I learned about GFCI the HARD way :(

charlestonemt · 12-27-2008, 10:51 PM

So, I returned from a 2-day Christmas vacation with my family to find a surprise. As soon as I walked into my house, my heart stopped when I didn't hear any water movement. I naturally looked behind the tank and it quickly got worse. The outlet that my power strips are plugged into was completely melted, black, and the drywall was black approx. 4 inches above the outlet. The breaker (not GFCI) saved my house from burning to the ground while I was away. I am such an idiot. The back of my DIY hood is open, so I'm sure water splashed either onto the wall and ran down into it or directly into the outlet.

After doing some testing with a volt meter and another recepticle, I narrowed the problem down to the recepticle itself. None of the insulation was melted from the wires. Only the top outlet was burned and melted.

Headed out to Lowe's and got a GFCI and outdoor outlet cover with a box. After a few hours of squeezing behind the tank in tight quarters and a lot of cursing from my wife and me, I got it installed and all seems to be well with one exception. My 175W MHs (2) trip the circuit, even when they aren't turned on. I plan to do some more experimenting tomorrow when I get home from work, but they are unplugged for now.

Again, I am so thankful that my negligence didn't cost me my entire house. Any thoughts on the MHs are welcome.

Midnight · 12-27-2008, 10:53 PM

that stinks but your really lucky that it didn't burn your house down.

Jeremy0322 · 12-27-2008, 10:54 PM

Well, I think i should learn my lesson through your close call, now that i have some money i think i should go invest in a few of them.

faust · 12-27-2008, 10:58 PM

halides are not recommended for use with gfci it trips them on start up as you found out

charlestonemt · 12-27-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faust

halides are not recommended for use with gfci it trips them on start up as you found out

Any recommendations? They GFCI tripped even thought the boxes were completely off. Never even turned them on.

cioutlaw · 12-27-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlestonemt

Any recommendations? They GFCI tripped even thought the boxes were completely off. Never even turned them on.

The GFCI trips if the MH are just plugged in & not turned on? If so you have a short somewhere.

charlestonemt · 12-27-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cioutlaw

The GFCI trips if the MH are just plugged in & not turned on? If so you have a short somewhere.

I figured as much. I was already 2 hours late for work and didn't have any time to mess with them, so they are unplugged. I will test more tomorrow. I can't afford to not have the MHs on for long or I'm sure my acro will take a quick dive.

ncarpenter72 · 12-27-2008, 11:58 PM

Something similar happened to me about two weeks ago. The problem was the surge protector/spike bar. Creep had built up on it and caused a connection between two plugs. Luckily we were home and I had just looked at the tank 15 mins earlier. We smelled plastic burning which was the spike bar melting. It was not GFCI rated. We bought a new one that is and the MH lights are plugged into it without any problems. Sounds like you may have a problem with the lights themselves. Glad you house is ok. Hope your tank residents are not too stressed.

charlestonemt · 12-28-2008, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncarpenter72

Something similar happened to me about two weeks ago. The problem was the surge protector/spike bar. Creep had built up on it and caused a connection between two plugs. Luckily we were home and I had just looked at the tank 15 mins earlier. We smelled plastic burning which was the spike bar melting. It was not GFCI rated. We bought a new one that is and the MH lights are plugged into it without any problems. Sounds like you may have a problem with the lights themselves. Glad you house is ok. Hope your tank residents are not too stressed.

Thanks for the well wishes. The power strip/timer I'm using is that Coralife one that so many people hate. Problem is, it was plugged into the bottom outlet of the recepticle (with the MH plugged into it), and the top one was the one that was melted, so I'm doubtful that it is that powerstrip. I replaced the other powerstrip, and all is working with it. Also the "always-on" outlets on the Coralife still work fine. But, I will test every combination I can think of tomorrow afternoon when I get home.

12-27-2008, 10:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
charlestonemt Cabbage Leather Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 378 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I learned about GFCI the HARD way :( So, I returned from a 2-day Christmas vacation with my family to find a surprise. As soon as I walked into my house, my heart stopped when I didn't hear any water movement. I naturally looked behind the tank and it quickly got worse. The outlet that my power strips are plugged into was completely melted, black, and the drywall was black approx. 4 inches above the outlet. The breaker (not GFCI) saved my house from burning to the ground while I was away. I am such an idiot. The back of my DIY hood is open, so I'm sure water splashed either onto the wall and ran down into it or directly into the outlet. After doing some testing with a volt meter and another recepticle, I narrowed the problem down to the recepticle itself. None of the insulation was melted from the wires. Only the top outlet was burned and melted. Headed out to Lowe's and got a GFCI and outdoor outlet cover with a box. After a few hours of squeezing behind the tank in tight quarters and a lot of cursing from my wife and me, I got it installed and all seems to be well with one exception. My 175W MHs (2) trip the circuit, even when they aren't turned on. I plan to do some more experimenting tomorrow when I get home from work, but they are unplugged for now. Again, I am so thankful that my negligence didn't cost me my entire house. Any thoughts on the MHs are welcome. __________________ Steven 75g reef tank 2 x 175w MH (20,000K) 2 x 48" T-12 VHOs on IceCap balast 50 gpd RO unit with ATO setup Sealife Systems skimmer

12-27-2008, 10:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Midnight Torch coral Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 554 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: I learned about GFCI the HARD way :( that stinks but your really lucky that it didn't burn your house down. __________________ 75 gallon Reef 20 gallon sump 55 gallon fuge My tank http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...llys-reef.html

12-27-2008, 10:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 4,753 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I learned about GFCI the HARD way :( Well, I think i should learn my lesson through your close call, now that i have some money i think i should go invest in a few of them. __________________ UNCW 2011 -Marine Biology Major -Oceanography Minor The old 90 Gallon Build r.i.p Only after the last tree's cut And the last river poisoned Only after the last fish is caught Will you find that money cannot be eaten....

12-27-2008, 10:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
faust over caffinated reefer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: chandler, ok Posts: 751 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: I learned about GFCI the HARD way :( halides are not recommended for use with gfci it trips them on start up as you found out __________________ [color="Magenta"]80 bow front, 2x 250 m/h 4 54watt t5 actinics, 1 65 watt pc 50/50 reef 175 bow front, 3x 150 m/h 4 96 watt pc 50/50 fowlr duellin 125's

12-27-2008, 11:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
ncarpenter72 Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Huntington Beach , CA Posts: 47 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I learned about GFCI the HARD way :( Something similar happened to me about two weeks ago. The problem was the surge protector/spike bar. Creep had built up on it and caused a connection between two plugs. Luckily we were home and I had just looked at the tank 15 mins earlier. We smelled plastic burning which was the spike bar melting. It was not GFCI rated. We bought a new one that is and the MH lights are plugged into it without any problems. Sounds like you may have a problem with the lights themselves. Glad you house is ok. Hope your tank residents are not too stressed.

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