Voltage in the tank

Mikelush78 · 12/10/2012, 09:56 AM

Ok I have a 90 gallon reef and have had it up for 7 years now. When a heater would be going on me I would feel voltage (slight in the water) and would replace the heater and all is good.

This is a much harder situation to diagnose.

I have about 25v AC on the top of the water. Cannot feel it thought skin only an open or a few days old cut on the hand. I unplugged everything one by one and not one thing is making it happen. It’s an accumulation of all things it seems. Some power heads or pumps are putting in 1 -2 V and so on...

I also switched the power from incoming to another plug to see if that would help, replaced power strips, I checked to see if power was being fed back from the outlet on neutral and it was not...

Not sure how to combat this, my wife read that you can put a grounding probe int he water to help. Then some say no don’t do that...

Not sure where to go with this at all at this point...

Painted skin · 12/10/2012, 10:56 AM

There is a few thread on this subject in the forum , but the main point is to use a GFCI and with a ground probe.

gbru316 · 12/10/2012, 11:05 AM

Water movement is enough to create a voltage. If you're worried about it, add a GCFI and ground probe. Even if you're not worried about it, at least ensure you're using a GFCI.

Mikelush78 · 12/10/2012, 11:37 AM

I do have a GFCI but no Grounding probe... thinking about adding one to be on the safe side and also the gounding probe might eliminate the stray voltage... Thanks for the fast feedback guys!

gbru316 · 12/10/2012, 11:39 AM

grounding probe will eliminate stray voltage, by creating current. There's still going to be electricity in the tank, the differential just won't build up enough to notice it.

Voltage is merely potential energy. It has no effect. When you put your hand in the tank, the voltage differential between the tank and your body equilize, and that's what you feel. Current is what causes problems, and that doesn't exist unless there is a path for it to flow.

staindsoul · 12/13/2012, 05:55 PM

that 25 volts is not stray voltage. if you took a current reading of your tank, you will read no current.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=voltage

the debate begins about what gbru said, your allowing the tank to have a path to ground. if used with a properly functioning gfi, there wont be any current flow allowed anyway.

edit: so in other words, with the gfi you are protected. test it once a month and replace it yearly. the ground probe is a debate, that you can read more about.

12/10/2012, 09:56 AM	#1
Mikelush78 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 158	Voltage in the tank Ok I have a 90 gallon reef and have had it up for 7 years now. When a heater would be going on me I would feel voltage (slight in the water) and would replace the heater and all is good. This is a much harder situation to diagnose. I have about 25v AC on the top of the water. Cannot feel it thought skin only an open or a few days old cut on the hand. I unplugged everything one by one and not one thing is making it happen. It’s an accumulation of all things it seems. Some power heads or pumps are putting in 1 -2 V and so on... I also switched the power from incoming to another plug to see if that would help, replaced power strips, I checked to see if power was being fed back from the outlet on neutral and it was not... Not sure how to combat this, my wife read that you can put a grounding probe int he water to help. Then some say no don’t do that... Not sure where to go with this at all at this point...

12/13/2012, 05:55 PM	#6
staindsoul Calvin for President Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: R'VA Posts: 509	that 25 volts is not stray voltage. if you took a current reading of your tank, you will read no current. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=voltage the debate begins about what gbru said, your allowing the tank to have a path to ground. if used with a properly functioning gfi, there wont be any current flow allowed anyway. edit: so in other words, with the gfi you are protected. test it once a month and replace it yearly. the ground probe is a debate, that you can read more about. __________________ Mitchell-60g, 2-A150W 10ks, 2-Hydor 425s, 1-240, 20gL sump/refugium “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” – Winston Churchill Last edited by staindsoul; 12/13/2012 at 06:21 PM.

12/10/2012, 10:56 AM	#2
Painted skin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 679	There is a few thread on this subject in the forum , but the main point is to use a GFCI and with a ground probe.

12/10/2012, 11:05 AM	#3
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	Water movement is enough to create a voltage. If you're worried about it, add a GCFI and ground probe. Even if you're not worried about it, at least ensure you're using a GFCI.

12/10/2012, 11:37 AM	#4
Mikelush78 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 158	I do have a GFCI but no Grounding probe... thinking about adding one to be on the safe side and also the gounding probe might eliminate the stray voltage... Thanks for the fast feedback guys!

12/10/2012, 11:39 AM	#5
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	grounding probe will eliminate stray voltage, by creating current. There's still going to be electricity in the tank, the differential just won't build up enough to notice it. Voltage is merely potential energy. It has no effect. When you put your hand in the tank, the voltage differential between the tank and your body equilize, and that's what you feel. Current is what causes problems, and that doesn't exist unless there is a path for it to flow.