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GFCI recommendation?

Fish Brain

Fish Brain

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Home depot has those single and triple outlet GFCI near where they sell the extension cords. Plug ins are about your only option other than inwall outlets.
 
howze01

howze01

NJRC Member
Thanks Kevin and Brian, I was just wondering about this last night! Looks like a trip to HD is in my future too. I guess I will have to go with the triple one. Somehow cords just seem to appear out of nowhere in my tank so the more the merrier.
 
kevin

kevin

NJRC Member
howze01 said:
Thanks Kevin and Brian, I was just wondering about this last night! Looks like a trip to HD is in my future too. I guess I will have to go with the triple one. Somehow cords just seem to appear out of nowhere in my tank so the more the merrier.
Click to expand...

Would it work if you plugged a surge protector into a GFCI unit? Just so you didn't have to buy X amount of units.
 
howze01

howze01

NJRC Member
kevin said:
Would it work if you plugged a surge protector into a GFCI unit? Just so you didn't have to buy X amount of units.
Click to expand...

Yes you can but I'm thinking I will probably need more than one surge protector. I do have a 10 outlet one that I am using for my tank now though. But when I figure in 2 light cords (at least, maybe 4) 2 vortechs, a heater or 2, the skimmer, the fuge light, the return pump.....it goes on and on.
 
trivan

trivan

I tried to use the ext plug type gfci and when my lights would go on it would trip the gfci. Seems to be a common problem when I was researching it online. So just keep your receipt in case you have to return it.
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
i used that (different model) but from the same company, and it is fine. even my main pump IWAKI-70R on and off, not a problem.
 
downbeach

downbeach

trivan said:
I tried to use the ext plug type gfci and when my lights would go on it would trip the gfci. Seems to be a common problem when I was researching it online. So just keep your receipt in case you have to return it.
Click to expand...

Have you ever checked for salt creep in your fixture? Especially if it's a retro.
 
AJ1080

AJ1080

trivan said:
I tried to use the ext plug type gfci and when my lights would go on it would trip the gfci. Seems to be a common problem when I was researching it online. So just keep your receipt in case you have to return it.
Click to expand...

Trivan,

I too had the same problem. I originally put an in wall GFI outlet and when my deep blue fixture would turn on all 4 bulbs, it would trip. Ended up replacing it with a regular outlet. Im still trying to understand how/why that was happening.
 
trivan

trivan

It has something to do with the current or voltage. I think the gfci works by monitoring the sudden increase/decrease and the lights pulls enough to make it trip. I'm trying to find the post on another site which explained the problem.
 
D

DaveK

I have found that using GFCI breakers gives me better results. First, it seems to be less likely to trip for no apparent reason, and there is no "cheating" because you run out of outlets. The whole circuit is protected.

The downside to GFCI is that they do trip when they shouldn't. I've have similar problems with my lighting tripping them when they come on. Electronic MH ballasts seem to be great at doing that. I also have lost my entire reef due to GFCI tripping when I was away for a few days. Nowadays, I do not run my main return pump, an external Iwaki, on GFCI circuits. At least that way, I'm not going to loose everything if the GFCI trips. I do prefer GFCI for anything that has a power cord that goes into the water. Over the years, I've had power cords crack and fail, heaters break, and so on. I want to be protected from that.
 
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