Heater Shorted out

DouglasTiede · 04/05/2009, 03:35 PM

My Marineland heater shorted out a few minutes ago in my hospital tank.
Thank goodness nothing was in the tank at the time except water and an air stone.
Other then trying to find my multi-meter and checking it, how long will any
( if there even is any since the heater was all in one piece, it shorted inside it's glass like it melted itself inside the electronics ) stray voltage pose a risk to me going into the tank to dump the water out. It did not trip the GFIC.

Should I be ok minutes later, or should I wait days??
There is nothing else in the tank, and the heater was immediately unplugged and taken out.

Just want to see what the consensus is on this.

snorvich · 04/05/2009, 05:13 PM

It probably fried itself. If you can unplug it safely, that would be desirable. But there should be no residual electricity in the water after it is unplugged.

thegrun · 04/05/2009, 06:37 PM

Turn off the circuit to the outlet, then unplug it, although if your GFI did not trip chances are there is no danger to you.

ejwasson · 04/05/2009, 08:01 PM

I also had a marineland heater go. Except mine was smoldering all day. It did trip the gfi and flipped the breaker. Unplugged and removed no problem. There was no fall out or cycle but the urchin did die eventually.

Mine was a visi-therm, did you have the same one?

Eric

Playa-1 · 04/06/2009, 12:36 AM

As soon as the electrical devices are unplugged, you are good to go. Especially the shorted heater.

atlantiscoral · 04/06/2009, 02:04 AM

Just be glad it didnt happen while you were in the tank. A couple of years back I was cleaning my tank..... I had just finished up on the cleaning process and was sitting on my steps staring into the tank when all of a sudden hiroshima.... a huge ball of light and flames erupted in the tank, only moments after I had been cleaning it.

The heater had literally exploded, glass went everywhere... what a mess it made. Suprisingly, nothing in the tank was harmed!

I dont use heaters any more

Besides, after switching to metal halides, who needs them?

silverfly · 04/06/2009, 08:30 AM

A few months ago i put my hand in the tank to move a heater and hadnt realised the glass had smashed-lets just say it was slightly more than a tingling sensation. Wont be doing that again!

DouglasTiede · 04/06/2009, 06:10 PM

Technically a tank should not be able to get below room temp if left in the room running. So I really do not need a heater since the room it is in is always 72 or higher. Or am I wrong?

atlantiscoral · 04/06/2009, 08:47 PM

Thats correct

BUT, it is nice to have one just in case of power outage, etc.

Scott

04/05/2009, 03:35 PM	#1
DouglasTiede Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 1,018	Heater Shorted out My Marineland heater shorted out a few minutes ago in my hospital tank. Thank goodness nothing was in the tank at the time except water and an air stone. Other then trying to find my multi-meter and checking it, how long will any ( if there even is any since the heater was all in one piece, it shorted inside it's glass like it melted itself inside the electronics ) stray voltage pose a risk to me going into the tank to dump the water out. It did not trip the GFIC. Should I be ok minutes later, or should I wait days?? There is nothing else in the tank, and the heater was immediately unplugged and taken out. Just want to see what the consensus is on this.

04/05/2009, 05:13 PM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	It probably fried itself. If you can unplug it safely, that would be desirable. But there should be no residual electricity in the water after it is unplugged. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/06/2009, 08:30 AM	#7
silverfly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: england Posts: 579	A few months ago i put my hand in the tank to move a heater and hadnt realised the glass had smashed-lets just say it was slightly more than a tingling sensation. Wont be doing that again! __________________ Take care, Richie Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

04/05/2009, 06:37 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Turn off the circuit to the outlet, then unplug it, although if your GFI did not trip chances are there is no danger to you.

04/05/2009, 08:01 PM	#4
ejwasson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 44	I also had a marineland heater go. Except mine was smoldering all day. It did trip the gfi and flipped the breaker. Unplugged and removed no problem. There was no fall out or cycle but the urchin did die eventually. Mine was a visi-therm, did you have the same one? Eric

04/06/2009, 12:36 AM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	As soon as the electrical devices are unplugged, you are good to go. Especially the shorted heater.

04/06/2009, 02:04 AM	#6
atlantiscoral Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florence, KY Posts: 59	Just be glad it didnt happen while you were in the tank. A couple of years back I was cleaning my tank..... I had just finished up on the cleaning process and was sitting on my steps staring into the tank when all of a sudden hiroshima.... a huge ball of light and flames erupted in the tank, only moments after I had been cleaning it. The heater had literally exploded, glass went everywhere... what a mess it made. Suprisingly, nothing in the tank was harmed! I dont use heaters any more Besides, after switching to metal halides, who needs them?

04/06/2009, 06:10 PM	#8
DouglasTiede Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 1,018	Technically a tank should not be able to get below room temp if left in the room running. So I really do not need a heater since the room it is in is always 72 or higher. Or am I wrong?

04/06/2009, 08:47 PM	#9
atlantiscoral Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florence, KY Posts: 59	Thats correct BUT, it is nice to have one just in case of power outage, etc. Scott