Possible stray voltage

jpruitt · 01/05/2019, 12:09 PM

This is coming from a friend of mine who got shocked last night on the righty side of his reef tank. He told me he does not get a shock on the left side. He advised that he unplugged everything that goes to that tank and is still getting shocked.

Does not seem possible but he swears he is. My question is there any livestock that could cause a slight tingle like a shock in our reef tanks.

I also had him check his lights and he stated when he touches the metal scre on the radion it’s shocks him as well. Not sure if maybe he is overly sensitive or he is actually feeling a little zap. His tank is also equipped with a grounding probe.

Please any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

mcgyvr · 01/05/2019, 01:33 PM

Is all submerged line powered equipment protected by a gfci device (outlet/breaker or special gfci power strip)?? It absolutely should be and if not they should not place their hand in the tank again until it is..

Did he also unplug the grounding probe?
A ground probe should really only be used in combination with gfci protection and not used without that..

Saltwater will tingle in open wounds and may be confused with a shock..

The case of the light is likely acting as a ground and not the source of the voltage but it could be faulty i suppose.

Nothing living in our tanks is capable of generating enough for a shock feeling..
It could just be static electricity too..

jpruitt · 01/05/2019, 01:47 PM

Appreciate the response. I am unsure of the gfci plug. I’ll relay it over to him. I have never ran mine through a gf plug as they seem to be very finicky and I have lost livestock while out of town due to a faulty plug. I just relay on my apex and grounding probe.

To answer your question yes he unplugged the entire tank minus lighting all at once.

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hkgar · 01/05/2019, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpruitt

Appreciate the response. I am unsure of the gfci plug. I’ll relay it over to him. I have never ran mine through a gf plug as they seem to be very finicky and I have lost livestock while out of town due to a faulty plug. I just relay on my apex and grounding probe.

To answer your question yes he unplugged the entire tank minus lighting all at once.

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Not smart being in this hobby and not having the equipment on a GFCI. 14+ years in the hobby, always on a GFCI and never met a finicky one.

Check out some life insurance.

jpruitt · 01/05/2019, 04:05 PM

LOL. Thanks. I have a good policy.

Been in the hobby for 18 years and have met 2 finicky ones.

Same with his but I’ll relay it along. Thanks.

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Anemone · 01/05/2019, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpruitt

To answer your question yes he unplugged the entire tank minus lighting all at once.

Try unplugging the lights.

Kevin

jpruitt · 01/05/2019, 11:10 PM

I believe he has unplugged the lights. I have a suspicion that it is in his head or something outside the tank. He claims it’s only on one end. Anytime I have had stray voltage it has been the entire tank.

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alton · 01/07/2019, 06:06 AM

If his service is not properly grounded, it will use his tank as a grounding means. I had a friend who had this issue, only two volts but a ton of current because the electrician had installed grounding and grounded wires on the neutral bar on a secondary panel and the ground rod was 200' feet away. Added a ground rod, and removed grounding conductors from the neutral bar and placed on a separate grounding bar and issue went away.

01/05/2019, 12:09 PM	#1
jpruitt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sherman TX Posts: 139	Possible stray voltage This is coming from a friend of mine who got shocked last night on the righty side of his reef tank. He told me he does not get a shock on the left side. He advised that he unplugged everything that goes to that tank and is still getting shocked. Does not seem possible but he swears he is. My question is there any livestock that could cause a slight tingle like a shock in our reef tanks. I also had him check his lights and he stated when he touches the metal scre on the radion it’s shocks him as well. Not sure if maybe he is overly sensitive or he is actually feeling a little zap. His tank is also equipped with a grounding probe. Please any insight would be appreciated. Thanks. __________________ Planet Aquariums 120 rimless Starfire show, 45 gallon sump/fuge, ATI hybrid lighting, 2 MP40s, 2 Maxspect Gyre 230, Reef Octopus Diablo 220 Skimmer, Apex Gold with all the extras.

01/05/2019, 01:33 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Is all submerged line powered equipment protected by a gfci device (outlet/breaker or special gfci power strip)?? It absolutely should be and if not they should not place their hand in the tank again until it is.. Did he also unplug the grounding probe? A ground probe should really only be used in combination with gfci protection and not used without that.. Saltwater will tingle in open wounds and may be confused with a shock.. The case of the light is likely acting as a ground and not the source of the voltage but it could be faulty i suppose. Nothing living in our tanks is capable of generating enough for a shock feeling.. It could just be static electricity too.. __________________ Who me?

01/05/2019, 01:47 PM	#3
jpruitt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sherman TX Posts: 139	Appreciate the response. I am unsure of the gfci plug. I’ll relay it over to him. I have never ran mine through a gf plug as they seem to be very finicky and I have lost livestock while out of town due to a faulty plug. I just relay on my apex and grounding probe. To answer your question yes he unplugged the entire tank minus lighting all at once. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Planet Aquariums 120 rimless Starfire show, 45 gallon sump/fuge, ATI hybrid lighting, 2 MP40s, 2 Maxspect Gyre 230, Reef Octopus Diablo 220 Skimmer, Apex Gold with all the extras.

01/05/2019, 04:05 PM	#5
jpruitt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sherman TX Posts: 139	Possible stray voltage LOL. Thanks. I have a good policy. Been in the hobby for 18 years and have met 2 finicky ones. Same with his but I’ll relay it along. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Planet Aquariums 120 rimless Starfire show, 45 gallon sump/fuge, ATI hybrid lighting, 2 MP40s, 2 Maxspect Gyre 230, Reef Octopus Diablo 220 Skimmer, Apex Gold with all the extras.

01/05/2019, 11:10 PM	#7
jpruitt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sherman TX Posts: 139	I believe he has unplugged the lights. I have a suspicion that it is in his head or something outside the tank. He claims it’s only on one end. Anytime I have had stray voltage it has been the entire tank. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Planet Aquariums 120 rimless Starfire show, 45 gallon sump/fuge, ATI hybrid lighting, 2 MP40s, 2 Maxspect Gyre 230, Reef Octopus Diablo 220 Skimmer, Apex Gold with all the extras.

01/07/2019, 06:06 AM	#8
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	If his service is not properly grounded, it will use his tank as a grounding means. I had a friend who had this issue, only two volts but a ton of current because the electrician had installed grounding and grounded wires on the neutral bar on a secondary panel and the ground rod was 200' feet away. Added a ground rod, and removed grounding conductors from the neutral bar and placed on a separate grounding bar and issue went away.