GFCI units. Please read.

[pharmrjohn]

Although most of you probably already know this, I just looked it up and learned something....

I was formally installing my UV sterilizer about a half hour ago. I drilled my holes, mounted the UV unit, attached the hose and went to find that elusive PH that came with the aquarium for this purpose. I found it, sunk it in my sump, plugged it in, looked in the sump, saw no action. I fiddled around with the hoses, did this and that and went back to the power cord. It was out of the socket. I scratched my head, plugged it back in and went back to the sump. I was just about to put my hand back into the water when I noticed sparks coming out of the cord at the base of the unit under water. I unplugged the unit, got it out of there, inspected it, saw a rather obvious break in the cord insulation, swore at it and threw it away.

Now.......I thought, "Wow, the grounding probe saved my @##.". Then I thought, "No way, a fourteen dollar item would in NO way do that much.".

I was right and wrong.

I am right in that a fourteen dollar ground probe is not enough to prevent electrocution.

I am wrong in the price. It is a ten dollar item that can save your hide. It is called a GFCI unit. It is one of those annoying plugs that has the red and black buttons on it. You can get them at Home Depot, Lowes or I imagine any hardware store.

Now I am no electrician. Not by a long shot. But now I know now why they keep those things in the bathroom. Oops, my hair dryer when into the sink. I feel like such an idiot.

I googled the topic and came across an article that outlines the necessity of a GFCI unit along with a ground probe to prevent such disasters.....on each aquarium in the house. I am going out tomorrow in search of one of these.

Now, I don't know if one sparking wire in the water was enough to create a dangerous situation. My fish are alive and thriving. Maybe the wire has to be cut all the way through to make life (or the lack thereof) a bummer. I don't know. But I would suggest that you all take a look at what you got and do a spot check. Thermometers are a big one. If it's old and still working, replace it anyway.

So....once again, that's my two cents worth. Just thought I would pass something along that scared the &^$# out of me.

Later dudes.......and Peace.......John.

[jbaker]

Thanks man. Karma for keeping an eye out for us.

[cannedmulder]

Karma for watching out for yourself and not just sticking you hand in. Not everyone watches everything around them!

[schackmel]

yeah, I learned the hard way the importance of GCFI plugs. I had a little fire behind my sump because the water ran to the plug and poof...fire. Luckily I was home and there was no major damage...just lost my heater and now that the tank is down I see where the wall got scorched.

Run carbon in your tank just in case you have not already placed it. I added carbon in hopes of catching any soot that got in there. I still ended up having a cycle, but the carbon I am sure helped.

Also, I now preach smoke alarms. Before the fire, I had either disconnected my smoke alarms or I never replaced the battery. Now however, I have them placed throughout the house, and even mounted one above my tank.

Thank goodness you are ok!

[phorn]

Close call! Glad you're safe