Occasional GFCI Trip - Recommended Power Strip

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bjbass

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 10, 2010
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I have a GFCI power outlet installed on the first outlet of my circuit and my aquarium is next in line on that circuit with a regular power outlet. I have a power strip surge protector plugged into with my two maxi jet pumps and two Marineland double bright led lights plugged into the power strip. Over the last month I had three incidents that tripped my GFCI. I reset it and everything comes back on and it is fine. I check and there isn't any water or anything dripping anywhere under my aquarium stand.

Anyways, I then read the bottom of my surge protector and it says to not use a damp area (I have a 50 gallon sump under my aquarium). It also says not recommended for aquarium use.

What power strips do you recommend for this application?
 
If I understand correctly your existing surge protector/power strip does not have "built in" GFCI protection. This is why it would be unsuitable for use in damp areas.
If your Power strip is plugged into a GFCI protected outlet this would be acceptable.
You don't mention why you have tripped your GFCI but a few thoughts come to mind.
You may be edging up on overloading the GFCI rating.
Keep in mind that every time you trip a GFCI it will trip just a little quicker the next time.
Eventually this will wear it out.
You might want to add up the amperage ratings on your pumps and lights and see if they exceed the rating on the outlet(typically 15 or 20 amps).
If the circuit itself is overloaded (not just the outlet supplying the aquarium but the whole circuit) this can cause significant voltage fluctuations which can cause a GFCI to become unstable.
 
dawnmarie;4335819; said:
If I understand correctly your existing surge protector/power strip does not have "built in" GFCI protection. This is why it would be unsuitable for use in damp areas.
If your Power strip is plugged into a GFCI protected outlet this would be acceptable.
You don't mention why you have tripped your GFCI but a few thoughts come to mind.
You may be edging up on overloading the GFCI rating.
Keep in mind that every time you trip a GFCI it will trip just a little quicker the next time.
Eventually this will wear it out.
You might want to add up the amperage ratings on your pumps and lights and see if they exceed the rating on the outlet(typically 15 or 20 amps).
If the circuit itself is overloaded (not just the outlet supplying the aquarium but the whole circuit) this can cause significant voltage fluctuations which can cause a GFCI to become unstable.
Click to expand...

This may be possible. I also have a LCD Television, satellite receiver, and a Nintendo Wii on the next outlet down on the circuit 3rd away from the beginning. The 4 aquarium devices are plugged into a power strip on the second outlet. The GFCI is the first outlet. So the power strip is not plugged directly into the GFCI, but it is the next one down.

I might try replacing it with another one though. It is brand new, so maybe it is defective. I was figuring that the power strip was getting damp from the evaporation and it tripped it.
 
Sounds more likely to be overloaded than defective.
You wuold do well to add up all the differrent energy requirements of the various components on this circuit.
When the GFCI trips does everything shut off (pumps, TV, Wii, sat)?
 
Gfis are known to go bad for no reason. A gfi works by sensing an inbalance in current between the hot and neutral. Remove the gfi, you'll have a hot and neutral on he terminals labeled line, if you also have a hot and neutral on the terminals labeled load then you have additional receptacles protected by the gfi, it is the industry standard to protect up to 4 receptacles off one gfi.
 
Bingo !
All we need to know now is how it's actually wired.

Edit: GFI's are available plug in(inline) and hard wired(in wall) , not to mention GFI Breakers for the distribution panel.
 
I am still having this problem. I am thinking it might be a defective GFCI or that I need to switch to a 20 Amp GFCI. The one that I installed is a 15 Amp. I am trying to determine my amperage on my breaker, but I can't find the FLA or LRA rating on the name plate. Here is a picture. Can you help me determine this?

Maybe I need the 20 Amp GFCI?

picture.php
 
You need to look at the breaker itself, not the door to the box(what I am assuming you took the picture of) of breakers. Should say right on the switch what its rating is in amps aka if the living room breaker has a 20 stamped into the switch, its a 20 amp breaker.
 
You have to look at the breaker for the circuit in question to find the amp rating of the circuit, a lot of times the rating is on the switch. It is probably 15a, in residential applications 20a circuits are generally only used in the kitchen due to small appliances or other circuits designed for specific equipment ie laundry machine, sump pumps etc
 
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