TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
+1 I'm guessing it is an induced voltage too.
32 volts....
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Triggerjay
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Gotcha. I have GFCI in the kitchen. I'll pull one down and go plug it in there.
TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
I would have gone down a similar path at first toolol! Just wish I hadn't lead you down the wrong path initially.....
I guess the odds of identical faults was very low. However when one isn't assembled correctly and the other has a fault.....
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Triggerjay
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If I amp out the ground wire with the loop on my meter, if zero, should confirm whether it is inductive voltage?
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Not definitively but probably good enough for your situation.
Even an induced voltage will cause current flow since this is how a transformer works. In this case it shouldn't cause much current flow so if you do this test and see a low current (<1A) it's probably induced. If it's more than 1A I would call it fault current.
Were you not able to test it on a GFCI?
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Triggerjay
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Doing this now. Kitchen receptacles are on GFCI breaker.
TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
If this really is induced voltage, which I still suspect it is, providing a ground path will short it out completely and you shouldn't see a thing. Even without the ground path, the current would be incredibly small and very hard for you to measure. Although as I type this it occurs to me that you said you felt a tingle when you brushed up against the rail and grounded it with the tank water.... It doesn't take much current for us to feel that buzz, but it would be more than what would be induced from that little power supply in there....
Hmm. I'm very interested if this trips your GFCI still.
Hmm. I'm very interested if this trips your GFCI still.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I am too. It has me conflicted as "most" people would never feel a shock from an induced 32V source. It would drain to 0V in a matter of a cycle with very low current. That is making me lean toward a capacitive voltage that would create an almost static like shock when brushed, but not really a buzz...
TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
Exactly. If it was capacitive it should just be a zap, as you said. The capacitive aspect would smooth out any oscillations. Feeling a sustained buzz would indicate the potential was continuously there.... I say again, hmmmm....I am too. It has me conflicted as "most" people would never feel a shock from an induced 32V source. It would drain to 0V in a matter of a cycle with very low current. That is making me lean toward a capacitive voltage that would create an almost static like shock when brushed, but not really a buzz...
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Triggerjay
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
Excellent!
GFCI did not trip. Ground shows 0.0a, neutral shows 0.4a (just to make sure meter was working). Looks like all is good! Thanks again for all the help guys!
Next time find something less challenging!
And while it wouldn't have helped in this case, install a ground probe!!!
TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
I saw the 0.4A and thought it was on the ground. I was about to hit my face into the desk. Then I continued scrolling... lolGFCI did not trip. Ground shows 0.0a, neutral shows 0.4a (just to make sure meter was working). Looks like all is good! Thanks again for all the help guys!
Nice work @Triggerjay
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I did the same thing, just wasn't going to admit it!I saw the 0.4A and thought it was on the ground. I was about to hit my face into the desk. Then I continued scrolling... lol
Nice work @Triggerjay
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Triggerjay
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Excellent!
Next time find something less challenging!
And while it wouldn't have helped in this case, install a ground probe!!!
Full intention of doing that ASAP. Also going to put everything on GFCI. I have not done that in the past due to fear of nuisance tripping while I'm gone.. I work 12 hr shifts with an hour drive on each end, but this is a lesson learned.
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Triggerjay
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I saw the 0.4A and thought it was on the ground. I was about to hit my face into the desk. Then I continued scrolling... lol
Nice work @Triggerjay
That would have been real interesting considering it was plugged in to GFCI.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
You have some better than average electrical skills and knowledge. If you don't mind doing some work, you can get reliability and GFCI and even make everything controllable with an Apex. On my system my skimmer, return pump, and each heater is on it's own apex outlet and protected by its own GFCI. My powerheads are MP40's so no electrical components in the tank so they are not GFCI, either. I like my balance of electrical safety along with reliability for the fish.
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Triggerjay
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And another reason to install GFCI. Protect my baby girl.. she can reach the bases of the light bracket.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Best reason ever!And another reason to install GFCI. Protect my baby girl.. she can reach the bases of the light bracket.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
This is my control panel I built under my stand. Each cord plugged into the EB8 is a pigtail that feeds one GFCI receptacle pair. The top 2 are heaters, the bottom 2 are my return pump and skimmer (hadn't plugged it in yet)
