Do I have stray voltage in my system?

[stanleo]

I finally got a multimeter and I need help understanding what I am seeing. So I put the black lead into the socket and the red lead in the water. When the red lead is just in the water, I get no reading at all. But when I put my finger in the water with the red lead I get a reading of 70!. This is in the display. When I do this in the sump, the same thing, no reading with just the red lead in the water but when I put my fingers in with it I get a reading of 5. Can anyone explain this to me? I am a dunce when it comes to electricity.

 

[Jonify]

I finally got a multimeter and I need help understanding what I am seeing. So I put the black lead into the socket and the red lead in the water. When the red lead is just in the water, I get no reading at all. But when I put my finger in the water with the red lead I get a reading of 70!. This is in the display. When I do this in the sump, the same thing, no reading with just the red lead in the water but when I put my fingers in with it I get a reading of 5. Can anyone explain this to me? I am a dunce when it comes to electricity.

Your body produces voltage and conducts electricity (think about how AED heart defibrillators read our heartbeats and recommends charging levels, or think about touching the antenna of an old-school TV antenna to improve reception). Bottom line: don't touch the water when you test.

 

[Cory]

You put the black lead into the ground hole correct?

 

[Jonify]

You put the black lead into the ground hole correct?

I don't know what multimeter you have, but yes, universally, black is ground.

 

[Cory]

I don't know what multimeter you have, but yes, universally, black is ground.

Thanks. I was asking the original poster though to confirm he did the test correctly lol.

 

[Jonify]

Thanks. I was asking the original poster though to confirm he did the test correctly lol.

Haha, sorry, answering posts right and left. Great question!! @stanleo ??

 

[stanleo]

You put the black lead into the ground hole correct?

Not the first time lol. But yes when I did it correctly I did.

 

[stanleo]

Your body produces voltage and conducts electricity (think about how AED heart defibrillators read our heartbeats and recommends charging levels, or think about touching the antenna of an old-school TV antenna to improve reception). Bottom line: don't touch the water when you test.

Thank you. That was my assumption but I wanted confirmation.

 

[ZoWhat]

Red probe in water

Black probe on smthg bare metal

Incandescent lightbulb in your mouth