Does a surge protector work like a GFCI?

[sushibug]

Do I need to install a GFCI into my outlet if I have a surge protector?

[gweston]

A GFCI and surge protector function differently. Though there may be surge protectors with GFCI built in.

The best GFCI is usually installed at the power panel and protect the entire circuit they are connected to, but are more costly. There are also GFCI outlets that can replace your wall plug. If a series of wall outlets were wired up with the GFCI unit first in line, the other outlets can be protected by the first GFCI.

There are plug-in GFCI's, as well as GFCI extension cords and the like. I found the plug in type trip very easily. I have one. Any time there is a power outage, it trips. When power comes back on, it has to be manually reset, otherwise no power to the devices connected to it. I guess it is hit or miss based on the individual unit/manufacturer. The good thing about these, you don't need an electrician. Just plug it in.

For my man-cave fish tank space, I had my electrician install a series of GFCI protected outlets. There is a handy LED light on the primary GFCI outlet that lets me know if there is a problem or not.

[jeff@zina.com]

Do I need to install a GFCI into my outlet if I have a surge protector?

Yes.

Jeff


Text mangled by iPhone spell check...

[bfoleyiii]

I would. You can buy one of the GFI type extention cords or if your a bit handy and can find your breaker box and turn off the outlet you can get what you need at Lowes/HD for less than 15 bucks and make the switch (thats what I did).

But basicly a surge protector is looking for a "surge" in the power supplied while the GFI is looking for a variation between the hot and neutral lines (what happens when you become the ground).

[NirvanaFan]

Like gweston said, they are totally different. You need a GFCI, but can do without a surge protector.

[125G Reefer]

You don't have to have either. Although most here will go nuts over this post. You DO NOT NEED THEM. Its a peace of mind thing because of water. Wait til the firswt time the GFCI goes bad and you come home to everything dead because the GFCI failed.
JMO

[Paul B]

The good thing about these, you don't need an electrician.

Whats so good about that? I'm an electrician :fun2:

[thegrun]

You don't have to have either. Although most here will go nuts over this post. You DO NOT NEED THEM. Its a peace of mind thing because of water. Wait til the firswt time the GFCI goes bad and you come home to everything dead because the GFCI failed.
JMO

You don't need to live either, but it's a nice feature! I'll sacrifice the potential of a tank crash over the potential to be electrocuted. I've kept saltwater aquariums for 35 years now, for at least 30 of those years my tanks have been protected with GFI outlets and I have never had a crash due to one failing. I do wire in GFI outlets rather than use the ones built into a cord. I've been on two job sites where workers have been electrocuted by 120 volt systems, the danger is real. 120 volt shocks grab a hold of you (your muscles contract) and it can be very difficult to free yourself. Saltwater and electricity is not something to take lightly. YOU DO NEED THEM, if not for yourself then for your wife and kids.

[clarky11]

You don't have to have either. Although most here will go nuts over this post. You DO NOT NEED THEM. Its a peace of mind thing because of water. Wait til the firswt time the GFCI goes bad and you come home to everything dead because the GFCI failed.JMO


But if the GFCI doesn't go bad then you saved everything in the tank including yourself when you stick your hand in.

If you don't have one you don't even give yourself a chance to save anything.

Get both.

scroll to post 18 and read this:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=504227

[125G Reefer]

Ah, the i'm scared about electricity thing. Well, ask around about this one. When hit by electricity peeps usually grab it, or stick hand straight in.....Not a good idea, if you put the back of your hand in first and there is a charge in there it will throw your hand back and out of the water. Your muscle does that when hit, if its the other way you can't take your hand out. But......If thats all great and dandy, then why is it that general consensus is that a grounding probe is a bad thing???!!! Nough said, didn't post to get into it.....

[125G Reefer]

[QUOTE=clarky11;18677286]But if the GFCI doesn't go bad then you saved everything in the tank including yourself when you stick your hand in.


Ah, again, not enough research done on your part. IT WILL GO BAD. Nature of the beast. And they only need to lose some of its life to pop.....

[125G Reefer]

Whats so good about that? I'm an electrician :fun2:

And note, the electrician didn't freak out about the post.

[thereeftank]

I installed a GFCI in the wall outlet. When I plugged in my MH 250w x2, it tripped. It did that 2-3 times. It's not overloaded. 15amp outlet. Wondering why?

Now that I have it set on a timer, it's been fine the past week, no trips. Just made me wonder why it did that the past few times as I also have my pump plugged in, 140w and don't want things to dei if it trips for no reason.

Would it be better to do two different outlets, one for pumps and the other for the lights? The problem is that my outlets are so far my the tank.

[clarky11]

[QUOTE=clarky11;18677286]But if the GFCI doesn't go bad then you saved everything in the tank including yourself when you stick your hand in.


Ah, again, not enough research done on your part. IT WILL GO BAD. Nature of the beast. And they only need to lose some of its life to pop.....

Ok, Im giving you the argument that it will go bad. BUT, it doesn't go bad immediately. When it goes bad you'll be right back to where you would have been if you didn't have one installed, so why wouldn't you install one to have the peace of mind for the time being? You can always test the GFCI to see if it's working properly. Thats a whole lot easier and safer to do than sticking your hand in backwards and seeing if you slap yourself in the face.

[clarky11]

Ah, the i'm scared about electricity thing. Well, ask around about this one. When hit by electricity peeps usually grab it, or stick hand straight in.....Not a good idea, if you put the back of your hand in first and there is a charge in there it will throw your hand back and out of the water. Your muscle does that when hit, if its the other way you can't take your hand out. But......If thats all great and dandy, then why is it that general consensus is that a grounding probe is a bad thing???!!! Nough said, didn't post to get into it.....

A ground probe without a GFCI is not enough protection. The probe is only looking for stray current. It doesnt do anything when the current changes, but it's still better than nothing to protect the fish and coral.

[125G Reefer]

A ground probe without a GFCI is not enough protection. The probe is only looking for stray current. It doesnt do anything when the current changes, but it's still better than nothing to protect the fish and coral.

Yea, sure does. Right to the GFCI to pop it.:hmm4:

[phenom5]

GFCI do go bad, and start to trip really easily...and when that happens you replace it.

Don't want to have your tank get taken out if it trips...set up two. That way if one trips, your tank won't be completely out of power.

Paul you must love people that pay you for a simple job like replacing an outlet...seriously, it's not that difficult.

GFCIs cost less than 15 bucks...seems cheap considering.

Now, I don't know that it saved my life, but I do know I had all my livestock in a temp set up while I made some changes to my display a few years back. I knock the light into the water, and instinctively I immediately reached in and grab it. GFCI tripped. Would the shock have killed me? No idea, but not something I'd like to find out one way or the other. Just my 2 cents on the matter.

[clarky11]

Yea, sure does. Right to the GFCI to pop it.:hmm4:

Exactly what it's supposed to do. Save your life.

[torero500]

There are plug-in GFCI's, as well as GFCI extension cords and the like. I found the plug in type trip very easily. I have one. Any time there is a power outage, it trips. When power comes back on, it has to be manually reset, otherwise no power to the devices connected to it. I guess it is hit or miss based on the individual unit/manufacturer

This is true of all the ones sold at Home Depot, but Lowes carries one called I think Shock Buster that won't trip when the power goes out. I have one and it works great. When I get careless and saltwater gets on it, it trips. But for a random 2 minute power outage, all the pumps come back on automatically once the power gets restored. Especially great when I'm not at home.

[NirvanaFan]

I've never had my GFCI trip because that breaker trips or the power goes out. The breaker trips somewhat often. It seems like half my house is on the same circuit.

Look at it this way. Yeah, it would suck to replace fish and corals, but there is no replacing your life.

[gweston]

Whats so good about that? I'm an electrician :fun2:

LOL nothing bad meant about the electricians :)

I have an electrician I couldn't do without and put a lot of trust in. While I have done a few DIY jobs myself, such as wire up a shed and partially install a secondary panel... I still called in my trusted electrician to inspect, verify, and do the final hookup to power. I wouldn't dare do that myself. While I am quite technically inclined, I'd rather leave it to the professionals to mess with the juice. They also know the code.

I guess my point was... get the extension cord or plugin GFI's, so one doesn't risk burning the house down or killing one's self attempting a DIY wiring job. Otherwise, use a licensed electrician. A few bucks up front goes a long way to make sure it is done right and is safe.

[torero500]

I think part of the original question still hasn't been addressed. Let's say you just used a surge protector only and plugged everything into that. You're working in the sump, a light drops in. Wouldn't the surge protector trip and cut power to the entire strip just the same as the GFI device?

[thegrun]

I think part of the original question still hasn't been addressed. Let's say you just used a surge protector only and plugged everything into that. You're working in the sump, a light drops in. Wouldn't the surge protector trip and cut power to the entire strip just the same as the GFI device?

No. A surge protector prevents spikes from the input power from damaging your equipment. It does not cut the power if there is an imbalance between power in and out (ground fault).

[89Foxbody]

You don't have to have either. Although most here will go nuts over this post. You DO NOT NEED THEM. Its a peace of mind thing because of water. Wait til the firswt time the GFCI goes bad and you come home to everything dead because the GFCI failed.
JMO



Why would your tank crash after 1 day of no power? Unless you have no heat in your house and live in Antarctica I don't see a tank crash happening in a 1 day span.

After having had a couple of close calls with electricity, I think the peace of mind is worth the minute amount of risk that comes with using a GFCI. Personally I'd rather have functioning organs and dead fish than vice-versa.

[Paul B]

Personally I'd rather have functioning organs and dead fish than vice-versa.



After having worked as an electrician for 40 years and getting zapped many times and seeing a few people die from getting zapped, I totally agree with your post.
Everyone who gets a bad shock where you feel your heart irratically beat for a few minutes while emitting a sharp pain will buy a $12.00 GFCI.
But, yes, it is not needed.
In 40 years my GFCI tripped twice. Both times it was supposed to trip. My power has been out for 5 days and once 4 days, many times one day. I never lost an animal.

[garydan]

Cars don't need an airbag or seat belt. What happens if you clip a guard rail and the air bag goes off and the air bag and seat belt prevent you from doing the fact actions needed to prevent further damage to the car? You could seriously damage the car.

Pretty much the same arument... If your GFI is popping randomly when it shouldn't, fix the problem don't remove the safety.

Also, in most areas, by law, you have to have GFI within a certain distance of water. Anyone know if those laws would apply for aquariums? I know they're phrased as distance to water, not calling out particular rooms that require them. If you had a fish room with a faucet for example, the law would almost certainly require a GFI.

[bnumair]

to answer ur question yes, u need GFI. u have 2 choices for GFI. u can change ur outlet receptacle near ur tank to GFCI (cheaper) or u can chnage the breaker in ur breaker box to that receptacle to GFCI breaker (more expensive).