electric current in water?

mikeintosh · 06/20/2010, 11:41 AM

Is there a way to test if there's an electric current running through tank? I was cleaning the tank and accidentally bumped my elbow on the mh reflector about 2 ft above tank and the gfci shorted as well as gave me a little zap.

The fixture was not running at the time.

Could it be another device causing the short? Is there a way to test it without zapping myself again?

All the livestock seem to look fine.

Thanks

zero26 · 06/20/2010, 03:35 PM

Not really sure about testing for leakage, but you can get a ground probe and put it in your tank. Just a little insurance policy.

mick243 · 06/20/2010, 05:57 PM

at the moment, you have voltage in your tank. if you put in a ground you will have current in your tank.

voltage hurts.

current kills.

to test what is the culprit, use a multimeter set to ac volts, 1 probe in the tank, 1 connected to ground. you will get a voltage reading, then start unplugging things - whatever you unplug when the voltage dissapears is faulty.....

mikeintosh · 06/20/2010, 06:32 PM

Thank you. I'll give those suggestions a try.

06/20/2010, 11:41 AM	#1
mikeintosh Mikeintosh Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 356	electric current in water? Is there a way to test if there's an electric current running through tank? I was cleaning the tank and accidentally bumped my elbow on the mh reflector about 2 ft above tank and the gfci shorted as well as gave me a little zap. The fixture was not running at the time. Could it be another device causing the short? Is there a way to test it without zapping myself again? All the livestock seem to look fine. Thanks

06/20/2010, 03:35 PM	#2
zero26 MoneyPit Maestro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington MO Posts: 1,866	Not really sure about testing for leakage, but you can get a ground probe and put it in your tank. Just a little insurance policy. __________________ 90 DT, 50 gal basement sump. Current Tank Info: LPS, SPS

06/20/2010, 05:57 PM	#3
mick243 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 176	at the moment, you have voltage in your tank. if you put in a ground you will have current in your tank. voltage hurts. current kills. to test what is the culprit, use a multimeter set to ac volts, 1 probe in the tank, 1 connected to ground. you will get a voltage reading, then start unplugging things - whatever you unplug when the voltage dissapears is faulty..... __________________ MickT

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06/20/2010, 06:32 PM	#4
mikeintosh Mikeintosh Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 356	Thank you. I'll give those suggestions a try.