Do you use a ground fault interrupter?

Just wanted to know if a GFI is pretty much a must on a reef tank. I don't use one on mine, but was considering buying one for when I upgrade. If a circuit has a ground, does it still need a GFI device?

 

IMO they are a must have unless you like to burn. water and electricity do not mix. in the event of something going south they can save your life. and families lives. home depot has ones you can plug in a wall and work great.

and yes even though a circuit has a ground you will still need one.

 

Thanks for the advice. This device would trip and cut off the power if for instance your light bar fell into the water correct? I'm guessing thats what it is designed to do. Or if you had a defective heater or pump that leaked electricity?

 

correct it should they do work but like everything you have that one in a million chance it will not.

 

I have one outlet geared and one to go. I think they are a necessity. Used together with a ground probe.

 

I will starting this weekend.

 

I noticed I have a built in GFI in my bathroom wall outlet. Most newer houses have GFI's in the bathroom and Kitchen. Should I just buy a GFI device that plugs into the wall outlet, or would it be best to replace the wall outlet with a built in GFI like the one in my bathroom?

 

Yes, Falcon. You should definitely employ a GFCI. If your wall outlet isn't of that type, a plug in GFCI device works just fine. If you're feeling sporty, you could change out the receptacle.

To address your first question, a GFCI does things that a standard ground wire cannot. A standard ground works to complete a fault circuit, allowing your main panel breaker to trip. A main panel will trip during a short circuit current or ground fault current of many hundreds of amperes. A GFCI, on the other hand, monitors and compares incoming current to outflow, and if there's a discrepancy that exceeds 4-6 mA (milliamperes), the circuit is opened. That makes a GFCI protected circuit much more valuable to you and your property than a standard 15A breaker protected circuit.

 

well said Sparky!

 

Wow! Thanks sparky!