Stray Voltage - Ow my fingers hurt
- Thread starter mcphock
- Start date
Stealths were recalled.
And I can personally attest that they were the worst heater ever for casting voltage. I was sending duds back and had quit carrying them, about 2 years before they were actually recalled.
They have a lifetime warranty so if you have one lying around you can return it to Marineland and they will replace it with another model.
http://www.marineland.com/Policies/Recall-Information.aspx">http://www.marineland.com/Policies/Recall-Information.aspx</a>
As for feeling tingling in cuts - yes that usually means there's voltage in the water. Incidentally it's not good to have your hands in the water with open cuts - check some threads recently where people had Mycobacterium infections. No bueno.
Jenn
And I can personally attest that they were the worst heater ever for casting voltage. I was sending duds back and had quit carrying them, about 2 years before they were actually recalled.
They have a lifetime warranty so if you have one lying around you can return it to Marineland and they will replace it with another model.
http://www.marineland.com/Policies/Recall-Information.aspx">http://www.marineland.com/Policies/Recall-Information.aspx</a>
As for feeling tingling in cuts - yes that usually means there's voltage in the water. Incidentally it's not good to have your hands in the water with open cuts - check some threads recently where people had Mycobacterium infections. No bueno.
Jenn
That will tell you nothing because all the water is at the same potential. If you want to do it (again you will get a reading but it doesn't mean it is stray voltage) you need one lead in the water and the other to the ground in the outlet. Than do it again with one lead in the water and the other on the neutral.
But, you said extension cord. That means you have a plug strip. My bet is that it is the plug strip if in fact anything.
http://www.aquacorals.com/ShopMiscellaneous.htm">http://www.aquacorals.com/ShopMiscellaneous.htm</a>
"<span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #FF0000"></span></span></span>[B]<span style="font-family: Arial">Ground Probe
</span>[/B]<span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px">Gives you a positive electrical ground for your aquatic system. When properly installed, "stray voltage" which is generated by pumps, heater, lights, and other electrical devices used by aquariums will be carried away"</span></span>
"<span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #FF0000"></span></span></span>[B]<span style="font-family: Arial">Ground Probe
</span>[/B]<span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px">Gives you a positive electrical ground for your aquatic system. When properly installed, "stray voltage" which is generated by pumps, heater, lights, and other electrical devices used by aquariums will be carried away"</span></span>
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
This has to one of the most misunderstood aspects of this hobby. Right before the effects of headd presssure on pumps.
+1. Not a fan of ground probes either to be truthful. Electricity is harmful only when current "flows thru" something. If there is stray current and you install a ground probe, you are creating a path for the current to flow. Unfortunately, your livestock is in that path of current flow. So by installing a ground probe, you may actually be doing more harm to the livestock.
Rich, I tested it a few moments as you suggested: One probe in the ground connection and the other in the water. I'm getting a reading of only .2. No shock when I tried the fingers again either. Whatever is the problem, it comes and goes.
I'll test a few times daily hoping to encounter it again. I'd sure like to get this taken care of.
I'll test a few times daily hoping to encounter it again. I'd sure like to get this taken care of.
Look into a ground plug to protect livestock got mine on ebay 10 bucks shipped
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 0
I had a similar problem I would notice when I went into my utility room where my equipment and sump are located that when i put my hand in my tank I would get a shock,(note i have a concrete floor) and my breaker panel is in the utility room. I would even get shocked with everything in my tank unplugged and found that my house was not grounded properly and i had stray voltage running through my concrete floor. just thought i'd share because I like to have never foung this. 8' grounding rod and problem was solved
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 0
I will note I only found this when going in barefoot lol
A point I was hoping someone would make since it seems most don't listen to the 30+ years of experience I have in the electrical field. A ground probe does not fix a problem and in some cases makes it worse as I stated earlier. In your case you fixed the problem instead of treating the symptom.
