A Cautionary Tale

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I always hate to see burned power stips. What would have prevented this? The more I read, a GFI may have not tripped. Would an AFCI breaker stop this?

Maybe, IDK. It was on a 20 amp circuit, I don’t know what an individual outlet on a power strip is rated at, that’s the weakest link in the circuit.

 

[shutterspeed1000]

Maybe, IDK. It was on a 20 amp circuit, I don’t know what an individual outlet on a power strip is rated at, that’s the weakest link in the circuit.

Very true. That one was rated for 15a total so the load must have never reached that to pop the breaker in it or the breaker was bad. Really wondering if a AFCI would have helped in the case. Feels like it falls under this type of failure which AFCI should stop.

"Upon detection of such disruptive patterns, typically caused by damaged wire insulation or other breaches"

I'm on GFI now, but maybe a AFCI/GFI combo breaker wouldn't be a bad idea. I know the risk of losing power to the tank is higher but, protecting the house/people comes 1st. I'll be bugging my electrician friend tomorrow with a ton of questions.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I wanted to let folks know about a safety issue I had with my office aquarium yesterday. I have a Biocube 16 with a Hydor Koralia Nano 240 circulating pump. It has been in operation since 2019. I normally inspect/clean/adjust all equipment attached to it with each monthly water change. However, I was really busy, so for the last two months, I just did the water change.

I had noticed that the power cord for the Hydor pump had gotten "stiff", but that often happens with submerged cords.

Yesterday, I smelled a "hot" electrical smell. I soon found that the cord on the Hydor had split and shorted out, frying the plug due to current draw. See attached image.

I had just been feeding the tank and moving some things around two hours prior - luckily I didn't get shocked.

I'm going to have my electrician son install a GFCI on the circuit (should have done that before) and I'm going to be more proactive regarding equipment inspections!

Don't be like I was!

Jay

Hi Jay - I would also HIGHLY advise against the use of that style "plug strip".

You want to use plug-strips that have REAL individual receptacles with traditional contact leafs inside.
This is what is inside of that

Compare that to this

You want plug strips like this:

or this

But don't be fooled by ones that look like this

Yes to the GFCI. I suggest having (2) or more installed on the same circuit or have your electrician (if you don't want to) build you some power snakes like this

With GFCI receptacles and even outdoor bubble covers if you want.

That way the whole tank is not on a single GFCI

I wrote an article about this years ago... but still as relevant today as it was then.

Power Strip Safety | BeanAnimal's Reef

Why most outlet strips (plug strips, outlet bars) are not suitable for aquariums and can cause injury or death. What to look for in a suitable and safe product.

beananimal.com

 

[moretor1]

Geeni makes wifi controllable surge protectors that a good for their price and trips at 10amp

The app let's you set up multiple strips too

 

[BeanAnimal]

I always hate to see burned power stips. What would have prevented this? The more I read, a GFI may have not tripped. Would an AFCI breaker stop this?

GFCI may have helped - it may not have depending on how it faulted. An AFCI likely would have tripped, but maybe not quickly.

(2) things (other than the AFCI/GFCI would have helped. If this was started by a short in the wires, the current draw rose rapidly and the poor connection at the plug got hot and as the plastic holding the copper strips heated, the connection got worse (and hotter) and arced.

1 - see post above. Actual real receptacles that can carry the rated current. This may (or may not) have allowed the breaker to trip before the wires on the pump melted in half.

2 - 15A breaker (or smaller) on the plug strip itself. Even though most are "slow" they have a faster thermal curve and less to heat than the main circuit breaker on the branch circuit.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Geeni makes wifi controllable surge protectors that a good for their price and trips at 10amp

The app let's you set up multiple strips too

FWIW here is the inside of a Geeni

Not idea but better than single friction contact help in place by plastic guides.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

So after this, I got home from work and proceeded to clean all of my power heads. Thank you again Jay for enlightening all of us to the possible dangers of being lax on maintenance of equipment. I am certainly guilty of it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The Lord was watching. Safety first.

 

[shutterspeed1000]

I have always been a fan of the Tripp-lite Isobar strips, we use them in our server rooms. Never really thought about how weak the inside of other stips might be. I like my Kasa strip for the automation, but may rethink using it at some point if I can find a better option.

 

[moretor1]

FWIW here is the inside of a Geeni

Not idea but better than single friction contact help in place by plastic guides.

Thanks.
You just saved me the time of opening mine up because your article had me curious

And yeah that's about as complicated as I expected them to be. Pretty cool though

 

[blecki]

See stuff like this is why I only buy black power strips.

 

[kindafun]

Do the pumps discussed here all have AC power going into the water, or are some powered by DC?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay - I would also HIGHLY advise against the use of that style "plug strip".

You want to use plug-strips that have REAL individual receptacles with traditional contact leafs inside.
This is what is inside of that

Compare that to this

You want plug strips like this:

or this

But don't be fooled by ones that look like this

Yes to the GFCI. I suggest having (2) or more installed on the same circuit or have your electrician (if you don't want to) build you some power snakes like this

With GFCI receptacles and even outdoor bubble covers if you want.

That way the whole tank is not on a single GFCI

I wrote an article about this years ago... but still as relevant today as it was then.

Power Strip Safety | BeanAnimal's Reef

Why most outlet strips (plug strips, outlet bars) are not suitable for aquariums and can cause injury or death. What to look for in a suitable and safe product.

beananimal.com

Thanks for the article! I replaced the strip with a metal one like the 8 gang Tripp-Lite above. The only other time I've even had a power strip fail was when water got into one.

Interestingly, at the facility I worked at, we had literally hundreds of power strips in use (mostly with reptiles or the aquarium). Our local electrical inspectors and the AZA inspectors won't let us use permanent extension cords or multi-outlet gang plugs, but UL/CE power strips are fine, if mounted to a surface and not ganged together. I found some with 25' cords and those work just like extension cords (grin). For higher amperage uses (like heaters and lighting) we use those four gang "power snakes" though.

Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

See stuff like this is why I only buy black power strips.

OIC - so that you can't see the scorch marks!

 

[Doctorgori]

I had noticed that the power cord for the Hydor pump had gotten "stiff", but that often happens with submerged cords.

I’ve noticed this so many times it should be a point of emphasis. Apparently saltwater or current or “something” reacts with the rubber/plastic and makes it stiff and brittle… It takes a while (months/years) but regardless hobbyist should be vigilant on submerged cords

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Maybe, IDK. It was on a 20 amp circuit, I don’t know what an individual outlet on a power strip is rated at, that’s the weakest link in the circuit.

Hey again Jay, Just letting you know that your tale has prompted me to buy a Tripp Lite 8 outlet surge protector. Safety first, always. I never imagined this scenario. But I guess it is actually fairly ease to happen. I am just glad you, and your tank, and family are okay thru this. We all learn every day.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hi Jay - I would also HIGHLY advise against the use of that style "plug strip".

You want to use plug-strips that have REAL individual receptacles with traditional contact leafs inside.
This is what is inside of that

Compare that to this

You want plug strips like this:

or this

But don't be fooled by ones that look like this

Yes to the GFCI. I suggest having (2) or more installed on the same circuit or have your electrician (if you don't want to) build you some power snakes like this

With GFCI receptacles and even outdoor bubble covers if you want.

That way the whole tank is not on a single GFCI

I wrote an article about this years ago... but still as relevant today as it was then.

Power Strip Safety | BeanAnimal's Reef

Why most outlet strips (plug strips, outlet bars) are not suitable for aquariums and can cause injury or death. What to look for in a suitable and safe product.

beananimal.com

This is interesting, thanks for sharing!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey again Jay, Just letting you know that your tale has prompted me to buy a Tripp Lite 8 outlet surge protector. Safety first, always. I never imagined this scenario. But I guess it is actually fairly ease to happen. I am just glad you, and your tank, and family are okay thru this. We all learn every day.

I’m also having our director of safety run a review here to see if we have any that need to be swapped out for Tripp Lites.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would also opt for low voltage wet side equipment when/where possible.

1 - heaters - static water level of sump with head out of water where it can't leak water into the envelope.
2 - drip loops (ALWAYS)
3 - Salt creep is conductive and should be NOWHERE NEAR plug strips or receptacles
4 - Only UL Listed equipment should be used (anywhere in your home) beware import stuff - they will stamp anything on it required for import (without actually getting it certified).
5 - Make it a regular part of your routine to look over all of your equipment for flaws, faults, salt creep, etc.

 

[slythy]

Can someone verse me on the difference between GFCI and AFCI? I am looking to do this now.... I was going to just buy GFCI for each of my 3 outlets I use but never heard of AFCI until today while looking them up..