PSA - Leaking Voltage & GFCI (1 Viewer)

[steveb]

Well this thread won’t be as interesting/spirited as some others. But I had quite the shocking experience last night.

I was feeding the fish in my various tanks with no shoes on (grounded) and went to dip a cup of food in my LPS tank. Whamo. I was shocked and it wasn’t one of those little tingle tingle uncomfortable shocks. It was a, I just touched the hot/neutral wires type shocks. Thankfully the GFCI tripped and killed power to the tanks.

Not trying to be a drama queen but I honestly don’t know if I would be typing this right now had the tanks not been on GFCI. My whole hand was in the water and my arm definitely hurt afterwards. That couple of milliseconds seemed like a lifetime.

I’m saying all this to implore everyone to make sure your equipment is on GFCI and to Regularly test that GFCI. It can save your life.


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[steveb]

Oh and Today I get to test all the devices to try and figure out which is leaking voltage. Fun fun...

Gun shy a little? Yeah I am [emoji51]


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[Matyas]

Was your livestock affected?

 

[steveb]

Didn’t seem to be. I need to double check here in a bit.


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[freeswimmingfish]

Thank God for GFCI!
Glad you are ok.
What is the proper way to test?


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[steveb]

I’m going to turn off all the outlets on my apex. I’m going to put my DMM on volts. Put one probe in one of the ground sockets on the GFCI and the other in the water. Then I’m going to turn on the outlets one at a time until the GFCI trips again. Oh and I’m going to wear tennis shoes so I’m not a ground path.


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[steveb]

Well that’s disappointing. I got nothing using the DMM. I even tried plugging a cord in and taking one of my probes and putting it in the ground and the other end in the water. Nadda.

I had an extension cord plugged in last night that I unplugged after getting shocked. But it wasn’t touching the water.


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[Cody]

Was your livestock affected?

From what I understand, it's similar to a bird sitting on a power line. The animal itself doesn't feel the electricity. I've never had a high voltage situation though. Just the occasional tingle from some stray voltage.

 

[steveb]

Was your livestock affected?

They all look fine today.


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[Tenny]

The one time I had electricity running in the tank was due to a cheap uv light. The only live stock affected was my to cleaner shrimp.

Good luck on trying to find it.

 

[steveb]

Yeah I’m baffled. I thought for sure it was going to be one of the two heaters. But seemed to be fine. I’m tempted to ground myself and check it again. But it’s kinda like grabbing hold of electric fence. I’ve done it once. I really don’t want to do it again.


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[Stickboy97]

Is the DMM a voltage meter?

 

[nelson6500]

Is the DMM a voltage meter?

Yes, Digital mutimeter

 

[steveb]

It’s heater #1! A 300w finnex < 1 year old!

A friend did the grounded test for me!



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[ITreefer]

Yeah, this thread scares me. I'm glad you're still amongst the living steveb. My stuff is not on a GFCI. Looks like I'll be calling an electrician

 

[nelson6500]

If you want to make a regular outlet gfci, any of these will work

Copy and paste on browser

Tower Manufacturing 30439005 Auto-Reset 15 AMP Grounded 3-Prong GFCI Single Outlet Adapter, Yellow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UOU6OVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_clDECb1G8257T

3 Foot Lighted Outdoor GFCI Extension Cord with 3 Electrical Power Outlets - 12/3 SJTW Heavy Duty Yellow Pigtail Extension Cable with 3 Prong Grounded Plug for Safety https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073ZMLZGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rnDECbT3N6XC7

 

[phhoth]

How about a "Grounding probe", cost about $ 12.00 and can save your life

 

[steveb]

I don’t use them out in my fish room as it is in a room off the garage. My reasoning is I don’t want it tripping w/out me knowing about it.

On my display tank I do plan on using one since a trip on it would be noticed more easily.

This post covers the various scenarios with a grounding probe:

Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - GFCI & Ground Probe?

See post #5



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[phhoth]

ok I understand, but maybe having one installed in the tank and plugging it in before touching the water may be good insurance.

 

[steveb]

ok I understand, but maybe having one installed in the tank and plugging it in before touching the water may be good insurance.

Yup point taken.


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