Tank Crash!
- Thread starter RevReefer
- Start date
I actually just experienced this problem yesterday, I woke up and the power to my tanks were off, the GFI had tripped. So I started unplugging things one by one till I found that it was one of my newer heaters in the 55gal FO tank that had been tripping the GFI. I pulled it and everything cranked right up. This is why I have everything into a GFI, 1. I don't kill myself and 2. to trip when somehting electrical goes wrong.
Good Luck, I have an old rotting brain coral you could have. :)
Good Luck, I have an old rotting brain coral you could have. :)
RevReefer
Living Reefs Supporter
Thanks for the offer Chris. Will you pay for over night shipping to me? :Big Hair:
The GFCI's are scary too though, because they can trip for reasons that would not bother your tank, and if your out of town the your tank is toast..
The GFCI's are scary too though, because they can trip for reasons that would not bother your tank, and if your out of town the your tank is toast..
Gfci
A ground fault circuit interupter is the only protection that is provided to protect living things, All other trips are for protection of the electrical circuit. The ground fault circuit interupter trips when it senses a fault to ground at a very low level and is very quick when a fault occurs. The breakers in your electrical panel are there to protect the circuits from shorts, ungrounded to grounded conductors and most breakers are inverse time delayed in that the longer the short, the hotter the breaker, the higher the magnetic field and then the breaker trips. Ive seen a wire short and burn on the out side of a building and never trip the breaker until within 2 feet of the sub-panel as each time it shorted it burned apart and took a long time to get the breaker to its trip point. as you can imagine the building caught on fire. one new personel protector that is showing up is the AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interupter). This is a special breaker in the subpanel that protects the entire circuit and is also a people protector. GFCI and AFCI are suseptical to failure as is any device made by man, however the protection provided far outweighs the failures which are few. I run a ground probe in each sump, main, and body of water that is seperate except for plumbing. all outlets are GFCI protected and all equipment is plugged into a surge protector. hope something here helps. just my 3 cents worth. what was the make of heater, how old, size, etc. particulars please. maybe we should start an equipement failure forum where we could post problems with equipement. Glad you found the problem.
A ground fault circuit interupter is the only protection that is provided to protect living things, All other trips are for protection of the electrical circuit. The ground fault circuit interupter trips when it senses a fault to ground at a very low level and is very quick when a fault occurs. The breakers in your electrical panel are there to protect the circuits from shorts, ungrounded to grounded conductors and most breakers are inverse time delayed in that the longer the short, the hotter the breaker, the higher the magnetic field and then the breaker trips. Ive seen a wire short and burn on the out side of a building and never trip the breaker until within 2 feet of the sub-panel as each time it shorted it burned apart and took a long time to get the breaker to its trip point. as you can imagine the building caught on fire. one new personel protector that is showing up is the AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interupter). This is a special breaker in the subpanel that protects the entire circuit and is also a people protector. GFCI and AFCI are suseptical to failure as is any device made by man, however the protection provided far outweighs the failures which are few. I run a ground probe in each sump, main, and body of water that is seperate except for plumbing. all outlets are GFCI protected and all equipment is plugged into a surge protector. hope something here helps. just my 3 cents worth. what was the make of heater, how old, size, etc. particulars please. maybe we should start an equipement failure forum where we could post problems with equipement. Glad you found the problem.
DarthOcellaris
Reefing newb
I'm just glad you're ok after sticking your hands in the tank!!!!!
I've heard of Germans hitting their tanks with voltage on purpose too. What's the difference? is it just the fact that yours was being shocked for a lot longer than it needed?
I've heard of Germans hitting their tanks with voltage on purpose too. What's the difference? is it just the fact that yours was being shocked for a lot longer than it needed?
RevReefer
Living Reefs Supporter
Actualluy I dont think it was the voltage at all. If that were the case then the fish would have perished along with all the coral. It was the black stuff that seeped out of the heater for a few days that did it...
DarthOcellaris
Reefing newb
Oh ok...You mean the melted insulation over the wire? I know that stuff stinks when burned. :(
RevReefer
Living Reefs Supporter
Yes that and whatever is inside a heater..
RevReefer
Living Reefs Supporter
Thanks Chris!! I like having identity!! :bounce: :bounce:
Jaxon
Reefing newb
David, let me know when you get your tank cleared up. I will be willing to donate a frag to get you back on your feet.
Chris J.
Chris J.
