mag 9.5 not grounded

[dadummy]

hello there,
was just doing a water change, had one end of syphon tubing in sump and one end in a bucket of water. Turned on the power strip, and felt a little tingle. narrowed it down to the return pump, danner mag 9.5, think maybe the pump is not grounded properly?
If i turn the mag pump on it will light a tester, turn the mag 9.5 off and the light goes out.
I have tried switching the receptacles on the light strip and still lights the tester
any help would be appreciated
thanks for your time

 

[dadummy]

well, I removed the return pump from the sump and bench tested it. If the pump is running and a test meter is placed on the housing, the test meter will light up. something inside the pump is fishy.
pump is 5 months old, hopefully warranty will cover this.

 

[nytrillium]

yeah, thats not good. It sounds like either a manufacturing defect or a leaky seal somewhere that let water into the housing.... Good thing you caught it...

 

[dadummy]

well, this led to even more research, have 3 ballasts, 2 VHO and 1 NO. when the VHO's were on a little electricity was going through the tank and when the NO ballast was on alone, no juice.
the VHO ballasts have a grounding wire coming out of the transformer along with a hot and neutral.
the NO ballast does not have the ground wire, so when I wired the ballasts, I grounded the NO ballast by placing a wire between the mounting screw and the metal of the ballast.
SO, 2 pieces of wire and two screws, fixed it up, grounded the VHO ballasts the same way and no more stray voltage.
as for the pump, it has to go back to danner, was looking for an inexpensive pump locally, no such thing! took the little giant out of the pond in the yard, only rated for 240 g.p.h. - 1' head, hopefully will be enough to help keep things moving to the skimmer until get new pump

 

[nytrillium]

ya, good idea checking everything else, I always ground everything humanly possible.... People look at me funny because i refuse to run my audio equipment on an ungrounded power cord or by using an extension cord that has the ground broken off. Call me crazy but i'd like to keep my $400 mixer, $300 amp, and $600 a piece speakers intact and functional....

BTW, how exactly did you test it, Voltmeter from the water to the ground in the wall?

 

[dadummy]

just used a cheapo voltage and continuity tester. one that looks like a fancy screwdriver, stuck the end in the water and the diode lit up. at first i was testing it with my hand, pretty shocking!!
the ballasts were not enough to feel, only light the tester, but the pump. zaaaaaaaaaappppppppppppp!!!!!
prob. be a good idea to borrow a meter and test again, ground to the ground in the receptacle,
betcha the tank inhabitants are glad the shock therapy is over
when i see cords with the grounds broken off I cut the end off. or if the insulation is cut.
see it all the time in the construction world, people run 600 feet of cord , through puddles , out a window to use for a rope, then split the cord to run ten power tools and blow the breaker. and badmouth the electricians because they don't have power.
your not crazy for taking good care of your equiptment, cords are cheap

 

[nytrillium]

i know the deal... i did construction last summer and we worked in the rain a few days... i refused to work on the foundation/main floor because there were about 5 cords lying in standing water, a compressor, skil saws, table saw, and miter saw all in the rain.... and yes, they were all on one breaker that woudl constantly trip.... it finally got to the point that all the cords were wet and the breaker wouldnt stay set.....

oh and the classic "quick fix" for a clipped power tool cord... Wire nuts and electrical tape.!!! :scared: Rather tahn taking the 10 min. to open up the tool and rewire it internally or even to put a new plug on the end.... but oh well.
Thanks for the info on the mag pump, ill have to check mine (ive got the same one). Luckily im not using it internally but im sure it can still give off stray voltage to the tank.

 

[dadummy]

hope all is well with yours.