Stray Voltage
- Thread starter maryg
- Start date
fishslime
New Member
I have seen them sold in aquarium catalogs,
check any wires, pumps and others for frays/cracks, or maybe a cracked heater hear about that alot. you could unplug one thing at a time till you stop getting shocked/voltage(may want to get a buddy to be the shockie?) that would pinpoint what is is coming from
with that being said if you take one of the meters that tell you if a wire is hot/current flowing (electrian thing i dont know much about) and hold it to the glass of a fish tank they almost always go off? not sure why? maybe something to the grounding prob thing
check any wires, pumps and others for frays/cracks, or maybe a cracked heater hear about that alot. you could unplug one thing at a time till you stop getting shocked/voltage(may want to get a buddy to be the shockie?) that would pinpoint what is is coming from
with that being said if you take one of the meters that tell you if a wire is hot/current flowing (electrian thing i dont know much about) and hold it to the glass of a fish tank they almost always go off? not sure why? maybe something to the grounding prob thing
scsinet
Active Member
You do not have stray voltage. You have a ground fault. This is a dangerous situation that must be fixed.
Using a grounding probe when you are getting a shock from the tank is only going to make things worse. It's attacking the symptom and not the cause.
First and foremost, all of your tank's equipment should be fed through a GFI. A GFI would likely have tripped the moment you touched the water if not beforehand. It's a critical safety device.
Using a grounding probe without one can make a dangerous situation even more dangerous.
The suggestion of unplugging one piece of equipment at a time until the problem goes away is certainly one way to approach it. You must find the problem, not just hide it with a probe. Of course you need to "get shocked" to do the test, and not getting shocked doesn't necessarily mean you fixed it either.
What I'd do is get a GFI unit and plug your tank's equipment into it. You can get units that simply plug into the wall receptacle, then plug your tank into it. Or, you can replace the wall receptacle with a GFI variety you no doubt see in your kitchen and bathroom. If you aren't electrically inclined, the plug in variety is what I'd use.
Then put a grounding probe in the water. Home Depot doesn't sell them, but most dedicated fish stores do. The GFI will likely trip instantly when you hook it up.
Then simply unplug one of your pieces of equipment, and reset the GFI. If it trips, try something else. Once the GFI holds, you found your defective piece of equipment. Replace it and you should be good.
Using a grounding probe when you are getting a shock from the tank is only going to make things worse. It's attacking the symptom and not the cause.
First and foremost, all of your tank's equipment should be fed through a GFI. A GFI would likely have tripped the moment you touched the water if not beforehand. It's a critical safety device.
Using a grounding probe without one can make a dangerous situation even more dangerous.
The suggestion of unplugging one piece of equipment at a time until the problem goes away is certainly one way to approach it. You must find the problem, not just hide it with a probe. Of course you need to "get shocked" to do the test, and not getting shocked doesn't necessarily mean you fixed it either.
What I'd do is get a GFI unit and plug your tank's equipment into it. You can get units that simply plug into the wall receptacle, then plug your tank into it. Or, you can replace the wall receptacle with a GFI variety you no doubt see in your kitchen and bathroom. If you aren't electrically inclined, the plug in variety is what I'd use.
Then put a grounding probe in the water. Home Depot doesn't sell them, but most dedicated fish stores do. The GFI will likely trip instantly when you hook it up.
Then simply unplug one of your pieces of equipment, and reset the GFI. If it trips, try something else. Once the GFI holds, you found your defective piece of equipment. Replace it and you should be good.
maryg
Member
The GFI was the first thing I had my husband installed before I got the tank set up. It is working and I tested it today. I will have my husband get me his voltage meter and check it out.
It may be just me. I can't open up the doors in the freezer section in the grocery store without getting shocked. It even happens when I try to open my car door. I have a shocking personality I guess. Lol..
It may be just me. I can't open up the doors in the freezer section in the grocery store without getting shocked. It even happens when I try to open my car door. I have a shocking personality I guess. Lol..
mightytexn
Member
A little pop is probably just static electricity
scsinet
Active Member
Originally Posted by mightytexn
http:///forum/post/2952443
A little pop is probably just static electricity
Agreed.
No action should be necessary.
http:///forum/post/2952443
A little pop is probably just static electricity
Agreed.
No action should be necessary.
maryg
Member
Originally Posted by mightytexn
http:///forum/post/2952443
A little pop is probably just static electricity
Well that makes me feel better (for my fish anyway) but I still can't grab any door handles and stuff because I always have static electricity. Shocking!
http:///forum/post/2952443
A little pop is probably just static electricity
Well that makes me feel better (for my fish anyway) but I still can't grab any door handles and stuff because I always have static electricity. Shocking!
mightytexn
Member
Originally Posted by MaryG
http:///forum/post/2952801
Well that makes me feel better (for my fish anyway) but I still can't grab any door handles and stuff because I always have static electricity. Shocking!
I think you need to stop dragging your feet on carpet floors while wearing footie pajamas
http:///forum/post/2952801
Well that makes me feel better (for my fish anyway) but I still can't grab any door handles and stuff because I always have static electricity. Shocking!
I think you need to stop dragging your feet on carpet floors while wearing footie pajamas