Voltage

DAKOOP · 04/08/2008, 08:02 PM

I reached into my sump yesterday and got a small zap. I was barefoot on a concrete floor and could only feel it in the one finger that had a cut. I started looking into stray voltage and grounding probes and can't find the answer. Tried checking everything by unplugging, and almost everything supplied some "shock". Found a website that said to check voltage with a meter, so I went out and bought a volt meter only to read it doesn't really measure voltage.
Some say use of a ground probe was the best thing they did. Others say it is one of the worst things to do?

Are there any "real" answers out there???

Entropy · 04/08/2008, 08:14 PM

GFIC to start. If you don't have one, get one. Second I would add a ground probe. You want something in the tank that will accept voltage more easily than you. It is not that uncommon to have a little voltage in the tank. Lastly don't work on your tank barefooted.

DAKOOP · 04/08/2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Lastly don't work on your tank barefooted.

Do socks count??

All the outlets are GFIC.
So you say leave the ground probe in and wear shoes? My fish don't have shoes, will they be ok?
What about the people that say ground probes are dangerous?

Entropy · 04/08/2008, 08:40 PM

My opinion (worth what you paid for it) is that you want a path of least resistance in the tank for electricity to follow and preferrably not your body. A lot of people say that a ground probe allows electricity to flow through the tank which could harm the fish and to be honest I am not sure if there is any truth to that or not, but if I am being 100% honest, I care about my life a whole bunch more than what is in my tank. I may not win any humanitarian awards with that statement, but I would rather be alive.

Seriously though about the shoes. As long as you don't provide a path to ground (bare feet on concrete with hand in the tank, hand in the tank while touching ground fixtures or items, etc.) you are a lot safer regardless of what else you have in the tank to protect you. Electricity is lazy and will not shock you if it has an easier path. I have a bad pump in my old tank and never new it until I one day touched my grounded halide reflector while my hand was in the tank. Got a pretty good jolt and removed the issue a few minutes later. I also started using a grounding probe after than and have never been shocked since.

04/08/2008, 08:02 PM	#1
DAKOOP Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Charles Posts: 310	Voltage I reached into my sump yesterday and got a small zap. I was barefoot on a concrete floor and could only feel it in the one finger that had a cut. I started looking into stray voltage and grounding probes and can't find the answer. Tried checking everything by unplugging, and almost everything supplied some "shock". Found a website that said to check voltage with a meter, so I went out and bought a volt meter only to read it doesn't really measure voltage. Some say use of a ground probe was the best thing they did. Others say it is one of the worst things to do? Are there any "real" answers out there???

04/08/2008, 08:14 PM	#2
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	GFIC to start. If you don't have one, get one. Second I would add a ground probe. You want something in the tank that will accept voltage more easily than you. It is not that uncommon to have a little voltage in the tank. Lastly don't work on your tank barefooted. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

04/08/2008, 08:40 PM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	My opinion (worth what you paid for it) is that you want a path of least resistance in the tank for electricity to follow and preferrably not your body. A lot of people say that a ground probe allows electricity to flow through the tank which could harm the fish and to be honest I am not sure if there is any truth to that or not, but if I am being 100% honest, I care about my life a whole bunch more than what is in my tank. I may not win any humanitarian awards with that statement, but I would rather be alive. Seriously though about the shoes. As long as you don't provide a path to ground (bare feet on concrete with hand in the tank, hand in the tank while touching ground fixtures or items, etc.) you are a lot safer regardless of what else you have in the tank to protect you. Electricity is lazy and will not shock you if it has an easier path. I have a bad pump in my old tank and never new it until I one day touched my grounded halide reflector while my hand was in the tank. Got a pretty good jolt and removed the issue a few minutes later. I also started using a grounding probe after than and have never been shocked since. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g