GFI Replacement

Hommeworks · 04-28-2002, 09:34 AM

I've been hooking up a GFI outlet for my aquariums electrical needs. I came across and article on the internet that said that GFI's don't have a long life expecancy. Anyone else familiar with this? I'm mounting mine in an area that is behind my stand and will be hard to get to after my reef is set up.

Do they have GFI Power Strips? Would this be a better alternative?

Bingo · 04-28-2002, 09:54 AM

Hommeworks,

I don't know about the life expectancy of a gfi, so I can't help you there. You said that the plug will be hard to get to behind your tank. You may want to reconsider the placement. If the GFI trips, will you be able to get to it to reset it? And will you be able to test it every month or so? By testing, you can tell if the circut is worn out, and then replace it before it runs you into trouble!

B

Doug1 · 04-28-2002, 10:03 AM

Interesting, I had not heard that> I installed a couple after the 55g leaked and dripped into the wall outlet

On the bright side my wife was home and flipped that breaker, ran a big contractor type ext cord and plugged the power bars in from across the room

The leaky tank prompted moving the 55 into the new and waiting 75 which was set up in another spot that puts the outlets on either side of the tank. So far none of the phantom trip offs you here about.
FWIW a properly installed GFCI will work on any other outlet that is wired in the circuit with it. My outlets are actually on 2 seperate circuits, the one on tank left is last one on that particular circuit, the one on tank right is the first of three. The hard part was making sure that the hot wire to the follower outlets went to the right lug on the GFCI, so as to kill power to the follower outlets if the GFCI trip.
It worked out well since sepreate circuits allow me to divide up the accesories, i.e. a heater and a few pheads on each so that if one trips, I dont have a complete tank shut down
I dont have any experience with the power bar type GFCI, it seemed they were more prone to phantom trip offs than a correctly installed outlet, so I chose that route, but assuming the outlet you plug into is properly grounded it would probably be better than no protection at all

Rick O · 04-28-2002, 10:34 AM

I've never heard of GFCI's needing to be replaced. You do need to test them periodically though. If you're worried you can get GFCI breakers that will protect the entire circuit.

Junkzoo · 04-28-2002, 02:59 PM

i agree , you need to test your GFCI's on a regular basis,,,,if in question , replace,it's cheap insurance.

Sand Reef · 04-28-2002, 04:22 PM

I agree, gfci's are very important. The only thing that worries me, is having it trip while away at work, on a vacation, or asleep. You would always have to plug in a backup air pump with battery or on a different circuit apart from the gfci. Even then, I dunno how much the air pump will save.

v

tdwyatt · 04-28-2002, 09:49 PM

I wired my Kitchen, the aquaria outlets, and all baths with GFIC's and have never had to replace them in 12 years of service. They all work, and get daily workouts (the hair dryers in the baths are 1500 watts...)

Rick, I like the circuit breaker, I have been considering putting my lights on a separate breaker anyway... Hmmmmm...