OUCH

[Chicken_Eye]

I got up this morning and noticed my new zoas floated off of the rock I placed them on, so I stuck my hand in to place them back where they were and I felt a small shock. I unpluged my power heads and heaters and pluged them back in one at a time untill I figured out which was leaking the voltage. My question is how do you install a grounding probe and also What is a better way of checking for stray voltage and how do you do it?
Thanks

[Richard]

The grounding probe is jst a titanium rod that you put in the tank and then plug it in (only has a ground prong). Use a voltmeter to check for stray voltage.

[Chicken_Eye]

The only problem is none of my outlets in my house are grounded

[cbianco]

The only problem is none of my outlets in my house are grounded

Welcome to my world :lol

I live in an apartment complex that was built during the 1940's.

I would like to see the options as well.

Christopher

[jroescher]

What is a better way of checking for stray voltage and how do you do it?


Honey, will you give me and hand please. Reach in there and get...

[prof]

I would use a volt meter to check each of your devices; powerheads, heaters, pumps, etc. Place them in a seperate container with tank/salt water and test them individually. See if you can isolate the faulty device.

You could always connect your gound probe to a copper pipe under a sink or behind a toilet. The plumbing should be a good ground.

But you still need to find the short circuit.

[5.0Stang]

What is a better way of checking for stray voltage and how do you do it?


Honey, will you give me and hand please. Reach in there and get...



I GOTTA GIVE YOU MAD PROPS :D :D :D :D :D

[5.0Stang]

arnt some cable boxes grounded also I know when i lived in my 1940's apt the cable-in line had a copper wire ran with it that went to a screw on the 1st spliter.

[alton]

If you are getting shocked you are getting stray current in your tank. What is happening is one of your pumps or heaters have a short and are using the water inlieu of the grounded(White) conductor as a return to your panel. If you where using a GFCI it should be tripping at this time. Grounding probes should only be used in case of stray voltage which is caused by lighting over our open tanks and motors running near or in our tanks. I have had up to 17 volts of stray voltage in my 200 and I did not get shocked even being bare footed(I do not recommend). Attaching a copper wire to the center screw on a device does not ground it because the box is attached to a wooden stud, which is not a good conductor. Purchase a meter and install one probe in your water and the other in the grounding outlet of your duplex receptacle. Explanation Ungrounded conductor is black or red, grounded is white, and grounding is green.

[Thunderkat]

I would find an electrician to help you or throw out the bad stuff. Salt creep also conducts electricity very well too, if you are using stuff not meant for salt water the salt creep crawls up into the equipment and you get a nice little shock if you are lucky, worse if you are not.

[urban79]

you can ground out a plug to the medal screw that holds the plate on. If its a older house or building it has medal boxes. with a ground clip in it.(should) But there is stuff that you can buy that will hook up to the screw and make it have a 3 prong.

[SA-DSM]

Wow I just got shocked about an hour ago, and wow it made me open up my eyes pretty quickly. Really slowly I touched the water again and nothing. I have no idea why I got shocked but I would not like it to happen again. I am leading more to salt creep. Hope I never have to feel that again.