Help my plugs are arched!!!

[Nano man]

So long story short I setup my new tank and forgot to take out filter floss stuffed in my glass holes overflow box(catching the new sand blowing around DT)

Caused tank to leak out some water and somehow got on my power strip. Somehow everything was working still when I caught it.

I purchased a strip from HD with a 2300 joule and am using it with these same plugs after cleaning them off. Do you all think I should replace all these components because you never know? Heater, pump, etc....

I asked one of my electrician friends and he said he sees where the t us arching but should be ok as long as you replace the strip. So what do you guys think?

Please help.......

 

[Brew12]

So long story short I setup my new tank and forgot to take out filter floss stuffed in my glass holes overflow box(catching the new sand blowing around DT)

Caused tank to leak out some water and somehow got on my power strip. Somehow everything was working still when I caught it.

I purchased a strip from HD with a 2300 joule and am using it with these same plugs after cleaning them off. Do you all think I should replace all these components because you never know? Heater, pump, etc....

I asked one of my electrician friends and he said he sees where the t us arching but should be ok as long as you replace the strip. So what do you guys think?

Please help.......

I would agree with just replacing the strip.

You should also get all the corrosion off the plugs as you can. Nothing wrong with using emery cloth or even sand paper to get them back to insulating plastic.

 

[Nano man]

Thanks.

 

[Nano man]

Would you recommend going with American DJ power strip as most people here have? I just keep hearing about problems with them from random people saying that the red knobs break and don't work after short periods.

 

[Brew12]

Would you recommend going with American DJ power strip as most people here have? I just keep hearing about problems with them from random people saying that the red knobs break and don't work after short periods.

I just use a high quality power strip from Lowes, but I don't care about being able to switch things on and off that are plugged into it. I use an Apex controller for those loads.

 

[hejjo]

Would you recommend going with American DJ power strip as most people here have? I just keep hearing about problems with them from random people saying that the red knobs break and don't work after short periods.

I used to use the DJ power strips and as nice as they were to have there were several broken switches. One of the switches looked fine and in a hurry I'd sometimes hit it n would get a nice jolt... I don't use them anymore.

 

[Swoody]

I will say that if that did not trip the breaker to that circuit in your house.....I would replace the outlet you will plug your power strip into with a GFCI outlet and most definitely get a higher quality power strip rated for at least double the current your equipment draws. That could have easily resulted in a fire. Also ensure that the circuit the outlet is on is drawing below the rated amperage for the breaker that supplies it (meaning anything else you have on it...TV's stereos etc...) and buy an outlet that is above the amp draw of the tank equipment.

 

[mcarroll]

DJ strips are fine if you need to switch things off and on a lot. Most things are not like that – just get a good strip. I like Tripplite if you can find/order them.

 

[Nano man]

I will say that if that did not trip the breaker to that circuit in your house.....I would replace the outlet you will plug your power strip into with a GFCI outlet and most definitely get a higher quality power strip rated for at least double the current your equipment draws. That could have easily resulted in a fire. Also ensure that the circuit the outlet is on is drawing below the rated amperage for the breaker that supplies it (meaning anything else you have on it...TV's stereos etc...) and buy an outlet that is above the amp draw of the tank equipment.

Thank God there was no fire.
It is actually at my place of business and I have that plugged into an apc battery backup on the surge channel. That strip was pretty old but man was I scared after seeing that!

 

[Brew12]

Thank God there was no fire.
It is actually at my place of business and I have that plugged into an apc battery backup on the surge channel. That strip was pretty old but man was I scared after seeing that!

That is always the danger in using a UPS. It prevents any installed AFCI or GFCI breakers from seeing the fault.

 

[Nano man]

So would you recommend this product plugged directly into my outlet?

 

[TheEngineer]

You dodged a big bullet there! I agree with everything that has been said so far. The other thing you've got to always do is use a drip loop. Super simple and keeps water from running down a wire and into an outlet. Here's an example:

Also, if you are going to plug into a UPS you should use a GFCI on the output side of it. You can buy something like this and plug your surge protector into it.

https://www.amazon.com/TRC-90265-6-...UTF8&qid=1481032239&sr=8-3&keywords=gfci+cord

 

[Nano man]

Thanks for all the help reefers

 

[revhtree]

You dodged a big bullet there! I agree with everything that has been said so far. The other thing you've got to always do is use a drip loop. Super simple and keeps water from running down a wire and into an outlet. Here's an example:

Also, if you are going to plug into a UPS you should use a GFCI on the output side of it. You can buy something like this and plug your surge protector into it.

https://www.amazon.com/TRC-90265-6-...UTF8&qid=1481032239&sr=8-3&keywords=gfci+cord

Thanks for this!