TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 We lost power this afternoon in the windstorm while out at the movies. Reeftronics texted me, UPS kept the powerheads running, that part was great. Came into the house to an electrical fire smell. Eventually found the source. The fuge lights extension cord lit on fire right in front of me, orange flames and all. Panic... Followed by recovery... Followed by prevention. The reason for this thread. The plug is completely dry, in a safe place. It did not get water on it during the outtage. It is on a GFCI outlet, it's own dedicated one with no other GFCIs up stream. It is not overloaded, just two 24 watt leds on it. Not even in the ballpark of overloaded. Calling electricians! How did this plug have enough resistance to heat up enough to burn? I am guessing internal corrosion from salty air inside the receptacle? Would an AFCI have prevented this? I need to make some changes, no hobby is worth burning down the house. Please share your experiences and advice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoringDave Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Back in the day maybe 20 years ago? I had a 6 outlet power strip catch on fire. Full blown fire! The curtains were completely on fire all the way to the ceiling. I was in bed at 3am when it happen. My wife awoke me to ask what's that crackle noise? I knew that noise right away. She called 911 while I ran in to attempt to put it out. I ripped the glass tops and lights off the tank and used the water in the tank and a pot to put the fire out. Long story short. I no long put power strips inside stands or behind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Back in the day maybe 20 years ago? I had a 6 outlet power strip catch on fire. Full blown fire! The curtains were completely on fire all the way to the ceiling. I was in bed at 3am when it happen. My wife awoke me to ask what's that crackle noise? I knew that noise right away. She called 911 while I ran in to attempt to put it out. I ripped the glass tops and lights off the tank and used the water in the tank and a pot to put the fire out. Long story short. I no long put power strips inside stands or behind. Yikes! Me neither, this extension cord was connected outside my stand. Under the stand is plain scary with the corrosive nature of salt. I do sadly have a few under there though, not every cord is long enough to reach outside the stand on a 4' cube tank or heck any tank for that matter. I just verified, this circuit was on an AFCI circuit. I used the test button on the breaker, it works. So the GFCI did not trip (expected) and the AFCI did not trip (unexpected). The fact it did not trip is scary stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoringDave Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I've never used dielectric grease on AC connections before wonder if it would help? I use that stuff on every fuse,plug or crimp connector at work but it's DC stuff on heavy equipment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 You have had your share of near disasters. Glad it all turned out well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Electricity is a funny thing.....The joke around our shop is oh the magic smoke came out......not a good thing. I have held electric tools in my hand and had smoke come out for a good minute or two and not trip the GFI or the breaker..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I've never used dielectric grease on AC connections before wonder if it would help? I use that stuff on every fuse,plug or crimp connector at work but it's DC stuff on heavy equipment. That is a great idea, I do wonder too. Going to cut the extension cord apart and see what the deal is, or if I can tell. Guess is a short caused by salty humidity, just a guess though until we get into it. You have had your share of near disasters. Glad it all turned out well. No kidding, its getting embarassing ugh! Just call me lucky Electricity is a funny thing.....The joke around our shop is oh the magic smoke came out......not a good thing. I have held electric tools in my hand and had smoke come out for a good minute or two and not trip the GFI or the breaker..... Thats gotta be 'exciting' lol. What kind of shop do you work in? The GFCI not tripping was expected, shocking (hahah) that the AFCI did not but I am not an electrician by any means... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Dang man, that's too close of a call...good thing the situation ended like it did and not much worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I own a metal shop...... Have built many a aquarium stand over the years....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afautheree Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Lucky, so glad the disaster was avoided. Thanks for sharing it with us though as it serves as a great reminder not to overlook important safety details. Your story will cause me to look at my setup through more careful eyes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Dang man, that's too close of a call...good thing the situation ended like it did and not much worse. Thanks, and so true man. It seems like that is my story lately. Could have been worse! It is discouraging though as I do try really hard to do things right. Ah well, live and learn. And in my case, post it on the forums and live with the embarrassment in the hope it will help someone out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I own a metal shop...... Have built many a aquarium stand over the years....... Ah yes, thanks for the reminder, I knew that just a few weeks ago and forgot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltwater newbie Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 If the gauge of wire is to small sometimes the wire will burn before it trips the gfi bigger gauge cords are definitely better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoringDave Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I was also going to ask about the wattage that extension cord was supplying? It's not a grounded cord so it can't be much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Wow!! As if I wasn't paranoid enough about these things already. I'd still consider myself lucky if I was able to put out a fire immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I was also going to ask about the wattage that extension cord was supplying? It's not a grounded cord so it can't be much. Less than 50 watts, two LEDs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Just tested wattage. Each bulb was tested in the garage with a killawatt.Less than 31 watts combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 MORE INTERESTING I took the kill-a-watt upstairs to test the fixtures housing the lamps to test if they had any short. One of the fixtures, with no bulbs is drawing 0.9 watts. The other fixture is drawing the expected 0.0 watts. Surely this is a short of some kind in the reflector, and perhaps with some wiggling or jiggling it could be a bigger short. More research to do but this is promising Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Jeremy, were you using a GFCI? I had a similar situation with my first reef tank in 1986. Salt spray had accumulated on an extension cord that was behind the tank. It caught the wooden stand on fire, and melted part of the sump. I have used a GFCI ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Jeremy, were you using a GFCI? I had a similar situation with my first reef tank in 1986. Salt spray had accumulated on an extension cord that was behind the tank. It caught the wooden stand on fire, and melted part of the sump. I have used a GFCI ever since. Yikes!! Guessing you were home? Running 16 gfcis, one per apex outlet including this one. Also have an afci in the breaker for the circuit Neither tripped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Learning more here. My AFCIs breakers were installed in 2007. They are standard AFCIs. There is a newer type of AFCI called CAFCI. Combination AFCI In addition to the protection provided by the Branch Feeder AFCI, the Combination AFCI provides for series arc detection down to 5 amperes. This series arc detection is beneficial to detect lower level arcing in both branch circuits and power supply cords. Combination AFCI protection is required by the NEC® as of January 1, 2008. Just a guess, but I am betting that a CFCI would have tripped the breaker and prevented the fire. Project in the works to get those 2007 AFCIs swapped out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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