Anyone Ever Get Electrocuted?

[reeftankdude]

I always cut the power off before working on the inside of my tank. Anyone ever get electrocuted? Just Curious what that was like. Thanks all

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I always cut the power off before working on the inside of my tank. Anyone ever get electrocuted? Just Curious what that was like. Thanks all

Yes, but not aquarium related. Work related. It’s not fun, I was lucky only had heart rhythm issues, was extremely sore, and my elbows and knees turned black and blue. Someone hired an “electrician” to repair a piece of industrial equipment that wasn’t working. Well, they got it working by stealing the ground conductor and used it as line voltage as one of the line conductors had burned up underground in a conduit. I went to service the equipment later not knowing the history. The motor had frozen and welded but did not trip he breaker. The entire machine was live at 277 volts, when I kneeled down to look at it, I rested my hand on the machine to lower myself to the ground. Well, I turned into a human wiggy. Luckily a janitor saw me and knocked me off the machine with his broom.

 

[slythy]

I would think turning off everything to the tank is massive overkill. Unless you have a known heart issue 120v isnt crazy.

Ive been electricuted quite a few times and its honestly not terrible. I dont recommend it but its not crazy like home alone skeleton showing kinda thing.

If you are concerned get a grounding probe which is nice to have anyway. But if everything is working right you shouldnt have any stray voltage in your system to worry about.
Dont drop your lights in the water and you will be fine!

now if you are replacing outlets or any major electrical work do cut the power!

 

[vetteguy53081]

A zap (sting) from stray voltage- yes
Electrocuted - no

 

[Hairyteeth]

Wow that’s a crazy story…. I’ve been shocked by a faulty heater, not so bad, but I was awake!

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Hairyteeth]

I would think turning off everything to the tank is massive overkill. Unless you have a known heart issue 120v isnt crazy.

Ive been electricuted quite a few times and its honestly not terrible. I dont recommend it but its not crazy like home alone skeleton showing kinda thing.

If you are concerned get a grounding probe which is nice to have anyway. But if everything is working right you shouldnt have any stray voltage in your system to worry about.
Dont drop your lights in the water and you will be fine!

now if you are replacing outlets or any major electrical work do cut the power!

Good call, if you had a heart issue just get a set of probes and check first!

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

A zap (sting) from stray voltage- yes
Electrocuted - no

Exactly, big difference between a tickle and going to the hospital.

 

[Gtinnel]

Yes, but not aquarium related. Work related. It’s not fun, I was lucky only had heart rhythm issues, was extremely sore, and my elbows and knees turned black and blue. Someone hired an “electrician” to repair a piece of industrial equipment that wasn’t working. Well, they got it working by stealing the ground conductor and used it as line voltage as one of the line conductors had burned up underground in a conduit. I went to service the equipment later not knowing the history. The motor had frozen and welded but did not trip he breaker. The entire machine was live at 277 volts, when I kneeled down to look at it, I rested my hand on the machine to lower myself to the ground. Well, I turned into a human wiggy. Luckily a janitor saw me and knocked me off the machine with his broom.

This makes my story of being a ground for a plasma cutter pretty insignificant. Glad you were okay.

Aquarium related I’ve got a small shock but nothing bad.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I would think turning off everything to the tank is massive overkill. Unless you have a known heart issue 120v isnt crazy.

Ive been electricuted quite a few times and its honestly not terrible. I dont recommend it but its not crazy like home alone skeleton showing kinda thing.

If you are concerned get a grounding probe which is nice to have anyway. But if everything is working right you shouldnt have any stray voltage in your system to worry about.
Dont drop your lights in the water and you will be fine!

now if you are replacing outlets or any major electrical work do cut the power!

It’s not the voltage, it’s the current

 

[Jedi1199]

A zap (sting) from stray voltage- yes
Electrocuted - no

Same here.. I've been zapped a few times when wiring in switches and receptacles and such... Never had a good strong jolt like @Zzyzx described... yikes!!!

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

This makes my story of being a ground for a plasma cutter pretty insignificant. Glad you were okay.

Aquarium related I’ve got a small shock but nothing bad.

Been there and done that too. Forgot your gloves or were you resting your arm on the workpiece?

 

[JAC-]

Well, electrocuted means you died from the experience so no. But from my determination that GFI is bad for tanks because I prioritize my tanks over my health I've been shocked many times, a heater being the primary culprit.

It was unpleasant, and at one time I had an emergency that I had to address that resulted in an Indiana Johns moment where I knew it was going to hurt but after summing the courage I reached my hands back again to address the need.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Same here.. I've been zapped a few times when wiring in switches and receptacles and such... Never had a good strong jolt like @Zzyzx described... yikes!!!

We always had to work on live circuits….lock out tag out only applied in certain situations. I would zap people all the time for craps and giggles. I’d grab a hot and then grab the guy watching over my shoulder. Oh workplace humor

 

[ganreef]

Sorry basic question - if everything in the tank is powered through a GFCI outlet, it is safe right ? It should trip and no shock ?

 

[Gtinnel]

Been there and done that too. Forgot your gloves or were you resting your arm on the workpiece?

My dad and I were cutting some sheet metal to make some custom hvac ductwork. My job was to place the sheet metal on the table and hook the ground up. He once started cutting before I had the ground hooked up, but my hand was still on the sheet metal. It hurt but ultimately wasn’t that bad, nothing like what you experienced.

 

[JAC-]

Sorry basic question - if everything in the tank is powered through a GFCI outlet, it is safe right ? It should trip and no shock ?

So long as the GFI is working yes. it will trip as soon as you touch the water if something is trying to find you as a path to ground.

FYI, most GFI equipment manufactures request that you use the test function annually to ensure that the protection is working.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Well, electrocuted means you died from the experience so no. But from my determination that GFI is bad for tanks because I prioritize my tanks over my health I've been shocked many times, a heater being the primary culprit.

It was unpleasant, and at one time I had an emergency that I had to address that resulted in an Indiana Johns moment where I knew it was going to hurt but after summing the courage I reached my hands back again to address the need.

Actually you can be electrocuted and live. Electrocution is defined as death or severe injury. GFci works great when installed and working properly. Almost every gfci issue I ever found was because someone miswired the outlet, there was no ground wire (only a hot an neutral), or had a cheap or defective outlet.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

It’s not the voltage, it’s the current

That's a very misleading statement. The voltage actually matters substantially and is half of what determines the current.

Current = Voltage / body resistance

Body resistance varies between 1000 and 10000 ohms, but voltage is what allows the current that will shock or possibly kill you.

Since 100mA is the threshold to kill, Depending on your body resistance, 100V can potentially be lethal, though it is more likely to be above 300V

 

[ganreef]

So long as the GFI is working yes. it will trip as soon as you touch the water if something is trying to find you as a path to ground.

FYI, most GFI equipment manufactures request that you use the test function annually to ensure that the protection is working.

Thanks