Please use GFCI!

I am begging all of you out there that are not using GFCI protected outlets for all your aquarium equipment to please make that your next purchase tommorrow!

If you are comfortable, install one or more GFCI protected receptacles in your wall. If you are not comfortable there are other means available such as this:

Amazon.com: TRC 90265-6-012 Shockshield Yellow Portable GFCI Plug with Surge Protection: Home Improvement

What is GFCI?

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, and is mandated by National Electrical Code to be used in all areas where water may be present such as bathrooms, kitchen countertops, garages, unfinished basements, and outdoors.

GFCI receptacles are recognisable by the "Test" and "Reset" buttons on the face of the receptacle. Newer homes my use a GFCI breaker in the circuit panel which is recognisable by the "Reset" button on the breaker.

What does GFCI do?

Electricity works by flowing from the "hot" conductor, through the load such as a powerhead, pump, or heater, and back through the neutral to whence it came. Electrical shock occurs when some or all of the electrical current decides to go through your body to the ground following the path of least resistance. GFCI works by detecting the lack of current returning on the neutral wire that is going somewhere it shouldn't, like through you!

Ever hear of the toaster in the bathtub story? That is why GFCI was developed and mandated in bathrooms.

Please don't be the dude in the bathtub eh!

 

did and done! great read im sure several ppl out there arnt using and REALLY should be K+

 

good post, and i agree 100% that everyone and their mother should use GFCI near water

 

agreed.. Thank goodness most new houses come with them.. Im never afraid to stick my hands in the tank with mine..

 

I just built a fish room and installed 12 gfci units. They were 16.67 each at lows and when my electriction asked me why not just have the gfci breakers I said you cant be to safe right? He said your around water so do it right. I am doing the build and taking pics as we speak(just for luna)

 

Unless you have 12 individual circuits that seems a bit excessive.

You can daisy chain standard receptacles off a GFCI receptacle and the standard receptacles will be GFCI protected. So you could use 1 GFCI and 11 standard receptacles to the same effect ...

 

Good luck with that. I did research it and we found out its best to have each individual circuit for this. I also found out due to the high volume of electricity that daising the circuit would cause multipule trips all the time. So I did it the right way the first time. Thanks for your thought though.

 

You are GFCI protected and that is all that concerns me ...

Safety first!

 

Going to lowe's tomorrow...

 

16.00 is the cheapest I found there...... I cant believe this is it price wise.