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View Full Version : Why Use GFCI (Ground Fault) Outlets?


tsunderl
11-05-2008, 02:52 PM
http://www.isledegrande.com/giimages12/fire-aquarium8-5-05.jpg
Wall and floor damage which occurred in the vicinity of 55-gallon, salt water aquarium, which was uninhabited at the time of this accidental fire
By Ray Pauley</B>
Grand Island Firefighters received an alarm company report shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2005, of a "fish tank on fire" at the Caicedo residence on Colonial Drive. A visiting relative, Elena Cavrera, 72, had already fled the premises, and was later evaluated for smoke inhalation, but appeared symptom free and declined hospitalization.
Chief Greg Butcher confirmed that the interior of the home was filled with heavy, acrid smoke when firefighting units arrived on location. The first floor blaze was quickly extinguished with dry chemicals and a minimal amount of water which was provided by Engines #2 and #3.
The interior was then ventilated, and it was determined that a living room floor and wall had become engulfed in flames when aquarium electrical equipment had shorted out and started a fire. Damage was estimated at $1000 to the structure and $1000 to the contents, according to Chief Butcher, although cleanup costs have not yet been established.



tsunderl added 8 Minutes and 47 Seconds later...

There's also inline GFCI units you can get if you don't want to change out the actual wall outlet.

http://www.budgetlighting.com/gfx/tower/inline_gfci_tower_2.jpg

rolloffhill
11-05-2008, 05:57 PM
Me thinks I might should look into that...

Last night I was changing water on the planted tank. For some reason I walked away while it was filling and came to dfwfishbox.com to check the new posts...one thing led to another and I hear water running in the living room.....That's strange, I wonder what Robyn is doing?

****....<runs across house to shut off water>

bra8ndy8
11-05-2008, 11:45 PM
I do that ALLLLLLL THE TIME!!!!!

dtexan
11-06-2008, 01:34 AM
Sounds like a good project for this weekend.

kewlkatdady
11-06-2008, 10:02 AM
bit of advice....

watch the tank being filled...don't do anything else until its full.

If I spilt water all over my floor, Shanna would freakin kill me.

I'll save that kinda ass-whoopin for something worth it.

supersmirky
11-06-2008, 11:54 AM
Son of a gun..I do that all the time too. Glad to know I am not the only one. It's embarrassing when I constantly flood the kitchen. I snap out of whatever i was doing when I hear the all too familiar splash of water pouring out into the floor!

greeneyed
11-06-2008, 01:10 PM
bit of advice....

watch the tank being filled...don't do anything else until its full.

If I spilt water all over my floor, Shanna would freakin kill me.

I'll save that kinda ass-whoopin for something worth it.

sounds familiar...........
*knocks on wood*
hasn't happened yet.

rolloffhill
11-06-2008, 06:49 PM
Luckily Robyn was in the shower and headed to bed...;)

fishyjoe24
11-13-2008, 04:11 AM
I'm going to sound dumb for a second but anyway what do gfci outlets do?

flamenco-t
11-13-2008, 12:15 PM
Water causes short circuit. GFCI shuts down all the circuitry in that event.

GFCI is on every outlet in the bathroom

xtc
11-13-2008, 01:33 PM
and you only need ONE GFCI plug on the line- it doesn't have to be the one nearest the tank, just put it on the outlet closest to the box and it will protect all of them on the circuit.

so- don't put it on the last plug on the line. :hehe:

fishyjoe24
11-14-2008, 03:03 AM
I have my aquarium stuff plugged in to a white circuit breaker board.(hope that makes sence) and that is plugged in to the wall where the tank is.

bad or good? should my dad wire up a gfci? in my room?

greeneyed
11-14-2008, 05:25 AM
Yes, that is just a surge protector. It is designed to prevent damage from power spikes.

fishyjoe24
11-14-2008, 07:46 AM
ok thanks, um does anyone know how much a gfci would cost?

greeneyed
11-14-2008, 08:40 AM
~10-15 $

fishyjoe24
11-16-2008, 09:42 AM
~10-15 $

wow that is cheap. is that for the wall kind,or for the cord kind?

kSpieler
11-21-2008, 05:24 PM
roflmao all you over-filling fools!
If your are gonna have to mop, do it right ... put ALL 45 gallons out on the floor at once!
:bow:

China8USA
11-22-2008, 04:00 PM
bit of advice....

watch the tank being filled...don't do anything else until its full.

If I spilt water all over my floor, Shanna would freakin kill me.

I'll save that kinda ass-whoopin for something worth it.


I stay in the fishroom now and read a book while they fill.

Luckily I can drain with the pump, while I fill with the python. so its not so boring