Thermal Reckoning, a Fire in the making...

143MPCo

ASSIST PROTECT DEFEND
View Badges
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
6,696
Reaction score
8,294
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
143MPCo submitted a new Article:

Thermal Reckoning, a Fire in the making...

I think we've all seen an alarming number of threads talking about electrical fires. Some the power-cords have caught on fire, others a power-strip was at the heart of the issue, and others the wall outlet shorted and flared up. While some of these seemingly had no major or catastrophic issues, outside of a burned cord or power-strip, others have actually ignited part of the stand. The worse cases have actually caught their home on fire...

Read more about this article here...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Diesel

ME=1, CANCER=0.
View Badges
Joined
Apr 14, 2012
Messages
13,613
Reaction score
16,448
Location
Katy
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Always a scary thought, you can't over do electrical safety.
Watch out for cross wiring as that can be the main cause of most shortages.
 

WilRams

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 12, 2014
Messages
731
Reaction score
307
Location
Owings Mills, MD
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Great article. I have taken my time to do everything I can to prevent as much as possible. Everything is in the room behind the tank. Nothing under the stand. The "fish room" I have added outdoor covered boxes to all the outlets and even light switch. Equipment will be all mounted in a cabinet once I finish my lay out. I will then be adding a fire/carbon detector to that room. Most importantly no clutter! Clean and clear as much as possible.
 
OP
OP
143MPCo

143MPCo

ASSIST PROTECT DEFEND
View Badges
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
6,696
Reaction score
8,294
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Great write up Alex and David! My "electrical cabinet" is one of the best things I have done for the tank in a while.

Excellent write up Alex and all too important. Safety to our family has to take priority. Great job.

Outstanding write up! May I repost this for my local forum?

Great write up..... I am the victim of one such fire.

Thanks everyone!!
@Humblefish only if you think it worthy.:)

Great article. I have taken my time to do everything I can to prevent as much as possible. Everything is in the room behind the tank. Nothing under the stand. The "fish room" I have added outdoor covered boxes to all the outlets and even light switch. Equipment will be all mounted in a cabinet once I finish my lay out. I will then be adding a fire/carbon detector to that room. Most importantly no clutter! Clean and clear as much as possible.

@WilRams very good points you made, clutter can sometimes be detrimental. Unlabeled, untethered, or unorganized more so, just think of the mad rush to remove a piece of equipment that flamed up among the contortion of cords! Not that we need to be obsessed and compulsive about things, but a more organized systems helps in a lot of different ways, including safety.
 

BoneXriffic

GO BLUE!
View Badges
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
1,525
Reaction score
1,192
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
screenshot_121712_213_pm.jpeg
the griswolds taught me how to electric.

Seriously good write up though!
 

Fin

Professional Procrastinator
View Badges
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Messages
7,859
Reaction score
43,913
Location
Lake Charles LA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Great write up! This is one of the goals of my new build. I plan to isolate as much of the electronic gear as I can inside of 1 or 2 small cabinets mounted to the wall behind my tank. My tank sits at an angle in a corner of my living room, so I have a good bit of room behind the tank. I am just hoping the wiring is long enough to reach the cabinet.

I work in insurance claims and once saw a 135 gallon tank that had an electrical fire behind the tank. It set drapes on fire and when the fire got high enough, it shattered the tank and the resulting deluge of water extinguished the fire. Lucky folks there.
 

oneilwiz

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
318
Reaction score
179
Location
Northern Virginia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Great write up! This is one of the goals of my new build. I plan to isolate as much of the electronic gear as I can inside of 1 or 2 small cabinets mounted to the wall behind my tank. My tank sits at an angle in a corner of my living room, so I have a good bit of room behind the tank. I am just hoping the wiring is long enough to reach the cabinet.

I work in insurance claims and once saw a 135 gallon tank that had an electrical fire behind the tank. It set drapes on fire and when the fire got high enough, it shattered the tank and the resulting deluge of water extinguished the fire. Lucky folks there.
I am in the process of rebuilding my tank since I just move for which my power cables will be 6 ft away.
 

4FordFamily

Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
View Badges
Joined
Feb 26, 2015
Messages
20,434
Reaction score
47,523
Location
Carmel, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
2 months after I moved in to a brand new built house back in 2012 my 54 corner tank at the time started a leak in the back I had no idea about. (This is also an apparent lesson on buying used glass, which I don't anymore). Water dripped down the cord in to the power strip, caught on fire all of the chemical boxes and effective "kindling" underneath, and thank God I was home. Stand began to burn, destroyed my carpet and damaged the wall in the area. Minimal repairs, carpet still needs replaced before I sell. Had I not been home who knows what would have happened.

Take this threat very seriously folks.
 
OP
OP
143MPCo

143MPCo

ASSIST PROTECT DEFEND
View Badges
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
6,696
Reaction score
8,294
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Great write up! This is one of the goals of my new build. I plan to isolate as much of the electronic gear as I can inside of 1 or 2 small cabinets mounted to the wall behind my tank. My tank sits at an angle in a corner of my living room, so I have a good bit of room behind the tank. I am just hoping the wiring is long enough to reach the cabinet.

I work in insurance claims and once saw a 135 gallon tank that had an electrical fire behind the tank. It set drapes on fire and when the fire got high enough, it shattered the tank and the resulting deluge of water extinguished the fire. Lucky folks there.

Thanks @Fin!!!

You might already know about these but if not google "weatherproof gaskets for outdoor electrical connections" might help with extending short power cables.
 

garethwood

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
117
Reaction score
160
Location
hastings UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had a big worry of overload, leaks and my small boy turning off plugs! So built a consumer unit into a seperate section of my stand and hardwired ip65 rated switches into the front so no pulling or switching live plugs when doing w/cs.. tbh the most challenging and costly part of my diy but well worth the effort and cost.. afterall you cant put a price on life : )
 

revhtree

Owner Administrator
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
47,603
Reaction score
85,991
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Great write up my friend! Something we all need to know and be reminded of! Sharing!
 
Back
Top