[Aegis]

So I came home today to the smell of burnt electronics and my back door propped open. Apparently, a surge protector decided not to trip and neither did the main fuse, either. As you can see, this thing just melted and singed the carpet below. I'm REALLY lucky the whole thing didn't go up in smoke.

So that brings me to the question of WHY? I'm no electrician and the maintenance guy in my building seems to think that I am over the amps for that fuse (15A) which is why it didn't trip and instead blew out the strip (which again, SAYS surge protector and is rated at 15A). But 15 amps on a 110 volt line should be able to handle over 1650 watts, yes? I'm at maybe 600 watts total.

My only thoughts are that something must have gotten wet -- perhaps I overfilled the sump and it overflowed overnight when the return shuts off for the night. But the carpet was dry, it happened at 5 PM and that strip had been running all day at that point. So where would mystery water have come from? Further, if it HAD gotten wet, shouldn't the strip have shorted and blown a fuse??

Again, I'm no electrician, but this doesn't seem to add up and I almost burned down a building because of it...

 

[02redZ28]

I've had plugs short out on me. They melt. I've also had T5 end caps short out and melt on me too.

I switched to all metal surge protectors and put them on the wall.

Never keep any electronic stuff on the floor around the tank where its possible it can get wet.

 

[jahorgos]

This is why you should use GFCI outlets. Glad to hear you caught it in time and everybody is ok.

 

[vittleking]

wow, thats scary stuff. Your very lucky, could have been sooo much worse.

 

[slapshot]

Those "surge protectors" are worth about as much as the light bulb inside of them. Circuit breakers are not full proof either but better than the "Surge protectors". A circuit breaker can fail and arch awhile before it heats up enough to trip. All it takes is a second to start the fire after the fire is going the circuit can cut out. Rest easy use a GFI.

 

[kimber45]

But 15 amps on a 110 volt line should be able to handle over 1650 watts, yes?

15amp x 120v = 1800 watts

Those "surge protectors" are worth about as much as the light bulb inside of them. Circuit breakers are not full proof either but better than the "Surge protectors". A circuit breaker can fail and arch awhile before it heats up enough to trip. All it takes is a second to start the fire after the fire is going the circuit can cut out. Rest easy use a GFI.

the cheapo china ones yes but a decent surge protector does offer some protection.

nothings perfect but i wouldn't expect much out of a 8 dollar power strip.

 

[redroc87]

I must advise against even the GFI. They will even let off enough sparks to start a fire before tripping. The best way to go is an AFI. do a little research on both GFI and AFI you may be surprised.

 

[schwim]

Afi

I had the exact same thing happen several year back and the outlet wasn't wet at all. It was due to salt creep build up. Luckily I was there when it happened and was able to put out the fire (in an apartment building:2911. I'm in the process of having Arc Fault Interupter (AFI) breakers put in my house now for the reef for this very reason.

 

[stunreefer]

Man, glad everything came out OK in the end!

...overnight when the return shuts off for the night.

Why do you turn off your return at night?