Electrical Current when touching my light

Matt Dean · 03/16/2018, 08:50 PM

I have a new ATI Powermodule wifi fixture. I was feeding my tang some nori by hand and touched the fixture and felt the electrical current. What's up with that? Only LEDs were on at about 30%.

Since the light doesn't come in contact with the water, I don't think it is affecting any of the corals or fish, but I have never encountered this before.

Any ideas?

windlasher · 03/16/2018, 11:01 PM

You have a short somewhere. Electricity is evil. Find it and user GFCIs as the main supply to your tank.

mcgyvr · 03/17/2018, 07:21 AM

Was your other hand in the water at the time while you were touching the light?
If so the problem is not the light but something in the tank.. The light was just acting as a ground (as it should)..

As stated you should have all line powered submerged equipment GFCI protected...

I suspect you really have something faulty in the tank and that the light is totally fine..

Matt Dean · 03/17/2018, 08:36 AM

Everything is on a GFI. everything. I only feel it if my hand is in the water and touching the light. I will have to start unplugging and plugging things in to see what is going on. Funny thing was I never had the problem before the new light. and nothing else has changed.

Thanks

mcgyvr · 03/17/2018, 08:40 AM

The light is likely not at fault...there is just something that may be leaking some current just may not be enough to trip the gfci

Matt Dean · 03/17/2018, 09:16 AM

Hoping that's it and can find it easily. Thanks

outssider · 03/18/2018, 02:03 PM

don't use your hand to test for current, use a voltmeter, they are cheap, harbor freight often gives them away

Matt Dean · 03/18/2018, 07:44 PM

Thanks. Yeah, I figured better to use the right tool. Besides, just because I don't feel it, wouldn't necessarily mean it wasn't there!

greengeco82 · 03/18/2018, 08:58 PM

my t5 does the same thing. Its the light in my situation. Kind of common with t5. LED's, IDK?

mcgyvr · 03/19/2018, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greengeco82

my t5 does the same thing. Its the light in my situation. Kind of common with t5. LED's, IDK?

No its not really common nor right..
Do you also feel the shock with one hand in the water and one on the light? Or one in the water and touching the light?

There may be some very slight leakage current due to the design (EMI filters,etc..) of it but thats typically less than .5mA which I kind of doubt anyone would notice/feel.. Possible I guess but kind of doubt it..
I have a T5 and do not feel anything should I come into contact with the light with my hand in the water..

And again just because you feel a shock when touching the light doesn't mean the light is the problem just that its the path to ground allowing you to feel a shock..

Kevin Guthrie · 03/19/2018, 06:27 AM

Narrow it down by unplugging things one at a time until it stops. Start with the light fixture but probably its just acting as a ground. Prime suspect is heaters.

Matt Dean · 03/19/2018, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

No its not really common nor right..
Do you also feel the shock with one hand in the water and one on the light? Or one in the water and touching the light?

There may be some very slight leakage current due to the design (EMI filters,etc..) of it but thats typically less than .5mA which I kind of doubt anyone would notice/feel.. Possible I guess but kind of doubt it..
I have a T5 and do not feel anything should I come into contact with the light with my hand in the water..

And again just because you feel a shock when touching the light doesn't mean the light is the problem just that its the path to ground allowing you to feel a shock..

I have never felt this with my last light, nor do i feel it would be 'normal'. Definitely going to source it out. The light is a new ATI Powermodule Hybrid, but it doesn't have to be on. Even if the plug it is plugged into is off on the power bar, I still feel it, so it certainly seems to just be the path to ground for whatever the problem is.

I will be turning everything off tonight and checking with a voltmeter to see what, if anything introduces the current. However, I just removed the heater and it feels like it is gone!!! Thanks Kevin for that.

Cheers

mcgyvr · 03/19/2018, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

I have never felt this with my last light, nor do i feel it would be 'normal'. Definitely going to source it out. The light is a new ATI Powermodule Hybrid, but it doesn't have to be on. Even if the plug it is plugged into is off on the power bar, I still feel it, so it certainly seems to just be the path to ground for whatever the problem is.

Certainly its just the path to ground as stated...

Heaters (if fully submerged) can certainly cause problems..
I NEVER recommend submerging a heater past its glass enclosure even if its rated to be fully submerged.. The joint (seal) from glass to top plastic section can/will fail..

Powerheads are pretty notorious for failures too..

Kevin Guthrie · 03/19/2018, 10:21 PM

Glad to help! If you look closely you may see moisture inside the heater tube.

03/16/2018, 08:50 PM	#1
Matt Dean I don't like wet hands! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 555	Electrical Current when touching my light I have a new ATI Powermodule wifi fixture. I was feeding my tang some nori by hand and touched the fixture and felt the electrical current. What's up with that? Only LEDs were on at about 30%. Since the light doesn't come in contact with the water, I don't think it is affecting any of the corals or fish, but I have never encountered this before. Any ideas? __________________ 125 gallon Peninsula Mixed reef Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon custom Starphyre Peninsula

03/16/2018, 11:01 PM	#2
windlasher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 504	You have a short somewhere. Electricity is evil. Find it and user GFCIs as the main supply to your tank. __________________ --- PLEASE HELP SAVE THE DOLPHINS In case we run out of chicken. ---

03/17/2018, 07:21 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Was your other hand in the water at the time while you were touching the light? If so the problem is not the light but something in the tank.. The light was just acting as a ground (as it should).. As stated you should have all line powered submerged equipment GFCI protected... I suspect you really have something faulty in the tank and that the light is totally fine.. __________________ Who me?

03/17/2018, 08:36 AM	#4
Matt Dean I don't like wet hands! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 555	Everything is on a GFI. everything. I only feel it if my hand is in the water and touching the light. I will have to start unplugging and plugging things in to see what is going on. Funny thing was I never had the problem before the new light. and nothing else has changed. Thanks __________________ 125 gallon Peninsula Mixed reef Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon custom Starphyre Peninsula

03/17/2018, 08:40 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	The light is likely not at fault...there is just something that may be leaking some current just may not be enough to trip the gfci __________________ Who me?

03/17/2018, 09:16 AM	#6
Matt Dean I don't like wet hands! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 555	Hoping that's it and can find it easily. Thanks __________________ 125 gallon Peninsula Mixed reef Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon custom Starphyre Peninsula

03/18/2018, 02:03 PM	#7
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	don't use your hand to test for current, use a voltmeter, they are cheap, harbor freight often gives them away

03/18/2018, 07:44 PM	#8
Matt Dean I don't like wet hands! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 555	Thanks. Yeah, I figured better to use the right tool. Besides, just because I don't feel it, wouldn't necessarily mean it wasn't there! __________________ 125 gallon Peninsula Mixed reef Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon custom Starphyre Peninsula

03/18/2018, 08:58 PM	#9
greengeco82 Reefer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pittsburg, CA Posts: 584	my t5 does the same thing. Its the light in my situation. Kind of common with t5. LED's, IDK? __________________ Budget reefing is a pipe dream. Current Tank Info: 190 gallon DSA mixed reef, 2 X 250W metal halides, 2 X 80w T5's, SRO 3000 skimmer, and a few other goodies under the hood

03/19/2018, 06:27 AM	#11
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Narrow it down by unplugging things one at a time until it stops. Start with the light fixture but probably its just acting as a ground. Prime suspect is heaters.

03/19/2018, 10:21 PM	#14
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Glad to help! If you look closely you may see moisture inside the heater tube.