Titanium Grounding Probes

plankton · 12/31/2009, 02:27 AM

How many people run Titanium Grounding Probes to eliminate 'Stray voltage in the aquarium'. Normally, it is a piece of titanium connected to the ground plug of your 110VAC outlet via a stainless steel wire.

Some feel it is a waste of money, and masks a bad or failing 110VAC pump that needs to be replaced, while others believe they provide a service in removing minute electrical currents caused by running internal pumps in the aquarium...

There are several good writeups on the subject of:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aqu...rayvoltage.htm

What do you think?

Scott

phobos2deimos · 12/31/2009, 02:56 AM

From what I read in Stu Gray's lengthy thread, there is absolutely no reason not to use one as long as you have everything hooked up to a GFCI for additional protection. I just got my probe and my GFCIs in the mail this week after finding a faulty heater.

plankton · 12/31/2009, 01:15 PM

After finding then reading Stu Gray's thread I think I've gleamed the following points:

1) Probe and NO gfi = no shock when hands are in tank ( BUT inhabitants being shocked the entire time )

2) Probe + GFI = gfi trips BEFORE hand in tank (assuming there is a fault)

Critical components like main return pump should be on its own GFI or not at all lest you loose your main pump because of another component failure.

OK. How many are running GFI (GFCI) with grounding probes besides phobos2deimos and myself after I buy a set?

Thanks phobos2deimos

Scott

Financial Panth · 12/31/2009, 01:49 PM

Im running a grounding probe will all equipment hooked to a gfci.

Spssteven · 12/31/2009, 01:54 PM

I use a ground probe as well

plankton · 12/31/2009, 02:22 PM

Financial Panth - do you mean all your equipment is hooked to the same GFCI? I ask because if your main pump is connected to the same circuit and let's say a power head or heater pops then your main pump will shutdown as well until GFCI is reset...

Scott

plankton · 12/31/2009, 02:50 PM

This is really odd. I starting looking into Grounding Probe/GFCI because I just happen to have a small cut on one finger and when I reached into my tank I felt a very definite tingle (like small shock) and not a chemical burn sensation.

I measured the AC voltage potential between tank water and earth ground and it was only 0.3 VAC. However, when I unplugged the pumps one by one the source of the small voltage leak was definitely the two Maxi-jet 606 pumps I use to drive skimmer and GFO reactors.

I don't know if the 0.3VAC reading is accurate or if that is enough to 'feel' but I certainly did. If I turn off the pumps the tingling sorta goes away but not a very scientific measurement.

So, now I'm looking to replace the power heads by using the overflow and return flows. Also thinking about putting the skimmer and other remaining powerheads on a GFCI just because the windings could in theory come in contact with saltwater...

Who would think the maxi-jets were electrically 'leaky'?

Scott

reefergeorge · 12/31/2009, 03:03 PM

Here we go. haha
I have 33 volts with the lights on. No worries here.

Plankton- Are you using a GP? My lights add more than .3v, and they don't even touch the water.

plankton · 12/31/2009, 03:12 PM

reefergeorge - I'm not using a 'Grounding Probe' now. When you say you measure 33VAC now do you mean you have a floating ground in your house or do you actually measure 33VAC from tank water to earth ground? If the latter, that is a little scary...

Scott

reefergeorge · 12/31/2009, 03:21 PM

I have 33 volts from my tank to ground.
I have a pretty good understanding of electricity, and it's induced voltage. Every electrical device in our tanks will put out a little stray voltage. If you measure 90 plus volts then you have problems.

preef · 12/31/2009, 03:35 PM

I use a grounding probe and a GFI for my own safety. IMO the water is going to be more conductive than the fish itself so any current will go right around them anyway.

I had a Stealth Heater that would give me a small shock when my hand was in the tank and my arm touched the light fixture. It wasn't enough to trip the GFI but I definitely felt it. The solution was to replace the Stealth heater and add a grounding probe to provide a better current path out of the tank and help trip the GFI if it happens again.

Paul B · 12/31/2009, 03:55 PM

Been using a grounding probe for 0ver 40 years and a GFI since they were invented.
I would not stick my hand in a tank that did not have a probe. I use a stainless steel radio antenna as a probe but I have used a fork at times. It doesen't matter, as long as it's connected to a ground.
(electrician 40 years)

phobos2deimos · 12/31/2009, 05:14 PM

Addtionally, I spread my tank amongst several GFCIs.
1/2 PH and heaters on one GFCI
other half of PH/heaters on another that is on a different circuit
Lights on another GFCI.

I was getting the same sort of tingle on cuts on my hands as well. Made me nervous.

12/31/2009, 02:27 AM	#1
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	Titanium Grounding Probes How many people run Titanium Grounding Probes to eliminate 'Stray voltage in the aquarium'. Normally, it is a piece of titanium connected to the ground plug of your 110VAC outlet via a stainless steel wire. Some feel it is a waste of money, and masks a bad or failing 110VAC pump that needs to be replaced, while others believe they provide a service in removing minute electrical currents caused by running internal pumps in the aquarium... There are several good writeups on the subject of: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aqu...rayvoltage.htm What do you think? Scott Last edited by plankton; 12/31/2009 at 02:33 AM.

12/31/2009, 03:35 PM	#11
preef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 809	I use a grounding probe and a GFI for my own safety. IMO the water is going to be more conductive than the fish itself so any current will go right around them anyway. I had a Stealth Heater that would give me a small shock when my hand was in the tank and my arm touched the light fixture. It wasn't enough to trip the GFI but I definitely felt it. The solution was to replace the Stealth heater and add a grounding probe to provide a better current path out of the tank and help trip the GFI if it happens again. __________________ 72 gal bowfront mixed reef. Tank born 10/14/2007

12/31/2009, 03:55 PM	#12
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Been using a grounding probe for 0ver 40 years and a GFI since they were invented. I would not stick my hand in a tank that did not have a probe. I use a stainless steel radio antenna as a probe but I have used a fork at times. It doesen't matter, as long as it's connected to a ground. (electrician 40 years) __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

12/31/2009, 02:56 AM	#2
phobos2deimos Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 351	From what I read in Stu Gray's lengthy thread, there is absolutely no reason not to use one as long as you have everything hooked up to a GFCI for additional protection. I just got my probe and my GFCIs in the mail this week after finding a faulty heater.

12/31/2009, 01:15 PM	#3
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	After finding then reading Stu Gray's thread I think I've gleamed the following points: 1) Probe and NO gfi = no shock when hands are in tank ( BUT inhabitants being shocked the entire time ) 2) Probe + GFI = gfi trips BEFORE hand in tank (assuming there is a fault) Critical components like main return pump should be on its own GFI or not at all lest you loose your main pump because of another component failure. OK. How many are running GFI (GFCI) with grounding probes besides phobos2deimos and myself after I buy a set? Thanks phobos2deimos Scott

12/31/2009, 01:49 PM	#4
Financial Panth Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NW burbs of Chicago Posts: 209	Im running a grounding probe will all equipment hooked to a gfci.

12/31/2009, 01:54 PM	#5
Spssteven SCRK member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Huntington beach ca Posts: 3,071	I use a ground probe as well

12/31/2009, 02:22 PM	#6
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	Financial Panth - do you mean all your equipment is hooked to the same GFCI? I ask because if your main pump is connected to the same circuit and let's say a power head or heater pops then your main pump will shutdown as well until GFCI is reset... Scott

12/31/2009, 02:50 PM	#7
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	This is really odd. I starting looking into Grounding Probe/GFCI because I just happen to have a small cut on one finger and when I reached into my tank I felt a very definite tingle (like small shock) and not a chemical burn sensation. I measured the AC voltage potential between tank water and earth ground and it was only 0.3 VAC. However, when I unplugged the pumps one by one the source of the small voltage leak was definitely the two Maxi-jet 606 pumps I use to drive skimmer and GFO reactors. I don't know if the 0.3VAC reading is accurate or if that is enough to 'feel' but I certainly did. If I turn off the pumps the tingling sorta goes away but not a very scientific measurement. So, now I'm looking to replace the power heads by using the overflow and return flows. Also thinking about putting the skimmer and other remaining powerheads on a GFCI just because the windings could in theory come in contact with saltwater... Who would think the maxi-jets were electrically 'leaky'? Scott

12/31/2009, 03:03 PM	#8
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Here we go. haha I have 33 volts with the lights on. No worries here. Plankton- Are you using a GP? My lights add more than .3v, and they don't even touch the water.

12/31/2009, 03:12 PM	#9
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	reefergeorge - I'm not using a 'Grounding Probe' now. When you say you measure 33VAC now do you mean you have a floating ground in your house or do you actually measure 33VAC from tank water to earth ground? If the latter, that is a little scary... Scott

12/31/2009, 03:21 PM	#10
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I have 33 volts from my tank to ground. I have a pretty good understanding of electricity, and it's induced voltage. Every electrical device in our tanks will put out a little stray voltage. If you measure 90 plus volts then you have problems.

12/31/2009, 05:14 PM	#13
phobos2deimos Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 351	Addtionally, I spread my tank amongst several GFCIs. 1/2 PH and heaters on one GFCI other half of PH/heaters on another that is on a different circuit Lights on another GFCI. I was getting the same sort of tingle on cuts on my hands as well. Made me nervous.