Stray voltage & Grounding rod?

bassking16 · 02/08/2010, 11:41 PM

Hi all,
Just a couple quick questions here concerning stary volts in a tank. I read something in another thread that had me second guessing my methods, so I just wanted to get some opinions.

1. Using a Volt Meeter (Multimeter), what is the bast way to check for stray volts?

I ask because I just simply flipped the meter to millivolts, and put both probes in the water. It read zero. However, I read that the ground lead should be placed in an electrical socket ground, the pos lead should be placed in the tank, and the meter should be set to volts A/C. Is this correct?

2. How exactly are these titanium grounding rods, that I see for sale, installed in an aquarium? Do you submerge the whole rod in your DT, or sump, or what? Also, where is the best place to hook the grounding lead to?

Thank You
Bassking

old salty · 02/09/2010, 08:21 AM

Most people over think the whole "stray voltage" in a tank. Stick a powerhead in a bath of salt water and plug it in; put the red lead in the water and the black lead into the ground of the outlet. You will read A/C voltage; it's made by the induction of spinning a magnet inside a coil.

Leakage current is what to check in order to see if any piece of equipment is faulty. The equipment needed to test leakage current is usually outside the price range of most hobbyists.

http://us.fluke.com/busen/Products/1...ukeProducts%29

A grounding probe is put inside the display and plugged into an outlet. There is only one wire which is connected from the probe to the ground on the plug. This will ground any leakage current (meaning current is now free to flow) from the display. Whether or not you want a constant electrical current flowing inside your display is up to you.

Shane Hoffman · 02/09/2010, 08:34 AM

Yes sir what you read is correct. Old salt is also correct, what he mentioned is the best way to test the stray voltage of a single piece of equipment. I am a bit lazier. I plug it into the ground socket in the wall and the red lead in the tank like you mentioned. I then read a total voltage and start unplugging equipment until I see a voltage drop.

02/08/2010, 11:41 PM	#1
bassking16 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 336	Stray voltage & Grounding rod? Hi all, Just a couple quick questions here concerning stary volts in a tank. I read something in another thread that had me second guessing my methods, so I just wanted to get some opinions. 1. Using a Volt Meeter (Multimeter), what is the bast way to check for stray volts? I ask because I just simply flipped the meter to millivolts, and put both probes in the water. It read zero. However, I read that the ground lead should be placed in an electrical socket ground, the pos lead should be placed in the tank, and the meter should be set to volts A/C. Is this correct? 2. How exactly are these titanium grounding rods, that I see for sale, installed in an aquarium? Do you submerge the whole rod in your DT, or sump, or what? Also, where is the best place to hook the grounding lead to? Thank You Bassking __________________ If you don't want to stand behind our troops, then feel free to stand in front of them! Current Tank Info: 150g SPS 55g Sump/Fuge/Frag Tank

02/09/2010, 08:21 AM	#2
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Most people over think the whole "stray voltage" in a tank. Stick a powerhead in a bath of salt water and plug it in; put the red lead in the water and the black lead into the ground of the outlet. You will read A/C voltage; it's made by the induction of spinning a magnet inside a coil. Leakage current is what to check in order to see if any piece of equipment is faulty. The equipment needed to test leakage current is usually outside the price range of most hobbyists. http://us.fluke.com/busen/Products/1...ukeProducts%29 A grounding probe is put inside the display and plugged into an outlet. There is only one wire which is connected from the probe to the ground on the plug. This will ground any leakage current (meaning current is now free to flow) from the display. Whether or not you want a constant electrical current flowing inside your display is up to you. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

02/09/2010, 08:34 AM	#3
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	Yes sir what you read is correct. Old salt is also correct, what he mentioned is the best way to test the stray voltage of a single piece of equipment. I am a bit lazier. I plug it into the ground socket in the wall and the red lead in the tank like you mentioned. I then read a total voltage and start unplugging equipment until I see a voltage drop. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef