electricity and water :D

[jonesdeini]

I am going to install a new circuit breaker and outlets for my 220. From what I've gathered, the safest setup is AFCI with GFCI outlets.

From my experience with GFCI outlets, sometimes they get tripped for seemingly no reason. Obviously, if this happened to an outlet running critical components I would like to know ASAP. I plan to buy a controller for the tank, but being alerted that the temperature is dropping is not a fast enough response. Idealy, I would love a controller which could sense an outage and I could choose to turn on a battery backup from a web interface or something.
From what I can tell, there is no device like this that exists.

My current plan is find a ups that will not instantly turn on if the power goes out and hopefully even allow me to turn it on remotely. Have it connected to a couple powerheads so my tank can have water movement until I can get home.

I would love to hear how anyone else has solved this problem

[Steve Atkins]

I would install two circuit breakers, each with its own GFCI/RCD. This way you can put your main circulation on one and your current pumps on the other. I have done this and run the controller off the same circuit as the main circulation pump.

If main circulation circuit dies the default condition (i.e. when controller goes off line) of the in tank circulation pumps leaves them running. Similarly, if the in tank circulation circuit fails the main circulation keeps going.

Steve

[WestTexasReefer]

I also run 2 circuits but with 2 return pumps, 2 heaters and 4 Vortechs, Vortech battery back up with the load on each split between the 2 circuits. I have an Apex controller plugged in to a UPS and my router also plugged in to a UPS so if a breaker trips, there is a power outage or temp drops etc I can still communicate with the Apex. You can set up an Apex to text or alert you for almost any situation and can remotely fix most, except a power outage of course. Mine is also set up to alert me when power resumes. Best investment I have made in my tank.

[kurt_n]

Originally Posted by WestTexasReefer

...I have an Apex controller plugged in to a UPS and my router also plugged in to a UPS so if a breaker trips, there is a power outage or temp drops etc I can still communicate with the Apex. You can set up an Apex to text or alert you for almost any situation and can remotely fix most, except a power outage of course. Mine is also set up to alert me when power resumes. Best investment I have made in my tank.

This.

Download the Apex manual from Neptune's website and give it a read over. I think you'll find it will do what you want. I also have mine set up on a UPS, along with my router and get power outage notifications. You can also have the Apex's Energy Bars (power strips) plugged in to some type of UPS or battery backup and program it to turn on/off certain outlets when it senses a power outage. That way you can turn off non-critical items yet leave critical items powered by the UPS. This is also what I do which gives me some time to decide whether or not to break out the portable generator.

[alton]

FYI Square D now makes a combination AFCI and GFCI Breaker. Like others have suggested keep your main return pump on a separate GFCI either plug or breaker.