DO NOT plug any aquarium equipment into a regular household outlet.
Equipment such as heaters, filters, lighting (etc) should
ALWAYS be plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.
What is GFCI? GFCI stands for
Ground
Fault
Circuit
Interrupter.
The purpose of a GFCI device is to detect leakage of electrical current to prevent electrical shock.
Electrical shock from a regular household outlet
can be fatal. A GFCI device may save your life.
GFCI devices come in three forms. All three are available at your local hardware store.
1. An outlet with built in GFCI.
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Notice the test and reset buttons on the outlet. Non-GFCI outlets are missing the buttons. A standard outlet can usually be replaced with a GFCI outlet. This can be a DIY project if you are comfortable changing out electrical outlets or a quick job for an electrician. These outlets are not very expensive and can save your life. $12-$20 US dollars for one of these outlets.
2. A circuit breaker with built in GFCI.
- gfci_circuit_breaker.png (86.82 KiB) Viewed 47343 times
This is the most expensive of the three options, but the GFCI circuit breaker will protect all outlets that are in a serial chain coming off this breaker. This device replaces a standard circuit breaker in an electrical panel and should only be installed by a qualified electrician. $30-$45 US dollars for one of these breakers + plus the cost of your electrician's services.
3. A plug in GFCI Adapter
- gfci adapter.jpg (11.81 KiB) Viewed 47343 times
These adapters plug into a standard outlet and offer GFCI protection. They are available as single outlets, multiple outlets, or sometimes integrated into a power strip. They ALWAYS include a ground prong. Never use a ground prong bypass adapter with one of these devices. GFCI adapters are a very simple DIY install as they just plug into a regular outlet. Prices range in US dollars from $10 for a single outlet to $50+ dollars for contractor grade outdoor GFCI power strips.
Please consider one of these three options if you are not currently using a GFCI protected outlet. Consult a local qualified electrician if you need assistance. Every area has different electrical code standards. A local qualified electrician will be able to assist you.