Tripping a GFCI

Brew12 · Jun 14, 2017

revhtree said:
I was awake this morning when the GFCI tripped and it looks like it happened because the tank reached 78 degrees and turned on a 300w and 800w heater at one time. At least I am hoping that was why. I have removed the smaller heater for further testing.

Outstanding!

Just remember that a GFCI will not trip due to too much load. Odds are very good that one or the other heater has failed. It may only start leaking voltage when it gets up to temp depending on the fault.

120reefkeeper · Jun 14, 2017

Hopefully it's the 300w and not the 800w [emoji12]

Paul B · Jun 14, 2017

Brew12 said:
I would never let my son or wife put their hand in the tank without a ground probe/GFCI combination.

I agree.

RamsReef · Jun 14, 2017

Well I'm sure Paul, Brew, know the electrician rule.
Never stick your hand where you wouldn't stick your _________ .

slayerhellfire · Jun 14, 2017

maybe off subject but dose a APEX unit have these safety feautres built in, all my stuff is plugged into a apex engery bar and a separate line to the 20 amp breaker?

Brew12 · Jun 14, 2017

slayerhellfire said:
maybe off subject but dose a APEX unit have these safety feautres built in, all my stuff is plugged into a apex engery bar and a separate line to the 20 amp breaker?

No, the Apex energy bars do not.

RamsReef · Jun 14, 2017

But you can plug your apex bars into different GFCI outlets and power the head unit from a independent power supply. That way if one of the power bars lose power / communication, you can have it send you an alarm.

Dartfrog1 · Jun 15, 2017

You could be exceeding the 5Ma difference between the hot and neutral. motor/pump loads are usually the problem having to many pumps on the same circuit will cause this ever time and that problem leads to GFCI's going bad.
Remember there's a very small current transformer inside the GFI.

Paul B · Jun 15, 2017

brett_schn said:
Wait what is the difference between gcfi and gfi

In the trade we call them GFIs. On these forums and by every one who is not an electrician, they are GFCI's.

RamsReef · Jun 15, 2017

Brew and I call them 50G

brett_schn · Jun 15, 2017

Paul B said:
In the trade we call them GFIs. On these forums and by every one who is not an electrician, they are GFCI's.

Ok. I knew I wasn’t crazy. I helped my dad with our house electrical when I was like 8 we put in some gfi. Are gfi sockets worth it on a tank

RamsReef · Jun 15, 2017

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Paul B · Jun 15, 2017

brett_schn said:
Ok. I knew I wasn’t crazy. I helped my dad with our house electrical when I was like 8 we put in some gfi. Are gfi sockets worth it on a tank

Yes, why wouldn't they be?

When they invented the things, Levitan sent me to school to learn about them. Very cool invention. Before GFIs we used to turn switches on on the tank with a stick so we wouldn't get knocked across the room. Remember powerheads were not submersible so they sat above the water and salt creep would make everything live. Also the light hoods were aluminum so we couldn't touch anything unless we un plugged everything. After you forgot once, you remembered all the time.

RamsReef · Jun 15, 2017

Paul B said:
Yes, why wouldn't they be?

When they invented the things, Levitan sent me to school to learn about them. Very cool invention. Before GFIs we used to turn switches on on the tank with a stick so we wouldn't get knocked across the room. Remember powerheads were not submersible so they sat above the water and salt creep would make everything live. Also the light hoods were aluminum so we couldn't touch anything unless we un plugged everything. After you forgot once, you remembered all the time.

Up hill boths ways through the snow.