How can I have 26.1V in tank ?

njsurfcaster · 12/19/2009, 11:19 AM

I have my meter on 200v AC and measure 26.1 with everything running. I was just about to install my ground probe and wanted to check for voltage first. I already have a five outlet Shock Buster GFCI. My equipment plugs into an American DJ power strip which plugs into the GFCI. I do plan on addressing the fact that everything is on the same GFCI and don't want the entire tank down if the GFCI trips. This is a new 75 gallon build with all new equipment.

Meter is Triplett 9015-A. The black lead is plugged into COM on the meter and the red lead into the other outlet. I put the black to the ground on GFCI and the red in the sump or tank.

This is whats running.
Eheim 1262
Eheim Jager 200W Heaters -(2)
Korallia 3 - (2)
MSX 200 Skimmer
TEK T-5 6 bulb fixture

sheac12 · 12/19/2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njsurfcaster

I have my meter on 200v AC and measure 26.1 with everything running. I was just about to install my ground probe and wanted to check for voltage first. I already have a five outlet Shock Buster GFCI. My equipment plugs into an American DJ power strip which plugs into the GFCI. I do plan on addressing the fact that everything is on the same GFCI and don't want the entire tank down if the GFCI trips. This is a new 75 gallon build with all new equipment.

Meter is Triplett 9015-A. The black lead is plugged into COM on the meter and the red lead into the other outlet. I put the black to the ground on GFCI and the red in the sump or tank.

This is whats running.
Eheim 1262
Eheim Jager 200W Heaters -(2)
Korallia 3 - (2)
MSX 200 Skimmer
TEK T-5 6 bulb fixture

Don't know for sure but I am pretty sure just measuring AC voltage between your wall and inside the tank doesn't really tell you to much. You should be concerned with stray current(that is what gives you a "shock" when say a heater dies). I don't remember what the policy on posting links to other websites is so I recommend you type "stray current in fish tank gives a shock" into google and go to the reefs.org link, it has lots of good info on this.

lil_O_JJ · 12/19/2009, 12:26 PM

He is right since a voltage is a difference in elec. potential it is possible to measure a "voltage" anyware a charge is stored. If you are measuring on the outer casing of a pump or aquarium you may have some free electrons that have gathered causing a voltage to be displayed. It is not until you give those electrons a path to travel that you have current flow... which would give you the shock. I would check each individual component to ground first!

lil_O_JJ · 12/19/2009, 12:26 PM

Sorry i cant spell.

sheac12 · 12/19/2009, 01:24 PM

He is correct about checking each component to ground, you can then isolate what is causing the problem.

I just wanted to add, that the most like devices to cause problems in a tank are heaters and power head(well that pretty covers most of the things in tank too). Anyway I have had both maxijet go and a heater go and cause all kinds electrical issues...

njsurfcaster · 12/19/2009, 03:46 PM

I'll do some more reading up. I thought this is how you check for stray / induced voltage in the DT. It was coming from every piece of equipment. I world turn on one at a time and watch it keep climbing on the meter.

RGC · 12/19/2009, 03:57 PM

check the voltage between the ground and neutral of the receptical. it should be zero. If you have voltage there you might have a ground problem.

fizbin84 · 12/19/2009, 04:19 PM

Check the submerged cables for all electronics. I had a very small cut in a return pump cable and it very quickly started smelling like rotten eggs (dead tank).

bertoni · 12/19/2009, 04:42 PM

I made a bunch of GFCI boxes so that I could have one or two pieces of equipment per GFCI. Having the whole tank on a single GFCI is risky.

I'd plug in the grounding probe and the GFCI, and then add the tank equipment one piece at a time. If nothing blows the GFCI, the setup likely is safe for the time being, as far as personal safety.

I'd ignore the voltage reading. Many types of equipment can induce currents in our tanks.

sheac12 · 12/19/2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I made a bunch of GFCI boxes so that I could have one or two pieces of equipment per GFCI. Having the whole tank on a single GFCI is risky.

I'd plug in the grounding probe and the GFCI, and then add the tank equipment one piece at a time. If nothing blows the GFCI, the setup likely is safe for the time being, as far as personal safety.

I'd ignore the voltage reading. Many types of equipment can induce currents in our tanks.

I wouldn't "ignore" stray current in the tank. It is true there might be a voltage difference between house ground and the tank.

With that said, if something is inducing a current in saltwater there is a problem. But +1 to minimizing the number of equipment on a single GFCI you are just asking for trouble there.

12/19/2009, 11:19 AM	#1
njsurfcaster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	How can I have 26.1V in tank ? I have my meter on 200v AC and measure 26.1 with everything running. I was just about to install my ground probe and wanted to check for voltage first. I already have a five outlet Shock Buster GFCI. My equipment plugs into an American DJ power strip which plugs into the GFCI. I do plan on addressing the fact that everything is on the same GFCI and don't want the entire tank down if the GFCI trips. This is a new 75 gallon build with all new equipment. Meter is Triplett 9015-A. The black lead is plugged into COM on the meter and the red lead into the other outlet. I put the black to the ground on GFCI and the red in the sump or tank. This is whats running. Eheim 1262 Eheim Jager 200W Heaters -(2) Korallia 3 - (2) MSX 200 Skimmer TEK T-5 6 bulb fixture

12/19/2009, 12:26 PM	#3
lil_O_JJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: charleston, SC Posts: 111	He is right since a voltage is a difference in elec. potential it is possible to measure a "voltage" anyware a charge is stored. If you are measuring on the outer casing of a pump or aquarium you may have some free electrons that have gathered causing a voltage to be displayed. It is not until you give those electrons a path to travel that you have current flow... which would give you the shock. I would check each individual component to ground first! __________________ 20L in the works....build thread to follow...

12/19/2009, 12:26 PM	#4
lil_O_JJ Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: charleston, SC Posts: 111	Sorry i cant spell. __________________ 20L in the works....build thread to follow...

12/19/2009, 04:19 PM	#8
fizbin84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 74	Check the submerged cables for all electronics. I had a very small cut in a return pump cable and it very quickly started smelling like rotten eggs (dead tank). __________________ Support my Angler; send me your Damsels! Current Tank Info: 20" cube

12/19/2009, 04:42 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I made a bunch of GFCI boxes so that I could have one or two pieces of equipment per GFCI. Having the whole tank on a single GFCI is risky. I'd plug in the grounding probe and the GFCI, and then add the tank equipment one piece at a time. If nothing blows the GFCI, the setup likely is safe for the time being, as far as personal safety. I'd ignore the voltage reading. Many types of equipment can induce currents in our tanks. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/19/2009, 01:24 PM	#5
sheac12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 77	He is correct about checking each component to ground, you can then isolate what is causing the problem. I just wanted to add, that the most like devices to cause problems in a tank are heaters and power head(well that pretty covers most of the things in tank too). Anyway I have had both maxijet go and a heater go and cause all kinds electrical issues...

12/19/2009, 03:46 PM	#6
njsurfcaster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	I'll do some more reading up. I thought this is how you check for stray / induced voltage in the DT. It was coming from every piece of equipment. I world turn on one at a time and watch it keep climbing on the meter.

12/19/2009, 03:57 PM	#7
RGC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gloversville , ny Posts: 157	check the voltage between the ground and neutral of the receptical. it should be zero. If you have voltage there you might have a ground problem.