Water and Electricity dont do good together

[Goingpoor]

Well yesterday im not sure what even went on....i was messing with one of the new hydor flo defflectors i got and next thing i know under neath my tank was smoking oh my god talk about panicing,turns out salt built up on my power strip and water went down my heater cord water and electricity and salt cause"s a mess wow i will never neglect to check for salt build up ever again.......it ended up burning my attinic cord to where i have to replace it so right know im not running my attinics at all plan on fixing that tomorrow....please tell me im not the only one out there that have had THESE mishapps

[bklynmet]

wow... you're lucky as it could've been worse... do you have GFI's installed?

[Goingpoor]

OK WHAT IS THAT????I HAVE A GROUND WIRE PLUG IM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THATS CALLED IT GOES IN MY SUMP

[Nyles]

Two words... Drip loop.

No rudeness intended, drip loops literally save lives and tanks. Slat creep is nasty stuff

[grallster]

Please install a GFCI (same type of outlet used in bathrooms) it really could save your life. Nobody should be running a tank without one.
Drip loops are not enough!!!

[Junkzoo]

What Dave said.

Plus it's always a good idea to wipe down all the power cords with a damp towel (of course with the power OFF/UNPLUGGED) since a faint coating of salt spray can cause tracking over the cords covering.(been there ,seen that). Even a once a month total unplug and go over everything electrical is a good thing , wiping cords and even reflectors and bulb sockets and such, since they can track with just the smallest of salt spray and the right humidity. (I've been known to apply floor paste wax on power cables just to make it tougher for voltage to track along a cable (I'm a industrial electricial that works on/around 138,000 volts and my reef tank get my deepest respect LOL)
The same for cleaning power strips and i've even replaced them after a few years "just because" (just because i've had a few just flame/smoke up for no reason)

[Nyles]

Sorry, I assumed he has GFCI's, I would not ever have anything near water without one. All I m saying is if the salt was creeping and the cord was overhanging the sump a drip loop would have prevented the short.

[Goingpoor]

Thank You,you All Have Given Me Some Very Helpfull Imfo Im Just Hoping I Can Replace My Old Socket Its Behind My Wet Dry Under My Tank....

[grallster]

Originally Posted by Goingpoor

Thank You,you All Have Given Me Some Very Helpfull Imfo Im Just Hoping I Can Replace My Old Socket Its Behind My Wet Dry Under My Tank....

If your tank is plugged into an outlet in a series (like all of the outlets in one room on one circuit) you can replace an outlet before it (ie closer to the electrical box) with a GFCI and it will protect all the outlets wired after it. If this is an option in your particular room, it might be easier to replace an outlet that isn't behind the tank.

You really must figure out a way to get a GFCI in there--it's dangerous! Especially with children running around!

[Loverotties]

Or you can change the breaker to a GFCI breaker for that circuit too.

[ckusnierek]

I read this all too often, but the truth is that a GCFI MAY NOT stop a fire from occuring. GCFI's Will protect you from electrical shock. but may not trip in the event of an electrical short (as in the case of a wet power strip) The only way to protect from a fire due to electrical short is to install a AFCI (Arc Fault) breaker. They are really cheap insurance @ about $35 they are easy to install and are the only way to insure they will trip in the event of a short.

[digitalis]

Correct, Chris. GFCI breakers and outlets only trip when they sense resistance from Hot to GROUND, not the neutral line. If you have a GFCI on your tank power, and your heater breaks and charges the water with 110V, the GFCI will not trip UNLESS you have a ground probe in your tank.

[Bender 2]

I have had the same type of thing happen to my old tank. As others have said, salt creep and water on a power strip are a bad combination.

If you can't get to the plug to change it, I would just replace the breaker in the box with a GFI or ARC fault breaker.

[Goingpoor]

my house is old and only has 2 wires so im told by my dad...i will have to have a eletriction come in but it wont be anytime soon : (

[ckusnierek]

My old house was built in 1925 I had the same problem so I re-wired the whole house. luckily it was a single story with a basement so it ws real easy to re-wire.