ATO flips gfi

[littlebeard]

Need some advice from possibly an electrician. I thought I solved my problem by splitting my power to two gfi wall outlets, but now I have managed to catch the culprit that caused me to loose all my fish while on vacation.

I am currently running a JBJ A.T.O. water level controller with a cheap 18 W, 215 gph in my 5 gallon bucket of rodi. It did not flip on power up, rather when the process was complete and the ato cut power to the pump. It was then that the gfi popped. Glad to say that I now have an alert to my phone that did work, I do need to solve the actual problem at hand.

Do I need a better GFI outlet? Is it a bad pump? Do I need a new ATO? sensor? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[reefwiser]

I have read so many failures of this ATO. Just get a Tunze I had a club member have a fire caused by one.

 

[littlebeard]

I've had the ato for 5 years with a previous build and I haven't had a problem. I did some testing today with it. I removed the pump from the water and triggered the ato about 20 times. On the 18th time the gfi popped. I disconnected the power from the ato to the pump and did about 30 more tries no pop. Maybe a bad pump? Going to try a different pump just to see if it's related.

 

[littlebeard]

Ok so I changed the pump to a maxi-jet. Tested it about 30 times, and no flipping of the gfi.

I have come to the conclusion that Hygger is the worst brand of aquarium equipment I have encountered to date.

 

[theMeat]

A little late but my guess it’s the pump.

 

[littlebeard]

Makes 2 pumps, 1 heater that I have from Hygger that have failed in a little less than 5 months. Words can not begin to express my displeasure with this brand.