Do I need a surge protector if I'm connected to a GFCI?
 

Do I need a surge protector if I'm connected to a GFCI? for additional protection back to the tank from the outlet? or is this just overkill with the GFCI?

Thanks,
RJ

your fine with just a gfci

a surge protector is meant to protect devices plugged into it from unsafe surges in voltage. a gfci outlet senses the electrical current flowing from hot to neutral and when this is out of balance, it cuts off electricity to the outlet. essentially, they're meant to serve different purposes and the GFCI is the one you need to have to be safe with your aquarium.

+1 with PapaKlix. They serve 2 different purposes and the GFCI is the one important to your tank. Surge protectors are more geared towards electronic equipment sensitive to electrical surges.

Yes, they are two totaly different outlets.

There is now a new outlet out on the market called a AFCI....Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter. It stops from causing a fire with older wiring or damaged wires. Its kinda the new generation of GFCI outlets.

Here is a link that will explain it better.

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/afcifac8.PDF

Okay , so will it protect the same back to the equipment then. I know the GFCI will protect from water, and around the tank to human contact. i was just wondering if I should have the surge protector to protect my equipment ( lighting, controllers, expensive vortech pumps etc..) , from a surge back as I did not know if the GFCI would trip in this instance as well.

Yes....The GFCI will protect from a ground fault...NOT A SURGE. The Power surge from your local electric company is what could fry everything.

7 replies is a lot of information for a moot point, but...

You don't need a surge protector, you want a surge protector.

LOL.....YEP.......

You DONT NEED air bags in a car..............you WANT air bags.

You DONT NEED a parachute to jump out of a plane........You WANT a parachute

Yes, I do. When are we going? :D

LOL......I have already been there done that.

+1 to Flipper

GFCI Will protect you and your Fish/Corals
Surge Protector will protect your equipment

You must have GFCI if you like the life of you and your fish/coral
You should have surge protection unless you have lots of money to replace equipment. Especially if you have digital controller. Most of the equipment should be able to take small spikes but for the price of a GOOD Surge protector less then $30 why take the chance.

A grounding probe isn't a bad idea either. It doesn't protect people or equipment, but it can protect your fish from stray electrical currents, which are increasingly common as hobbyists put ever more powercords in their aquariums.

A grounding probe requires ground. ;)

Maybe its just me........But I wouldn't even think of having a tank & not having it grounded

^^^ {shrug} You also wouldn't rely on a check-valve to keep your tank from draining to sand level, but I do. :D

You see? We don't think alike after all. I would have taken me along for the jump. :p


For others reading, a grounding-probe doesn't really provide much ground, but it does require ground and ground is a good idea for any aquarium.

Thanks Flipper62 & Whys thats what I wanted to know. So I will be using the surge protector, as well as having it connected to the GFCI (on its own breaker now too since last night :) I also hooked up a grounding probe, just found out about those a little while ago and had ordered one for my new tank setup. Once again, thanks for all the help/info, this forum community is A1.

Here is a link to post with some pics of my setup so far. Its changed a little since then ( protein skimmer in, wiring changes etc ) but you'll get the idea. Once i have my lighting and rck I will do a complete photographed documentation.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1631249