GCIF Saves Me from Injury

zmckenzie · 04/07/2008, 03:51 PM

Hello fellow Enthusiast,

Today a scary thing happened and along with stupidity could have ended in complete disaster. I made some now frag racks for my frag tank and when putting the new ones in I was lazy and kept the light plugged in and just held it with one hand as I put the racks in (mistake #1). I am not sure how, but the light (4 bulb t5) managed to slip out of my hands and into my frag tank. Only worrying about the light and corals before even thinking I threw my hand into the water to recover it (mistake #2). Just as I hit the water I thought to myself SH**! Of course in this time I didnâ€™t realize that all of my lights and pumps went off and was thankful that I didnâ€™t get shocked. The moral of the story is that if you donâ€™t have GCIF plugs get them. Either install them or do what I did and just by one of the shockbusters. Not sure how much injury I could have endured but I am glad I didnâ€™t find out. GCIF should be on the top of everyoneâ€™s equipment list.

Aqua Keepers · 04/07/2008, 03:56 PM

Glad your still with us

bguile · 04/07/2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pito
Glad your still with us

Ditto. That could've been serious. I'm sure we all seem to be an inch or two short in workspace no matter how big the tank area is. Perfect example for the use of GCFI.

qfrisco · 04/07/2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zmckenzie
Hello fellow Enthusiast,

Today a scary thing happened and along with stupidity could have ended in complete disaster. I made some now frag racks for my frag tank and when putting the new ones in I was lazy and kept the light plugged in and just held it with one hand as I put the racks in (mistake #1). I am not sure how, but the light (4 bulb t5) managed to slip out of my hands and into my frag tank. Only worrying about the light and corals before even thinking I threw my hand into the water to recover it (mistake #2). Just as I hit the water I thought to myself SH**! Of course in this time I didnâ€™t realize that all of my lights and pumps went off and was thankful that I didnâ€™t get shocked. The moral of the story is that if you donâ€™t have GCIF plugs get them. Either install them or do what I did and just by one of the shockbusters. Not sure how much injury I could have endured but I am glad I didnâ€™t find out. GCIF should be on the top of everyoneâ€™s equipment list.

You and me both! I had a similar experience this past weekend, and actually started my own thread a couple hours ago.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1364721

FEEDERFISH · 04/07/2008, 05:30 PM

Your breaker would have blown in your fuse box without a GFCI thats a massive Short you created when the Lights Entered the Water

zmckenzie · 04/07/2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FEEDERFISH
Your breaker would have blown in your fuse box without a GFCI thats a massive Short you created when the Lights Entered the Water

This tank is in one of the labs i work in at school. Not sure if this would have happened. I am glad i didn't find out. I just added the GCIF about two weeks ago.

ReefingMadness · 04/07/2008, 05:47 PM

Even if the breaker did kick, it would take the better part of 1 second.

bguile · 04/07/2008, 05:49 PM

It doesn't take but a fraction of that second with enough volts to fry you for good.

Freed · 04/07/2008, 06:00 PM

A split second with sufficient amps will kill you. I came within a split second of getting really shocked last year. I reached down to pick up the VHO lamp cords that were laying in the standing water in the basement. The split second I touched them I felt a shock and heard the GFCI kick off instantly. I could have been toast as well. It's well worth it to think ahead and make sure you install GFCI plugs.

Amps are what kill you, not voltage.

Freed · 04/07/2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FEEDERFISH
Your breaker would have blown in your fuse box without a GFCI thats a massive Short you created when the Lights Entered the Water

I hope no one has breakers in their fuse box.

Aqua Keepers · 04/07/2008, 06:02 PM

I know that a lot of people do not like to have everything plugged into a GFCI. This way not everything gets shut off. I think now is a good time to ask what people like to have plugged in and vise versa.

FEEDERFISH · 04/07/2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Freed
I hope no one has breakers in their fuse box.

HA! I do I have had my box updated.....And yes Amps Kill not voltage, I have been hit by 475V AC on a CCFL Inverter, just put a small black hole in my finger and a numb arm, I have also been hit with VHO lamps as they fell in a tank while I worked at a LFS! Yikes !

CaptainCoral · 04/07/2008, 07:24 PM

I remember an old thread where the person shocked became "frozen" with hand in water. Claimed he could think, but not move. If I remember correctly, eventually his legs gave way removing him from the water. I've been using GFCI's ever since reading that story.

These are scary stories to read and good reminder to us all how dangerous playing with electricity and water really is.

04/07/2008, 05:30 PM	#5
FEEDERFISH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Waupun, Wisconsin Posts: 1,060	Your breaker would have blown in your fuse box without a GFCI thats a massive Short you created when the Lights Entered the Water __________________ --Roads?..... Where were going...... We don't need.......Roads --Doc. Brown Current Tank Info: Custom AO 30 Gal Starphire Display , 2x150DE Hamilton Reefstar - Reeflux 12k / XM 15K, IceCap 430 24" T5-UVL Super Actinic, Aqua C EV-180 w/ Mag 9.5, Closed Loop on a Panworld 40px, Return Mag 12

04/07/2008, 05:47 PM	#7
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	Even if the breaker did kick, it would take the better part of 1 second. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

04/07/2008, 05:49 PM	#8
bguile Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: York PA Posts: 308	It doesn't take but a fraction of that second with enough volts to fry you for good. __________________ -Bguile Current Tank Info: 210G FOWLR, 40G Reef

04/07/2008, 06:00 PM	#9
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	A split second with sufficient amps will kill you. I came within a split second of getting really shocked last year. I reached down to pick up the VHO lamp cords that were laying in the standing water in the basement. The split second I touched them I felt a shock and heard the GFCI kick off instantly. I could have been toast as well. It's well worth it to think ahead and make sure you install GFCI plugs. Amps are what kill you, not voltage. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

04/07/2008, 07:24 PM	#13
CaptainCoral Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville,IL Posts: 1,104	I remember an old thread where the person shocked became "frozen" with hand in water. Claimed he could think, but not move. If I remember correctly, eventually his legs gave way removing him from the water. I've been using GFCI's ever since reading that story. These are scary stories to read and good reminder to us all how dangerous playing with electricity and water really is. __________________ I have 300 lbs. of pet rock Current Tank Info: 55[QuarantineTank],75[softie,clown/anemone], and 180 AGA reefs

04/07/2008, 03:51 PM	#1
zmckenzie Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brussels, WI Posts: 180	GCIF Saves Me from Injury Hello fellow Enthusiast, Today a scary thing happened and along with stupidity could have ended in complete disaster. I made some now frag racks for my frag tank and when putting the new ones in I was lazy and kept the light plugged in and just held it with one hand as I put the racks in (mistake #1). I am not sure how, but the light (4 bulb t5) managed to slip out of my hands and into my frag tank. Only worrying about the light and corals before even thinking I threw my hand into the water to recover it (mistake #2). Just as I hit the water I thought to myself SH**! Of course in this time I didnâ€™t realize that all of my lights and pumps went off and was thankful that I didnâ€™t get shocked. The moral of the story is that if you donâ€™t have GCIF plugs get them. Either install them or do what I did and just by one of the shockbusters. Not sure how much injury I could have endured but I am glad I didnâ€™t find out. GCIF should be on the top of everyoneâ€™s equipment list.

04/07/2008, 03:56 PM	#2
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	Glad your still with us

04/07/2008, 06:02 PM	#11
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	I know that a lot of people do not like to have everything plugged into a GFCI. This way not everything gets shut off. I think now is a good time to ask what people like to have plugged in and vise versa.