going to have it's own dedicated 20 AMP circut. I am planning on getting a battery backup and have the power strip plugged into that so therefore I would essentially only have one cord going from my tank to the wall. What are your thought's on that?

02/28/2010, 11:01 AM	#7
HaroldT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fresno, California Posts: 582	I use GFI's but some can be more sensitive than others and trip sometimes when they shouldnt.

02/28/2010, 11:09 AM	#8
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	GP As long as the power strip is plugged into the GFCI you are fine. If the power strip zaps the GFCI will trip and the hit will never go back to the Circuit Breaker. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

02/28/2010, 06:46 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I built a bunch of GFCI boxes, with 4 GFCIs per box, out of parts from Home Depot. Then, I put basically everything on its own GFCI, and had multiple pumps per tank. It took a bit of time, but I think it was worth it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/03/2010, 01:42 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The GFDIs are packed away for a move right now, but I'll see what I can do. The HW stores sell standard boxes that hold 4 plug outlets; they're not very elegant, to say the least. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/03/2010, 06:00 PM	#14
justisathomesea Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midlothain, Virginia Posts: 180	If you are going to put a new dedicated circuit from you panel to a recpt. behind your fish tank I would do a GFI recpt. I would put in a GFI breaker, they dont seem to trip out as much as the recpts. do. That will keep you from having to get behind your tank to reset the recpt. plus then the whole circuit from the panel and to how ever many recpt. you put for your tank will be covered

03/03/2010, 07:10 PM	#15
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	I have to say GFI is a very tough decision for me. It is personal safety over important cons in false trips. In order to have redundancy in equipment on two separate GFI's, much expense will be additional.