Ouch! This is shocking!

[False]

Hey everyone,
Here is a fun one... My fresh RO/DI water builds up a static charge and i don't know why. Here are the confusing facts...

A. Location - Florida
B. When does this happen? Anytime of the day.

1. My water is 0 TDS, shouldn't that NOT be conductive?
2. No carpets in my house.
3. I don't get a static charge from anything else in the house...ever.
4. Zaps good enough to hear the "ZAP".
5. Not just myself, but I used my wife as a test dummy and it got her too.
6. Definitely static and not voltage leak because after a few zaps, its done.
7. Brand? BRS 6 stage, 1 membrane 2 DI units. (Great Product)
8. Container? Currently a 32gal plastic recycling crock. (i don't store water in this, it gets mixed with salt, heated then used for water change)
9. The tube sits against the crock and the rodi water does roll down the side into the water when filling. (maybe the cause somehow?)
10. Not a big deal....but its driving me crazy!!!!!

Thanks,
False

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I have not experianced that and the only reason I am alive to share my reply is because I didn't have my wife try it! She would have killed me! ;Woot

 

[False]

lol! Ya i'm lucky she has a good personality! I recorded a video of it shocking me again. Its like it recharges itself. The only thing i can think of is the water running down the plastic container.

 

[WVNed]

 

[hdsoftail1065]

lol! Ya i'm lucky she has a good personality! I recorded a video of it shocking me again. Its like it recharges itself. The only thing i can think of is the water running down the plastic container.

Wow, something is definitely not right

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Wow, something is definitely not right

I have to admit the zap did sound cool. Lol

 

[cracker]

That was odd ! Betcha 1st time it startled Ya good !

 

[tiggs]

I'm not sure if it's against the rules to link to another forum here, but I figured this thread could be useful. There are a few possible explanations in here and I'm thinking the two most plausible ones for your situation are these..

- your DI cartridge needs to be replaced and since it's not filtering at full capacity, it's creating an ionic imbalance and causing the build-up

- something about residential electrical code requiring two separate grounds, one of them being a cold water ground that could become corroded over time

There's a very good chance I just butchered both of those explanations, but the thread explains it much better..

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1292657

 

[redfishbluefish]

What are your thoughts on this one @Brew12 ?

An electrical discharge from non ionic water.

And I too got a chuckle from testing this on your wife!

 

[WVNed]

You never rubbed a balloon on your hair and stuck it to a ceiling?

 

[False]

Okay here is an update! you guys are gonna like this. I used my meter and put 1 probe on ground and the other in the water. I got 17 volts then instantly died down. waiting about 20 seconds got 15 volts then instantly died down. A really strange thing is i can hear a slight zap to the probe which is not common when checking voltage with a meter.

 

[False]

Oh great, now the government is going to be after me for creating free energy source! lol

 

[WVNed]

Who is the guy that needed a science fair experiment?

 

[False]

Another update, WOW guys i just got 26 volts and without a doubt heard a 'buzz'. How could this be? It immediately discharges itself but regains charge very quickly. I will wait 30 min. this time before checking again. 26 V is no joke for this situation. I have dealt with electricity a lot but this is blowing my mind. I will also take a video of it to prove the results.

 

[WVNed]

LOL

You can calculate the voltage needed for electricity to jump across a spark gap with a simple formula: voltage equals the air gap length in centimeters times 30,000.

See how far your spark will jump.

1mm = 3000V

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Heck, I'm almost afraid to make water now! This is crazy!

 

[WVNed]

Fun with static electricity

 

[redfishbluefish]

By chance, do you have all PVC water supply pipes in your house. Otherwise, it's blowing my mind that this static change isn't being grounded.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Im not an electrician by any means but could it be a bad ground at the receptacle?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Im not an electrician by any means but could it be a bad ground at the receptacle?

As far as I know, no receptacles involved....all static. And, if the OP has copper pipe coming into the house, that's required to be grounded. I'm puzzled by this one....never heard of anything like this.... so I'm tagging and hope someone smarter knows.


Where are you @Brew12 .....you're the electrical wizard.