What is the difference between GFCI and surge protector

kenyacat · 04/15/2008, 03:50 AM

My tank is set up with two surge protectors at the moment. I am going to upgrade, and was looking at the Coralife Power Center with the built in timer. Not sure if the Coralife is a surge protector though. I also see the GFCI and have heard a little about it here, that it is a good thing to have.

Let's just say that this is an old, old house. Our wiring is old and we still have the outlets without the 3rd prong whole. We use adapters everywhere.

Any thoughts on what the difference is?

renisel · 04/15/2008, 04:07 AM

Surge protectors decrease the effects of brief spikes in the voltage supply. GFCI devices will shut down the circuit entirely if a short is detected. So if there is a short circuit caused by crossed wires or water splashing on something, a surge protector will attenuate it at first, but if it's sustained the surge protector will do nothing after a short interval. A GFCI, on the other hand, will shut off the electricity supply so no equipment gets damaged and nobody is subjected to a sustained electric shock.

Paul B · 04/15/2008, 04:26 AM

Put your surge protectors on your TVs and computers, they are not needed for a tank. You just need the GFCI but because you have only two hole receptacles you need to have an electrician upgrade at least the outlet that feeds your tank so it has a ground. It could be an easy fix but it could be very dangerous to run a tank without one.
(electrician 40 years)
Paul

kenyacat · 04/15/2008, 03:16 PM

Can you do that--just do one outlet? I always thought if we wanted to change we would have to rewire the entire house.

rbursek · 04/15/2008, 03:28 PM

An electrian can run a new dedicated curciut for your tank if there is room in your main supply, sounds like you only have a 100amp main box though, that was pretty standard back then unless some one up graded to a 200amp main.

Paul B · 04/15/2008, 04:32 PM

You just need that one outlet converted. Depending on your wiring it may be a five minute job or more complicated.
You just need to get a ground to that outlet and it could even be done through a basement.

kenyacat · 04/16/2008, 03:38 AM

So once I convert that outlet, I then get the GFCI to plug in. Can I then plug in the Coralife Power Center intot he GFCI? I like the built in timers for the light.

Thanks for all the help. Will be calling an electrician to take a look at things.

Paul B · 04/16/2008, 03:58 AM

You don't need to plug in the GFCI. You just get a GFCI outlet which replaces the outlet that is there not. They are about $12.00. You can plug in anything you want into it

snorvich · 04/16/2008, 04:54 AM

Paul is right. But, quite honestly it is safer to have GFCI outlets on other things as well. We had our entire kitchen redone with them.

DankReefer · 04/16/2008, 07:28 AM

I've seen units available that plug in, that convert any outlet to a GFCI. Do these thing work?
I live in an apartment and it would be much more convenient to plug in one of these and take it with me when i move, rather than rewire an apartment i wont be in much longer.

lark · 04/16/2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DankReefer
I've seen units available that plug in, that convert any outlet to a GFCI. Do these thing work?
I live in an apartment and it would be much more convenient to plug in one of these and take it with me when i move, rather than rewire an apartment i wont be in much longer.

Two different concepts going on here.

If you have three-pronged (grounded) outlets, you can get either a plug in GFCI outlet or replace the outlet box with a GFCI box. Either way is relatively inexpensive.

If you have two-pronged outlets, you need an electrician before you can install GFCI -- according to what the electricians have posted here. Although, I have a question for the electricians -- is it actually necessary to ground the 2-prong outlet to install GFI? I thought you could do it, label it "no ground," and test manually? To be absolutely clear, I'm not an electrician, don't know the code, and I'm just asking the question.

Paul B · 04/16/2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

We had our entire kitchen redone with them.

It is code now to have the kitchen on GFIs.

All outlets need to be grounded now if you remove it and replace it. It needs to be replaced according to code which means grounded

04/15/2008, 03:50 AM	#1
kenyacat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 273	What is the difference between GFCI and surge protector My tank is set up with two surge protectors at the moment. I am going to upgrade, and was looking at the Coralife Power Center with the built in timer. Not sure if the Coralife is a surge protector though. I also see the GFCI and have heard a little about it here, that it is a good thing to have. Let's just say that this is an old, old house. Our wiring is old and we still have the outlets without the 3rd prong whole. We use adapters everywhere. Any thoughts on what the difference is? __________________ 75g w/ sump--13 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR, 2 turbo snails, 11 nassarius snails, 2 False Percula Clowns, cleaner shrimp, brittle star, Sebae Anemone, chaeto--378w T5 Constellation-- Cyclone skimmer

04/15/2008, 04:26 AM	#3
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Put your surge protectors on your TVs and computers, they are not needed for a tank. You just need the GFCI but because you have only two hole receptacles you need to have an electrician upgrade at least the outlet that feeds your tank so it has a ground. It could be an easy fix but it could be very dangerous to run a tank without one. (electrician 40 years) Paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

04/15/2008, 03:16 PM	#4
kenyacat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 273	Can you do that--just do one outlet? I always thought if we wanted to change we would have to rewire the entire house. __________________ 75g w/ sump--13 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR, 2 turbo snails, 11 nassarius snails, 2 False Percula Clowns, cleaner shrimp, brittle star, Sebae Anemone, chaeto--378w T5 Constellation-- Cyclone skimmer

04/15/2008, 04:32 PM	#6
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	You just need that one outlet converted. Depending on your wiring it may be a five minute job or more complicated. You just need to get a ground to that outlet and it could even be done through a basement. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

04/16/2008, 03:38 AM	#7
kenyacat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 273	So once I convert that outlet, I then get the GFCI to plug in. Can I then plug in the Coralife Power Center intot he GFCI? I like the built in timers for the light. Thanks for all the help. Will be calling an electrician to take a look at things. __________________ 75g w/ sump--13 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR, 2 turbo snails, 11 nassarius snails, 2 False Percula Clowns, cleaner shrimp, brittle star, Sebae Anemone, chaeto--378w T5 Constellation-- Cyclone skimmer

04/15/2008, 04:07 AM	#2
renisel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 866	Surge protectors decrease the effects of brief spikes in the voltage supply. GFCI devices will shut down the circuit entirely if a short is detected. So if there is a short circuit caused by crossed wires or water splashing on something, a surge protector will attenuate it at first, but if it's sustained the surge protector will do nothing after a short interval. A GFCI, on the other hand, will shut off the electricity supply so no equipment gets damaged and nobody is subjected to a sustained electric shock.

04/15/2008, 03:28 PM	#5
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	An electrian can run a new dedicated curciut for your tank if there is room in your main supply, sounds like you only have a 100amp main box though, that was pretty standard back then unless some one up graded to a 200amp main.

04/16/2008, 03:58 AM	#8
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	You don't need to plug in the GFCI. You just get a GFCI outlet which replaces the outlet that is there not. They are about $12.00. You can plug in anything you want into it __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

04/16/2008, 04:54 AM	#9
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Paul is right. But, quite honestly it is safer to have GFCI outlets on other things as well. We had our entire kitchen redone with them. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/16/2008, 07:28 AM	#10
DankReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 106	"plug in" GFCI? I've seen units available that plug in, that convert any outlet to a GFCI. Do these thing work? I live in an apartment and it would be much more convenient to plug in one of these and take it with me when i move, rather than rewire an apartment i wont be in much longer.