Apex Jr/Gfci problem. Non-electrician needs advice!!

Smo · Sep 3, 2017

Rikki Reef said:
not a problem if bath is the lead than all you need is a regular outlet for tank that is protected by bath thats what should be coming from the load side of that GFCI

Except if his tank heater is running plus lights and pumps and then someone plugs a blow dryer in the bath outlet...

Rikki Reef · Sep 3, 2017

true so best to put both set of wires on Line in bath and GFCI on tank

Smo · Sep 3, 2017

Rikki Reef said:
true so best to put both set of wires on Line in bath and GFCI on tank

My point was you don't want to risk an overload on the circuit powering the tank. Ideally, it should have a dedicated circuit or at least one where there is little risk of a high non-related load applied like a vacuum, coffee pot or a blow dryer.

Phillyd1990 · Sep 3, 2017

Smo said:
My point was you don't want to risk an overload on the circuit powering the tank. Ideally, it should have a dedicated circuit or at least one where there is little risk of a high non-related load applied like a vacuum, coffee pot or a blow dryer.

+1 most things plugged into gfci receptacles like kitchen appliances or things like blow dryers tend to draw more amperage so if there ever is a time those things are running along with all the things you have running in your tank you run a greater risk at overloading a circuit and tripping the breaker.

glb · Sep 3, 2017

Thanks everyone. It sounds like my electrician messed up. Maybe if another one comes and takes out the second gfci, everything will work. Right now, the only equipment running is skimmer, return pump, ato, ph monitor, wireless expander, and lights for the sump. I don't have an aquarium heater (live in south Florida) and don't have tank lights yet. I have a separate outlet on the other side of the tank I could use for tank lights in the future. As far as the bathroom, it's my husband's and the only thing he ever uses in there is an electric toothbrush.

glb · Sep 3, 2017

Smo said:
Except if his tank heater is running plus lights and pumps and then someone plugs a blow dryer in the bath outlet...

'Her tank'. Lol.

Rikki Reef · Sep 3, 2017

you are good to go just air dry lol. yes get an electrician a real one, run dedicated line to tank and up top for lights , lights can bump off bath

glb · Sep 3, 2017

Rikki Reef said:
you are good to go just air dry lol. yes get an electrician a real one, run dedicated line to tank and up top for lights , lights can bump off bath

The fuse/circuit breaker for this room is 20 amps. It's a bedroom so not much other than the tank. Should that be enough?

Smo · Sep 3, 2017

glb said:
The fuse/circuit breaker for this room is 20 amps. It's a bedroom so not much other than the tank. Should that be enough?

Yes ma'am!

Rikki Reef · Sep 3, 2017

are you planning on a chiller? I think you said you are in Fla.?

glb · Sep 3, 2017

Rikki Reef said:
are you planning on a chiller? I think you said you are in Fla.?

Not yet. The AC keeps the tank at 74-75 year round. When I add lights
I expect a few more degrees but still within what's normal. I don't think I really need one at this point. I also know they draw a lot of power.

glb · Sep 3, 2017

Rikki Reef said:
are you planning on a chiller? I think you said you are in Fla.?

No. The AC keeps the tank at 74-75 year round. When I add lights
I expect a few more degrees but still within what's normal. I don't think I really need one at this point. I also know they draw a lot of power.

Rikki Reef · Sep 3, 2017

than you be fine.

RP709 · Sep 4, 2017

I am an electrician, about 25 years or so, I just noticed your dueling GFI ISSUE so if you figured it out just ignore me. There is no real good reason to have this outlet as a GFI if it is being supplied from the load side of the bathroom GFI. Line=Power in/Load=Power out to whatever your plugging into it. It also reads like the upper outlet is feed off the same bathroom GFI/Load side of tank GFI, in this case its up to you how you want it powered. So...GFI'S do go bad/wear out typically much quicker then non GFI outlets, but if it goes off with the bathroom outlet its like two in line and could be a grounding/sensitivity issue. The bathroom GFI is required but how the tank outlets are powered/protected is up to you. If you haven't come up with a fix yet tell me what you want to do and i'll walk you through it, since the wiring is there and you can shut off the breaker its really rather simple.

HoaglandDiver · Sep 5, 2017

I would be wary of one GFCI outlet (or breaker) running your whole system. if you end up w/a bad heater or some other piece of equip that faults to ground, your whole tank will go down -- bad if you are away on vacat, etc. (this happened to me). I decided to grab one of these for each of my APEX outlets. The benefit is, when one piece of equip trips, it doesnt wipe out your whole system.. AND, by cycling the power on that particular outlet, you can rest the GFCI "remotely":
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01784YY2...17PY1P0PNHHABKYY1&ie=UTF8&qid=1504612089&sr=1

glb · Sep 5, 2017

RP709 said:
I am an electrician, about 25 years or so, I just noticed your dueling GFI ISSUE so if you figured it out just ignore me. There is no real good reason to have this outlet as a GFI if it is being supplied from the load side of the bathroom GFI. Line=Power in/Load=Power out to whatever your plugging into it. It also reads like the upper outlet is feed off the same bathroom GFI/Load side of tank GFI, in this case its up to you how you want it powered. So...GFI'S do go bad/wear out typically much quicker then non GFI outlets, but if it goes off with the bathroom outlet its like two in line and could be a grounding/sensitivity issue. The bathroom GFI is required but how the tank outlets are powered/protected is up to you. If you haven't come up with a fix yet tell me what you want to do and i'll walk you through it, since the wiring is there and you can shut off the breaker its really rather simple.

Thank you!!! I'll probably take you up on that!

tdunmore2 · Sep 7, 2017

Out of curiousity, was the previous power strip that was plugged in before the problem showed up have 2 or three prongs on the plug? Also, was the items plugged into the strip 2 or three pronged? If two pronged only, thats probably why the issue didn't show up with that strip. There was no ground connection (third prong) to leak to.
Also, you may want to pick up one of these handy guys to test.
https://www.amazon.com/Bastex-Teste...96818&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=gfci+tester&psc=1

I agree with not putting your system on one GFCI. It is a matter of when, not if, there will be a trip.

Lastly, two GFCI's in series is not necessary, but do be aware what you plug into the bathroom outlet. You would be better doing a dedicated circuit, but if not, just know your risk.

glb · Sep 7, 2017

tdunmore2 said:
Out of curiousity, was the previous power strip that was plugged in before the problem showed up have 2 or three prongs on the plug? Also, was the items plugged into the strip 2 or three pronged? If two pronged only, thats probably why the issue didn't show up with that strip. There was no ground connection (third prong) to leak to.
Also, you may want to pick up one of these handy guys to test.
https://www.amazon.com/Bastex-Teste...96818&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=gfci+tester&psc=1

I agree with not putting your system on one GFCI. It is a matter of when, not if, there will be a trip.

Lastly, two GFCI's in series is not necessary, but do be aware what you plug into the bathroom outlet. You would be better doing a dedicated circuit, but if not, just know your risk.

The original power strip has three prongs that plug into the wall. The outlets on the strip all have 3 prongs. The equipment I plug into it are a combo of 2 and 3 prong plugs. I agree with you that I shouldn't have the whole system on one gfci. I plan on using one gfci for return pump, skimmer, ATO, and ph monitor. I'll dedicate another gfci outlet to lights or anything else I add. Does that sound like a plan?