Are Your Tanks and Equipment a Danger to You?

Beverly · #1 06-24-2005, 03:46 PM

Just found this thread on RC about a house fire caused by a faulty power strip

After reading it, I am glad our tanks are all on GFCI outlets and that all of our power strips have been mounted so cords have drip loops to prevent water from flowing directly into the power strips. Am now going to check on one of our lighting systems to see if we can get the electrical connectors off the bottom of the cabinet

RC thread (read it all):

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

How does a GFCI outlet work?

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question117.htm

Invigor · #2 06-24-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Entropy

I prefer to mount the powersource above the tank completely. Drip loops are nice, but water rarely fights gravity.

amen.

Beverly · #3 06-24-2005, 04:34 PM

I don't have the luxury of space to put powerbars higher than my tanks. Have them mounted on the inside of the stand as high as possible, and each cord loops lower than the powerbar. Gads, I'd better check EVERY cord, now

danny zubot · #4 06-24-2005, 05:24 PM

I did this a while ago when my sump sprung a leak. A lot of my cords were submerged inside of my stand, but thankfully the power bars were mounted up high causing a drip loop. I adjust them all so that they still have a drip loop but no longer touch the floor. I use the power bars from Lee Valley, the ones with a switch for each outlet.

EmilyB · #5 06-24-2005, 05:30 PM

There is so much water around here, my GFCI's trip a lot.

I was just wondering the other day about the fact that the Lee Valley power bars have on the back "do not use near an aquarium". Although I'm sure no power bars are safe around water, I was kind of visualizing my burnt out house and them finding this power bar near the aquarium. Wonder how that would affect my insurance ?

Invigor · #6 06-24-2005, 06:05 PM

They should have to define "near".

OCDP · #7 06-24-2005, 06:09 PM

Jeez... now I know what I'll be doing this evening.. way to make a guy paranoid !

danny zubot · #8 06-24-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

I was just wondering the other day about the fact that the Lee Valley power bars have on the back "do not use near an aquarium".

I never noticed that, lets just hope that the power bar is destroyed in the fire.

adidas · #9 06-24-2005, 09:19 PM

well, i'm re-ararnging my cords tonight....

Johnny Reefer · #10 06-24-2005, 11:16 PM

One thing I hate about Coralife Power Centre power bars is the puny 4 foot cord. That sucks. For the amount of money they cost you'd think they could spare 2 more feet of cord. The outlet that I have no other choice but to use won't allow for a drip loop with that tiny 4 foot cord!