Battery Backup and GFCI Question

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blkdrgn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 11, 2010
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Hawaii
I am going to install a battery backup (APC 1500). I have a regular outlet right now. Should I put the GFCI before or after the battery? I was thinking that you have to put the GFCI after because if you trip the GFCI the battery will take over and that could shock you.

Also can I plug in a surge protector power strip on the battery backup which also has surge protection? I thought it wasn't good to use to surge protectors daisy chained.

I was thinking of setting up like this.

1. Regular outlet
2. Battery backup
3. GFCI extension cord - Multiple Connection
4. Plug in equipment

or

1. Regular outlet
2. Battery backup
3. GFCI extension cord - Single Connection
4. Power strip (non-surge protection)
 
Does this look right?

GFCI.png
 
wouldn't the GFCI only trip in case of a short such as water spilling on the pump, heater breaking, etc? It will not trip if there's a surge or power outage? My thinking is that you want to be protected at all times by GFCI when working with water. In case of surge or power outage, the battery will kick in but the GFCI should still be working along with your equipment. If a short, the GFCI will trip and shut down your equipment. Isn't that the purpose of the GFCI so you don't get shocked?
 
Howdy,

Just a suggestion from a fellow battery-back-up-er --> HERE <--

I would not hook up heaters, lights, and water change pump to the backup battery. They all drain unnecessary power away from life support (i.e. filtration). If power fails, your tank will maintain its temp for a long time because of the heat capacity of water. Your fish and plants will easily survive three days in complete darkness (common method to rid of algae). And while changing water is always good, you can always make up for it by cranking up your system or doing a manual water change once the power is restore.

I only run filters on my backup, and you see in the link above how long my (older model) UPS powers these.

HarleyK
 
The APC battery backups come with two sets of outlets. One side is just regular outlets and the other has outlet hooked up to the battery.

I tested it with my smaller tank setup. It would not work as i planned. In the 1st picture, I installed the GFCI after the battery but it would trip when i unplugged the battery backup from the wall. I'm thinking that I had too many equipment on that power strip and it would trip the GFCI. I'll test it with less equipment plugged in the strip.

Currently I have the GFCI in front of the battery like the 2nd picture. Does anyone know if the shock would still be as great if it were running on battery? Let's say the heater broke or the light fell in the water, then the GFCI trips at the outlet, the battery activates and continues to give electricity to my broken equipment, would the shock be the same as if it came from the wall socket?

I have another APC 1500 coming in today. I'll be testing it with my big tank.

Presentation1-1.png
 
Howdy,

You can skip the powerhead in case of a power outage. What you have to worry about are the canister filters, which can go anaerobic within hours. Once power is restored, they will pump toxic decomposition products into your tank.

See --> HERE <--

If anything, the Eheims need to be on battery backup. Powerhead only moves water around, absolutely non-essential!

HarleyK
 
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