Shocking Heater

ellinas · 02/28/2009, 12:11 PM

I picked up a brand new Rena Smart Heater 300W from my LFS about a month ago and I just realized that it has been sending electrical current through my tank. I noticed it a number of times before but it was only yesterday that I deduced that it was my heater. Has anyone else ever experienced this problem with this product? None of my livestock was harmed but whenever it was on and I put my hand in my tank it was like sticking my had in a socket! Needless to say my wife went nuts when I told her!

Patriot54 · 02/28/2009, 12:41 PM

This is a dumb question but, Does it hurt when you stick your hand in there?

ellinas · 02/28/2009, 12:58 PM

I wouldnt say it hurts but rather like vibrates. Well I guess it hurts a little and I would say the feeling goes up to about just below the elbow. I definitely would not say that it feels good in any way.

oldsaltman · 02/28/2009, 01:20 PM

If you are sure that it is the heater then I would remove it until I resolved the problem. Do you have anything to check for voltage in the tank? Does the heater appear to have been damaged in any way?

sasharotty · 02/28/2009, 06:08 PM

You did verify it was the heater? Unplugged and no zap? I just had a sedra feed pump leak voltage, wow what a zap! I work with electrical every day and have been hit with 120v, but add saltwater to that.It doesnt feel good.

ellinas · 03/01/2009, 09:30 AM

yea so I was taking plugs out one by one and it was only after I took out the heater that the shock stopped. also I only noticed it some of the time, i think it had to do when the heater was on versus when the heater was off. so after I noticed it was the heater I removed it and havent felt it since. I went to my LFS and he changed w/o any problems. I'm going to keep an eye on it, but was curious if others have had this problem.

oldsalktman-i dont have a voltage reader...just my hand!

02/28/2009, 12:11 PM	#1
ellinas Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 113	Shocking Heater I picked up a brand new Rena Smart Heater 300W from my LFS about a month ago and I just realized that it has been sending electrical current through my tank. I noticed it a number of times before but it was only yesterday that I deduced that it was my heater. Has anyone else ever experienced this problem with this product? None of my livestock was harmed but whenever it was on and I put my hand in my tank it was like sticking my had in a socket! Needless to say my wife went nuts when I told her!

02/28/2009, 12:58 PM	#3
ellinas Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 113	I wouldnt say it hurts but rather like vibrates. Well I guess it hurts a little and I would say the feeling goes up to about just below the elbow. I definitely would not say that it feels good in any way. __________________ 90 Gallon Reef Vertex Internal Pinwheel Skimmer 100 Gen. 2 Aquactinics Constellation T5 fixture (7x54W) Awesome Fixture! Wave-master multi-pump timer with 3 maxi-jet 1200's Main pump: JBJ T3-300 True Temp Heater System w/ Controller & Titanium Heating Element 300W 30 gallon sump below. Suburb of Chicago Goal is to trade frags with other members Current Tank Info: 28 gallon reef

02/28/2009, 01:20 PM	#4
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	If you are sure that it is the heater then I would remove it until I resolved the problem. Do you have anything to check for voltage in the tank? Does the heater appear to have been damaged in any way? __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

03/01/2009, 09:30 AM	#6
ellinas Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 113	yea so I was taking plugs out one by one and it was only after I took out the heater that the shock stopped. also I only noticed it some of the time, i think it had to do when the heater was on versus when the heater was off. so after I noticed it was the heater I removed it and havent felt it since. I went to my LFS and he changed w/o any problems. I'm going to keep an eye on it, but was curious if others have had this problem. oldsalktman-i dont have a voltage reader...just my hand! __________________ 90 Gallon Reef Vertex Internal Pinwheel Skimmer 100 Gen. 2 Aquactinics Constellation T5 fixture (7x54W) Awesome Fixture! Wave-master multi-pump timer with 3 maxi-jet 1200's Main pump: JBJ T3-300 True Temp Heater System w/ Controller & Titanium Heating Element 300W 30 gallon sump below. Suburb of Chicago Goal is to trade frags with other members Current Tank Info: 28 gallon reef

02/28/2009, 12:41 PM	#2
Patriot54 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 727	This is a dumb question but, Does it hurt when you stick your hand in there?

02/28/2009, 06:08 PM	#5
sasharotty Moved on to my couch Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: se michigan Posts: 1,065	You did verify it was the heater? Unplugged and no zap? I just had a sedra feed pump leak voltage, wow what a zap! I work with electrical every day and have been hit with 120v, but add saltwater to that.It doesnt feel good.