Unbelievable. Who gives a damm if one thinks or does not think it prevents fire or not. It should be used with aquariums. Period. Thats it. Wholley crap, what a stupid discussion. It should be about using one to save a life possibly. Regardless of anything else. If someone does not wish to thats their problem. All we can do is try tp persude them that its in their best interest.

Myka, would that maybe be the ones who told me there was not such thing as as a arc fault breaker. :lol:

isn't it wonderfull we have you then.. good thing as aprently I waisted two years in university :surprise:

anyways to answer the question I asked that you don't want to as it will show you are not exactly corect, is "yes" a short can cause a fire, actualy shorts are the major cause of fires. and yes a GFI will prevent most shorts, so in a way yes they will prevent soem fires.

Steve

Dude, I didn't see your post calm down.


The only short they would prevent is a short to ground, if you can make a fire with a short to ground your pretty special. Like red green special...

My part in this thread has gone on long enough. You've made your point and I've made mine so I won't argue this any further. I personally don't care what they do exactly or how they do it. All I know is since I installed GFI's I haven't seen any sparks or smoke when my electronics get wet and that is good enough for me.

He, he, I'm with you here. I attempted to steer the thread back to the original question, but it seems folks have very selective reading focus at the moment and are intent on flogging these electrons along a different path.

Well, I am sorry for coming off as a douche... Admitdley became carried away with this thread.


To wrap things up, I think that there are very few negative aspects from installing a gfi to protect us from accidental electrocution. That's all that should be expected from a gfi, if you are looking to protect yourself from a fire look into an afi or fuse. If you install a gfi and consider your system fire proof you are mistaken and should rethink the preventative measures taken.

Well sweet Jesus guess what I found at a garage sale today?...... Those awesome non-skid retro daisy decals that grandma had in her tub!! unused and ready to go........AND NOW installed and looking fine. Damn I feel safe. Just a little humour to lighten the air since I started this thread.

Are you an electrician? Sorry if I offend (not the intent), but when I know nothing of a subject I refuse to take the first person's word. I would be looking for someone schooled or at least very well practiced in the field. This goes for any topic, which is why I'm never the first person to jump on the bandwagon.

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For the record, I have never used a GFCI on any tank. I have had tanks since 1989, saltwater since 1993. I have never had a fire, but I have had powerbars short out. I have been electrocuted pretty well, but nothing worse than hair standing on end. :lol: Personally, I have heard of more cases of people having tank crashes from GFCIs tripping than I have heard of people getting electrocuted or having a fire. I believe the reason is because most people do not have GFCIs installed in a smart manner as many people put all the tank's hardware into one GFCI receptacle. Not so bright. :wink:

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Doug, I don't understand the question? Did an electrician give you stupid answers? Not the first time that would have happened in the world. Finding a qualified electrician may be harder to find that just any Jow Blow with a ticket. ;)

Hey. I had some of them in my tub. :lol:

It would be wise to find a qualified electrician - not just any Joe Blow with a ticket! :)

I agree with that Mindy. Experienced the difference when when having work done on my place and also from working with many tradesmen in my Inco career. However that applies to all the trade.

Rehash; :lol:

My tank runs on a separate 15 amp circuit, installed just for it, with a GRI outlet in the wall. My controller, which runs the lights, heater, return pump, skimmer, reactor, and top off all runs from it.

Another room receptacle, which is on another 15 amp, but room circuit and has an Arc fault/ GFI breaker, runs my two MP 20,s, plus another in tank heater if we are away.

A GFI is firstly a personal protection device. It is designed so that a if a person completed a ground fault (short to ground) the GFI would trip so fast that the person would sustain no injury. A GFI is designed to trip with 5mA of stray electricity in less than 25ms.

Having said that many fires can start as a gound fault (short to ground). A GFI would help in preventing these fires. Remember that electicity can easily stray to ground in many many ways. If you have have every been shocked it is most likely that the electricity passed though you to ground....even though you may have been standing on wood floors or carpet. If you were not grounded you would be isolated and in that case you would not feel a shock at all.

Where abouts in Edmonton can you find these for $10? I checked Home Depot and they were on sale for $59. Thanks!

two pack for $30 HD

could see $59 maybe for a GFI breaker

I'll have to try a different HD then. The only one they had in Sherwood Park was a single plug in model with a 1 meter cord. A 2 pack would be exactly what I need, maybe the new one on 17 St. will have them. Thanks Mark.:smile: