Shock from Marineland reef capable led

ccasa004 · 08/24/2016, 07:24 AM

This morning I touched my light and it shocked my finger. I touch it again and it made my fingers tingle.

The power supply is plugged into a GFI outlet that did not trip.

Has this happened to anyone before? I plan on upgrading my light in the next few months should I just bite the bullet do it now?

mcgyvr · 08/24/2016, 08:22 AM

Were your hands/light wet (or sweaty)?
Its highly unlikely that its a true shock..because the fixture is only powered by 12VDC (I think that one has a remote AC/DC "brick" with a 12V circular connector attaching to the fixture above the tank)..
However the power supply could be faulty or not isolated from mains..

Essentially anything under 60VDC is considered "Safety extra low voltage" and is not really capable of creating a shock hazard on normal "dry" skin..

ccasa004 · 08/24/2016, 10:09 AM

Yes the light has an external power supply. My main concern is ft there some kind of internal short is there is a fire hazard, either the power supply over heating or the light itself. I am not a election.

This is the second power supply for this light. The fist one made it so only some light turned on then they sent me a new one about a year ago.

mcgyvr · 08/24/2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccasa004

Yes the light has an external power supply. My main concern is ft there some kind of internal short is there is a fire hazard, either the power supply over heating or the light itself. I am not a election.

Glad you aren't an election.. I'm not even registered to vote..

Got a volt meter?
Got corals?
Frankly those lights are sub par anyways I'd just replace it if you are worried..

If you want to replace the power supply itself I'd get one with the same output voltage rating but higher current rating to ensure its not being over worked..

ccasa004 · 08/24/2016, 10:50 AM

AutoCorrect sucks!

I plan on going with a 4 bulb 4' t5 but was hoping to wait until later in the year but the more I think about it the quicker I want to make the upgrade.

Thanks for the help

alton · 08/24/2016, 12:07 PM

Many times I hear about a light shocking someone it turns out the light only provided a grounding means to feel the shock. I would check your tank and any equipment leaking current into your tank? Your GFCI will not trip until 4 to 6 milli amps which is a pretty good shock.

LXXero · 08/24/2016, 12:43 PM

yikes. i had a marineland light literally rust itself out, shorted out it's own power switch. it was low voltage DC, i ended up de-soldering the switch and just making it so it's always-on. though i did lose the moon mode when i did it. it wasn't a marine light though, just a freshwater one. Ultimately, it wasn't sealed against water very well and that was the reason for the problem....I've been very hesitant to buy much from marineland though....there's a pattern of this kinda lack of quality with them, and i say that as i just setup a 60gal marineland cube tank, lol, which has been OK so far, fingers crossed.

ccasa004 · 08/24/2016, 05:46 PM

I got home today planning on unplugging everything and plunging back in one at a time to see if something else was causing it. Everything was fine no shock / tingle. I am just going to buy a new light that hangs higher off the water.

I have the freshwater version on my fresh water tank and it has never had any issues.

ccasa004 · 09/03/2016, 05:29 AM

Turns out it was a power head. It was hard to find out each it was because it keeps turning on and off.

08/24/2016, 07:24 AM	#1
ccasa004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 58	Shock from Marineland reef capable led This morning I touched my light and it shocked my finger. I touch it again and it made my fingers tingle. The power supply is plugged into a GFI outlet that did not trip. Has this happened to anyone before? I plan on upgrading my light in the next few months should I just bite the bullet do it now?

08/24/2016, 08:22 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Were your hands/light wet (or sweaty)? Its highly unlikely that its a true shock..because the fixture is only powered by 12VDC (I think that one has a remote AC/DC "brick" with a 12V circular connector attaching to the fixture above the tank).. However the power supply could be faulty or not isolated from mains.. Essentially anything under 60VDC is considered "Safety extra low voltage" and is not really capable of creating a shock hazard on normal "dry" skin.. __________________ Who me?

08/24/2016, 10:09 AM	#3
ccasa004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 58	Yes the light has an external power supply. My main concern is ft there some kind of internal short is there is a fire hazard, either the power supply over heating or the light itself. I am not a election. This is the second power supply for this light. The fist one made it so only some light turned on then they sent me a new one about a year ago.

08/24/2016, 10:50 AM	#5
ccasa004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 58	AutoCorrect sucks! I plan on going with a 4 bulb 4' t5 but was hoping to wait until later in the year but the more I think about it the quicker I want to make the upgrade. Thanks for the help

08/24/2016, 12:07 PM	#6
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Many times I hear about a light shocking someone it turns out the light only provided a grounding means to feel the shock. I would check your tank and any equipment leaking current into your tank? Your GFCI will not trip until 4 to 6 milli amps which is a pretty good shock.

08/24/2016, 12:43 PM	#7
LXXero Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 565	yikes. i had a marineland light literally rust itself out, shorted out it's own power switch. it was low voltage DC, i ended up de-soldering the switch and just making it so it's always-on. though i did lose the moon mode when i did it. it wasn't a marine light though, just a freshwater one. Ultimately, it wasn't sealed against water very well and that was the reason for the problem....I've been very hesitant to buy much from marineland though....there's a pattern of this kinda lack of quality with them, and i say that as i just setup a 60gal marineland cube tank, lol, which has been OK so far, fingers crossed.

08/24/2016, 05:46 PM	#8
ccasa004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 58	I got home today planning on unplugging everything and plunging back in one at a time to see if something else was causing it. Everything was fine no shock / tingle. I am just going to buy a new light that hangs higher off the water. I have the freshwater version on my fresh water tank and it has never had any issues.

09/03/2016, 05:29 AM	#9
ccasa004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 58	Turns out it was a power head. It was hard to find out each it was because it keeps turning on and off.