Ways to avoid electrical fires from having too many tanks..What should I do?
- Thread starter watermelon
- Start date
Anybody mention a GFI for this one? GFI=ground fault interrupter. You can get an inline version and plug your cords and/or power bars into it if you like or change the circuit breaker for your whole room over to one. GFI's are pretty much the ultimate in safety. They say you can throw an extension cord into your bathtub with YOU in it and you won't be hurt. (somebody let me know on this one) The only down side I've run into with them is their being too sensative. The one in my bathroom sometimes triggers for no reason I can see. Better than not though I suppose. However, with your tank heater and light going on and off at random, I wonder if this might set it off. Which of course could kill your whole tank. Enough said there. Maybe it's not such a good idea. Still, losing your fish (God forbid) would be better than your house burning down. Kind of a morbid thought but you gotta have a roof over your head.
Ironically.... while water kills, it generally is a myth that you will die if an appliance(NOT ON A GFI PROTECTED CIRCUIT EVEN) is thrown in the bathtub with you. Standing in a puddle, providing a true conduit for the energy to pass through is what will kill you. Being in a bathtub is not an ideal scenario for death by electrocution even without GFI. I digress... and yes, I mentioned GFI earlier - For the amount of time we find ourselves standing in puddles, etc, GFI is a must.
Most people have a ton of stuff plugged in around their tv.
We have a tv, vcr, dvd player, video rewinder, and a language filter.
I dont see how that is any different than a tank.
Extension cords, or any cord for that matter, are dangerous because they are typically exposed to more abuse. I raise dogs, and that is one thing I always tell customers who buy my puppies, he is a baby. Puppies love to chew on things, and soft cords are a favorite, Once the wire is exposed, it could produce a fire hazzard.
Also, be sure to install smoke alarms and keep the batteries fresh.
You might consider removing carpeting and installing tile around the tank, which might slow a fire if one were to start?
Have a fire extinguisher accesible.
This is good advise for anyone, rather they use lots of cords or not.
We have a tv, vcr, dvd player, video rewinder, and a language filter.
I dont see how that is any different than a tank.
Extension cords, or any cord for that matter, are dangerous because they are typically exposed to more abuse. I raise dogs, and that is one thing I always tell customers who buy my puppies, he is a baby. Puppies love to chew on things, and soft cords are a favorite, Once the wire is exposed, it could produce a fire hazzard.
Also, be sure to install smoke alarms and keep the batteries fresh.
You might consider removing carpeting and installing tile around the tank, which might slow a fire if one were to start?
Have a fire extinguisher accesible.
This is good advise for anyone, rather they use lots of cords or not.
Aquarium equipment runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week..Your TV, VCR, does not do that...So there is a less risk for a fire...
ALERT: Aquariums do catch on fire and can burn your house or apartment down. See recent thread yesterday about aquarium electrical fire that almost burned down a house!:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1063974
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1063974
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I just want to make a couple of comments. The cause of the fire in the thread you posted was determined from a faulty plug strip, not the aquarium itself- the aquarium actually helped put the fire out. I have these strips for every aquarium and for every place a tv is set up. I know you mentioned that tvs and such aren't on 24 hours a day. However, when my tv, vcr, cable box, dvd player and game systems are turned off there's a light that stays on to indicate that- which obviously wouldn't be on if they were unplugged.
My point is almost anything can be a risk. I had a fire in 2000 and lost everything (pets, all clothes and pictures, furniture, everything- fortunately no one was home though, which was just about the only fortunate thing). The fire was deemed electrical and started inside the wall. I can admit that although I don't constantly think about it, I am probably more paranoid than the average person when it comes to fires.
I think the advice in this thread is good advice. GFIs would certainly make a good investment because you just never know. In my house both bathrooms had previously installed GFIs when I bought it, of course because bathrooms = water.
One can be the safest person and still have a fire but there are preventative measures they can take- GFIs, updated electrical system, don't overload your outlets, multiple smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.- although the latter aren't exactly preventative measures, they are just good to have in the home "just in case."
I don't mean to sound like a preacher. I just read that thread and it brought back some memories- even 6 1/2 years later. Fires can happen to the best of us and always come unexpectedly. The best we can do is be prepared and practice prevention.
I apologize for the long post.
My point is almost anything can be a risk. I had a fire in 2000 and lost everything (pets, all clothes and pictures, furniture, everything- fortunately no one was home though, which was just about the only fortunate thing). The fire was deemed electrical and started inside the wall. I can admit that although I don't constantly think about it, I am probably more paranoid than the average person when it comes to fires.
I think the advice in this thread is good advice. GFIs would certainly make a good investment because you just never know. In my house both bathrooms had previously installed GFIs when I bought it, of course because bathrooms = water.
One can be the safest person and still have a fire but there are preventative measures they can take- GFIs, updated electrical system, don't overload your outlets, multiple smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.- although the latter aren't exactly preventative measures, they are just good to have in the home "just in case."
I don't mean to sound like a preacher. I just read that thread and it brought back some memories- even 6 1/2 years later. Fires can happen to the best of us and always come unexpectedly. The best we can do is be prepared and practice prevention.
I apologize for the long post.
But is makes for good TV, or a movie scene.
I always cringe when I see that; it doesn't make any sense, as you point out.
it's funny... people spend hundreds, if not thousands on the tank, stand, top-of-the-line equipment, conditioners, lotions, potions etc.
We argue about the merits of spending more on an Eheim...
and then plug it all in to a $2 power strip made in China from recycled soda bottles.
We argue about the merits of spending more on an Eheim...
and then plug it all in to a $2 power strip made in China from recycled soda bottles.
