Powerstrip that prevents water damage?

[myfishbrian]

What is a powerstrip that will protect me from water short circuiting it and/or starting a fire? My last one had water spilled on it and it was making a buzzing noise and started sparking. I tried turning it off by the switch and it shocked me. Then I unplugged it from the wall no wheres near the fish tank and for some reason it sent another more powerful shoch up through my arm:confused::eek:. Its been scaring me a lot on which powerstrip to buy now. Thank You All for your help. BTW I already have a heavy duty timer for the lights but depending on the price I would consider getting one with a built in time or two so the actinic lighting stays on longer as well as maybe the led night lights which aren't functioning right now but I'm going to rewire them. I believe I have a coralife 145 watt compact fl light but I will update as I get home because I need some guidance on the night lights anyways. Thanks again :help:

[Amphiprion]

Get a GFCI strip or have a GFCI installed into the electrical outlet (easy to do). Either way will save your appliance and peace of mind.

[excuzzzeme]

A GFCI outlet with a quality surge protector is a better option. A surge protector would have sensed the short and tripped. Surge protectors are rated by clamping voltage and clamping time. If it fails you have legal recourse as long as total load does not exceed the rating (hard to prove). Even if it fails the GFCI will kick. Both items are UL Listed and tested. Powerstrips have none of the safeguards

[Captain Kitty]

http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_index.asp?page_id=35720244

I'm a dork, but it's useful and informative. As others have said it's also easy to install and having the GFCI strip will double the protection as will mounting the strip on the wall away from the aquarium

[myfishbrian]

the weird thing is that I was using a surge protector and not just a powerstrip... It still didn't cut off the current though. It was a surge protector made by Belkin that was actually made for a home theater system. It was almost 50 bucks. The grounded light went off but thats it. It didn't protect me from getting shocked and it sure didn't stop the buzzing and sparks! Thanks for the tips on the gfci. I'll be getting one tomorrow probably.

[excuzzzeme]

I have never had good luck with Belkin products either.

[Zebodog]

A GFCI is mandatory with any outlet that may be exposed to water.

[Amphiprion]

A GFCI outlet with a quality surge protector is a better option. A surge protector would have sensed the short and tripped. Surge protectors are rated by clamping voltage and clamping time. If it fails you have legal recourse as long as total load does not exceed the rating (hard to prove). Even if it fails the GFCI will kick. Both items are UL Listed and tested. Powerstrips have none of the safeguards

IME, powerstrips are only good for increasing the number of outlets. They are practically worthless otherwise--fires will result if you think otherwise. Only a GFCI will protect you, your tank, and your house/apartment.

[kcress]

Keep in mind that a GFI powerstrip or a GFI outlet will do nothing to protect you or you house if you get water in it - especially saltwater. You just, flat, have to make the effort to do whatever you need to to prevent water from EVER getting into a power strip.

All outlets, powerstrips, and GFI powerstrips need to be mounted somewhere safe. Then any cords that run to them need to have drip loops. Water cannot be allowed to run down the wires from anywhere above and on into the outlet.

You also need to consider all your piping and hoses. Look critically at them and ask yourself, "What happens if a pinhole leak occurs and water starts to spray here or there?"

If needed you should make little plastic shields that would divert any water cascading down from somewhere above.

Remember leaks are a serious pain, but a fire gutted house is a much bigger pain!

[myfishbrian]

Keep in mind that a GFI powerstrip or a GFI outlet will do nothing to protect you or you house if you get water in it - especially saltwater. You just, flat, have to make the effort to do whatever you need to to prevent water from EVER getting into a power strip.

All outlets, powerstrips, and GFI powerstrips need to be mounted somewhere safe. Then any cords that run to them need to have drip loops. Water cannot be allowed to run down the wires from anywhere above and on into the outlet.

You also need to consider all your piping and hoses. Look critically at them and ask yourself, "What happens if a pinhole leak occurs and water starts to spray here or there?"

If needed you should make little plastic shields that would divert any water cascading down from somewhere above.

Remember leaks are a serious pain, but a fire gutted house is a much bigger pain!
Excellent and Informative advice. Thank You

[Amphiprion]

Keep in mind that a GFI powerstrip or a GFI outlet will do nothing to protect you or you house if you get water in it - especially saltwater. You just, flat, have to make the effort to do whatever you need to to prevent water from EVER getting into a power strip.

All outlets, powerstrips, and GFI powerstrips need to be mounted somewhere safe. Then any cords that run to them need to have drip loops. Water cannot be allowed to run down the wires from anywhere above and on into the outlet.

You also need to consider all your piping and hoses. Look critically at them and ask yourself, "What happens if a pinhole leak occurs and water starts to spray here or there?"

If needed you should make little plastic shields that would divert any water cascading down from somewhere above.

Remember leaks are a serious pain, but a fire gutted house is a much bigger pain!

Those are precautions that should be taken whether you have a GFCI or not. A GFCI is simply an extra precaution for the rest of the potential problem. They will stop the flow of electricity to an outlet, regardless of whether or not it is fresh or saltwater. Does that mean they work all the time? Of course not, but they do add a bit of redundancy where it is needed and do indeed help if you splash water out onto an outlet (trust me).

[artemis]

What you are describing is an arc fault. A ground fault circuit interrupter may or may not protect you from an arc fault (it depends on whether the arc fault is causing an imbalance between the power flowing into the hot line and out of the neutral line, which is what a GFCI unit is monitoring). Best protection is obtained by having an electrician install a breaker box arc fault circuit interrupter on the circuit running your aquarium, plus using a ground fault circuit interrupter (either installed at the breaker box as well, or via an outlet or plug-in model) and a surge protector power strip. That should offer reasonable protection from arc faults, ground faults, and sudden overloads due to surges in electrical current.