grounding probe... as in what to gound to?

rlschne · 02/22/2006, 11:52 PM

I got a grounding probe with a larger order of stuff the other day just for the hell of it... anyway, it just has a little ring to ground to something... any ideas? I'm in an apartment and dont really have anything nearby i can think of... at first I thought maybe i could put it over the ground of my powerstrip or something, but it didn't fit.... and I'm assuming that is for a reason - to keep dumbasses like me from trying that

.. anyway - what have some of you guys grounded to? I need some ideas..

Roland Jacques · 02/23/2006, 12:49 AM

your center screw of your power outlet (were you plug thing into) this SHOULD allways be a ground.

Roland Jacques · 02/23/2006, 12:51 AM

your center screw of your WALL power outlet (were you plug thing into) this SHOULD allways be a ground. the other end gose in the sump or tank.

masterswimmer · 02/23/2006, 01:00 AM

Agree with yourfishman

rick s · 02/23/2006, 06:09 AM

Question: Doesn't the grounding probe also have a plug near that ring? Most of them have the plug and the ring. If it has the plug (like a regular wall outlet plug) simply plug that into a properly grounded 3-prong outlet and forget about the ring.

If all the end has is the ring: Do what yourfishman and masterswimmer said.

rlschne · 02/23/2006, 10:38 AM

yeah, it just has the ring.... no plug... it was cheap

... anyway, I did some reading on it last night and a lot of people were saying to only use them if you have a gfci ... you guys know why that is? I am thinking about installing one, and just taking it with me when i move.....

Spuds725 · 02/23/2006, 11:03 AM

It won't hurt to install without a GFCI-- and can only help.

You should at least purchase a "plugin" type GFCI if you don't want to replace the outlet..

google "shock buster" to see these-- I've seen them sold at Lowes... they are probably sold elsewhere too...

here is the one I have.. costs about $13 and can save your life.

Deadmullet · 02/23/2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6808443#post6808443 target=_blank>Originally posted by Spuds725
It won't hurt to install without a GFCI-- and can only help.

You should at least purchase a "plugin" type GFCI if you don't want to replace the outlet..

google "shock buster" to see these-- I've seen them sold at Lowes... they are probably sold elsewhere too...

here is the one I have.. costs about $13 and can save your life.

never seen that before, gonna check into one myself. nice tip

rlschne · 02/23/2006, 11:49 AM

the only thing about gfci that bugs me is that if the power goes off while im gone for the weekend or something - I'm screwed.... anyway to get around that?

Spuds725 · 02/23/2006, 11:56 AM

The GFCI should NOT trip if you lose power..

If you are concerned, remove it if you go out of town (another advantage of the plug in type)... the GFCI is mainly for your protection...

Some lights have been known to trip a GFCI due to them being so sensitive--- some lights have a capacitance to them that causes current fluctuations that can cause a GFCI to trip.

Test it if you are concerned.... go to your main panel and open the breaker to the tank (or your main breaker)... then shut it and see if the GFCI trips...

NetFish · 02/23/2006, 12:08 PM

Spuds725, your post caught my attention. Thanks for the tip on removing it while on vacation. My T5s always made the GFCI trip, is that probably because of what you posted

rlschne · 02/23/2006, 12:11 PM

agreed, good info - will look for one of the "portable" gfci things at lowes later... thanks

Spuds725 · 02/23/2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NetFish
Spuds725, your post caught my attention. Thanks for the tip on removing it while on vacation. My T5s always made the GFCI trip, is that probably because of what you posted

Yep, the GFCI detects current differences between the hot and neutral legs-- the lights can "hold" some voltage (which in a nutshell is what capacitance is) causing a current difference making it trip (I think magnetic ballasts are more prone to this).... I haven't experienced this, just read about it here.... Some people will plug everything but their lights into a GFCI for this reason.

You are very welcome for the help... good luck... hope you never "need" a GFCI to trip-- another just in case piece of equipment.

rlschne · 02/23/2006, 09:25 PM

found that exact model gfci at lowes - pretty cool actually....and used the screw to ground the probe to... thanks for the help guys...

speedracer02 · 02/24/2006, 12:40 PM

^

stugray · 02/24/2006, 01:25 PM

I agree that you should NOT use a grounding plug unless you have a GFCI.

If you have a stray voltage in the tank with no grounding probe, then the voltage alone will not harm the inhabitants ( this is why birds can land on high voltage power lines without being harmed ). However you might find yourself become the ground when you stick your hand inside.

If you have stray voltage in the tank AND a grounding probe, then instead of just voltage, you now have a current running from the leaking Powerhead ( or whatever ) this WILL harm the inhabitants.

Therefore, you should have a probe AND a GFCI.

As for:

"the only thing about gfci that bugs me is that if the power goes off while im gone for the weekend or something - I'm screwed"

I would rather be screwed by a tank full of dead critters than a burnt down house AND a bunch of dead critters.

IMO - ALL fish tanks should use GFCIs ( and bypassing the GFCI for the lights is still a bit risky but reasonable ).

You can get special GFCIs that will attempt to come back on after a while in case the fault has cleared. My house ( built in 96-97 ) has GFCIs on all circuits in the breaker panel.

Stu

02/22/2006, 11:52 PM	#1
rlschne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AR Posts: 122	grounding probe... as in what to gound to? I got a grounding probe with a larger order of stuff the other day just for the hell of it... anyway, it just has a little ring to ground to something... any ideas? I'm in an apartment and dont really have anything nearby i can think of... at first I thought maybe i could put it over the ground of my powerstrip or something, but it didn't fit.... and I'm assuming that is for a reason - to keep dumbasses like me from trying that .. anyway - what have some of you guys grounded to? I need some ideas..

02/23/2006, 12:49 AM	#2
Roland Jacques Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 2,848	your center screw of your power outlet (were you plug thing into) this SHOULD allways be a ground. __________________ Roland

02/23/2006, 12:51 AM	#3
Roland Jacques Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 2,848	your center screw of your WALL power outlet (were you plug thing into) this SHOULD allways be a ground. the other end gose in the sump or tank. __________________ Roland

02/23/2006, 01:00 AM	#4
masterswimmer Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East of the Mississippi, north of the mason dixon line Posts: 3,255	Agree with yourfishman __________________ I said, "look honey, we paid the mortgage and we have all this money left over for the tank." Her response confused me. She said we still needed to buy food and pay the utilities. Current Tank Info: 75 10ecor, SLS TEK 6 x 54w T-5, Lifereef sump & VS2-24" skimmer, 15 gal. AGA fuge

02/23/2006, 06:09 AM	#5
rick s Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 2,993	Question: Doesn't the grounding probe also have a plug near that ring? Most of them have the plug and the ring. If it has the plug (like a regular wall outlet plug) simply plug that into a properly grounded 3-prong outlet and forget about the ring. If all the end has is the ring: Do what yourfishman and masterswimmer said. __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: Reefer Emeritus

02/23/2006, 10:38 AM	#6
rlschne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AR Posts: 122	yeah, it just has the ring.... no plug... it was cheap ... anyway, I did some reading on it last night and a lot of people were saying to only use them if you have a gfci ... you guys know why that is? I am thinking about installing one, and just taking it with me when i move.....

02/23/2006, 11:03 AM	#7
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	It won't hurt to install without a GFCI-- and can only help. You should at least purchase a "plugin" type GFCI if you don't want to replace the outlet.. google "shock buster" to see these-- I've seen them sold at Lowes... they are probably sold elsewhere too... here is the one I have.. costs about $13 and can save your life. __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

02/23/2006, 11:49 AM	#9
rlschne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AR Posts: 122	the only thing about gfci that bugs me is that if the power goes off while im gone for the weekend or something - I'm screwed.... anyway to get around that?

02/23/2006, 11:56 AM	#10
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	The GFCI should NOT trip if you lose power.. If you are concerned, remove it if you go out of town (another advantage of the plug in type)... the GFCI is mainly for your protection... Some lights have been known to trip a GFCI due to them being so sensitive--- some lights have a capacitance to them that causes current fluctuations that can cause a GFCI to trip. Test it if you are concerned.... go to your main panel and open the breaker to the tank (or your main breaker)... then shut it and see if the GFCI trips... __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

02/23/2006, 12:08 PM	#11
NetFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Irvine,CA Posts: 153	Spuds725, your post caught my attention. Thanks for the tip on removing it while on vacation. My T5s always made the GFCI trip, is that probably because of what you posted

02/23/2006, 12:11 PM	#12
rlschne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AR Posts: 122	agreed, good info - will look for one of the "portable" gfci things at lowes later... thanks

02/23/2006, 09:25 PM	#14
rlschne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AR Posts: 122	found that exact model gfci at lowes - pretty cool actually....and used the screw to ground the probe to... thanks for the help guys...

02/24/2006, 12:40 PM	#15
speedracer02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Auburn Alabama Posts: 50	^ __________________ "If your expecting a kick in the balls and instead get slapped in the face, then its a victory." Current Tank Info: It's coming along nicely.

02/24/2006, 01:25 PM	#16
stugray Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 4,566	I agree that you should NOT use a grounding plug unless you have a GFCI. If you have a stray voltage in the tank with no grounding probe, then the voltage alone will not harm the inhabitants ( this is why birds can land on high voltage power lines without being harmed ). However you might find yourself become the ground when you stick your hand inside. If you have stray voltage in the tank AND a grounding probe, then instead of just voltage, you now have a current running from the leaking Powerhead ( or whatever ) this WILL harm the inhabitants. Therefore, you should have a probe AND a GFCI. As for: "the only thing about gfci that bugs me is that if the power goes off while im gone for the weekend or something - I'm screwed" I would rather be screwed by a tank full of dead critters than a burnt down house AND a bunch of dead critters. IMO - ALL fish tanks should use GFCIs ( and bypassing the GFCI for the lights is still a bit risky but reasonable ). You can get special GFCIs that will attempt to come back on after a while in case the fault has cleared. My house ( built in 96-97 ) has GFCIs on all circuits in the breaker panel. Stu __________________ Some people think that I have Attention Deficit Disorder. They just dont understand that........ Hey! Look a chicken! Well, We KNOW GOD exists, but for US to exist without a GOD is preposterous….Umm wait a minute…. Sounds a bit circular to me… Current Tank Info: 125 Gal. display w/80 gal mud/caulerpa sump. Basement sump w/ LED Grow Light,Gravity fed Reeflo200 skimmer w/ ORCA Recirc, DIY calc reactor & kalk stirrer. Inline plumbed 75 Gal frag/settling tank.