Gfci $4.95?

[reefsmurf]

Well I came across this via email:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43756

Is 4.95 a good price for a GFCI? I need to put this in soon.
Also... what do people think of grounding probes? I read a posting on RC that they are actually not good for your fish. If you have a electric leak, then no grounding probe = stray voltage. With a grounding probe you have stray current which is worse. Does that sound right? Better to just take measurements with an accurate multimeter once in a while instead?

 

[davidrupe]

Dirt cheap. HD sells them for $10+ I believe.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I've bought some at HD for under $4 on clearance

Better to use a grounding probe & test for stray voltage every now & then

Stray voltage could kill you, then your fish will die anyways...

 

[reefsmurf]

Ok I should have paid attention in school.

If there is stray voltage in your tank, how does it kill you? The electric charge has no path through you to ground?

If you have a grounding probe, a current can form in the water (i.e from your powerhead through the water to the probe), and if you stick your hand in now you've just been zapped?

Thanks

 

[this is me]

Can someone please tell me what a GFCI does?

 

[Ray]

It detects a short and shuts the power off

 

[ScottM]

i would spend the xtra $$ for a good GFCI.
nothing worse than having it trip because its "cheap" when your not home to reset it and your tank dies for that $6.00 savings.

 

[this is me]

It detects a short and shuts the power off

wouldnt that be bad though?

 

[Noel]

Harbor Frieght GFCI

Personally, I'd pass on it and buy one from like Levitron, i.e. big company with deep pockets .. if it fails your widow/family will have someone to sue ;-)

I've bought stuff from HF, a lot of it turned out to be cheap knockoff c**p that I eventually ended up replacing with decently made tools etc. that really didn't cost that much more. The only thing that I ever bought that was "good" was some touchup paint sprayers that I used to spray primer while building my aircraft, I knew that I was just going to toss `em very few months just because of the buildup of epoxy primer I wasn't going to get off in between shots.

In retrospect, building airplanes might be cheaper than this hobby ;-)

Regards
Noel

 

[reefsmurf]

Ok I know nothing about electronic parts.. got a link to somewhere that sells the quality ones?

 

[marco67]

Any electrical house supply house will offer a good quality I think there's Granite City up that way, and I second the feeling that it's foolish to buy anything but the best you can find.
It's kinda like a bullet proof vest, if you think you might need one ....you ought to be buying a good one

 

[Noel]

Hd

If I recall correctly, HD sells Levitron .. its as good as it gets for your average homeowner type application.

Noel

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Ok, got it, don't buy cheap, buy Levitron

Ok, now I'm confused..I bought Cheap..I bought Levitron
I posted months ago that they were clearing a bunch of GFCI's out at a$3.75
Most were almond colored, they all went in the basement & out of the way places. I kept a dozen or so white ones for outlets that will be in view (bathrooms etc)
Geez I didn't save $6...I saved $10 each, reg retail was $13.75
hmmm...maybe someone mismarked them
But HD had their yellow closeout tag on them...works for me

 

[Noel]

Good Deal !!

Off-hand Moe, I'd say you got a one heck of a deal on them.

You realize of course you only need one per circuit IF its the first outlet on the circuit.

Thats how I wired up my garage, I forget how many outlets there are on each 15A circuit, a reasonable number .. I'd have to guess no more than 5-6, I think the package has documentation that specifies the max number but anyway, if it detects leackage anywhere on the circuit .. poof .. it shuts down.

Regards
Noel

 

[marco67]

Geeze Dave ....you got a couple eh

 

[reefsmurf]

Hmm.. darn, missed out!

 

[marco67]

Just to expand on what Noel said:
"You realize of course you only need one per circuit IF its the first outlet on the circuit."

This is true for safety reasons, but I find it helps to avoid unnecessary shut down if you use more than one. In order to avoid having one faulty power head shut down the whole system, I set up one for each 2-gang box feed the second outlet in that box (non GFCI) from the load side of the GFCI and the next 2 gang box from the line side, the first outlet in this box is GFCI and etc...etc...on down the run. (line side = unprotected, load side= protected)
This way you have all the same protection but will only loose power to 4 plugs when something trips.

-Marc-

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Yeah, I hate having a GFCI trip & kill too many outlets. I have (had) a min of (3) circuits for each tank:
a) return pump - on my 125g, that's the only thing on that circuit
b) heaters, general lights
c) Metal Halides - only thing on this circuit
then controllers & odds & ends are on other circuits

I'm redoing an entire house, so in addition to what is pictured I have already used 1/2 dozen or more:
replaced (2) outside, 1 near washer, 1 near basement fridge, 2 on basement circuits...plus a couple more I think
Then at least 4 more for tanks & frag setup area
At $3.75 I could buy 4 before it would cost what (1) normally costs, so I figured I'd stock up

 

[marco67]

I like 3 circuits also,
Light, Heat and pumps
Thats depending on tank size of course

 

[nitrofish]

It detects a short and shuts the power off

accaualy it detects voltage to ground and trips.some devices use voltage to ground like refrigerators and will cause nuisance tripping. it wont detect a normal short unless voltage is going to ground, but your home breaker will.