Hey guys i am really frustrated of the stray voltage in my tank.. i recently changed all the pumps that were old and bought all new ones.. i just dont know why there still is the voltage.. its frustraging.. i hve read many reviews and watched many videos on grounding probe, but getting all mixed reviews. Im absolutely confused... need help from some one who had same problem and solved it..
Please help with stray voltage in tank..
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Kershaw
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I have yet to see any one solve it 100%.
From what I understand even with a ground probe and gfi. The voltage is there. Now you have applied a safety to prevent a major injury. If you switch to an external pump and use vortec powerheads. A large portion of problem would be solved. But then you still have your heater. Any time a wire is in water it can put off stray voltage. The only way a power head won't put off voltage would be to over insulate it including wire. I have talked to several people on this issue. Some of them to biomedical repair. So I just use a gfci outlet and don't worrie about it. But if it's high enough to where you are getting shocked. That is didint a problem. Oh and lfs said he had salt creep on his wires that went to outlet. And that got him
From what I understand even with a ground probe and gfi. The voltage is there. Now you have applied a safety to prevent a major injury. If you switch to an external pump and use vortec powerheads. A large portion of problem would be solved. But then you still have your heater. Any time a wire is in water it can put off stray voltage. The only way a power head won't put off voltage would be to over insulate it including wire. I have talked to several people on this issue. Some of them to biomedical repair. So I just use a gfci outlet and don't worrie about it. But if it's high enough to where you are getting shocked. That is didint a problem. Oh and lfs said he had salt creep on his wires that went to outlet. And that got him
reef_junkie
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In my experience you're never going to completely rid a tank of voltage. Having a a few mili volts is about as good as it gets. As others have asked, what is your current voltage reading?
Blue Lip
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You probably have a short in one device. If your tank is on concrete or tile and on ground floor you may be getting shocked when your shoes are off and you are grounded or when you touch something that is.
reef_junkie
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You'd need a multimeter to check the actual voltage. When I notice voltage in my tank I first check my cheap pump (reactors, ato) then my wave makers. Normally one of those are the culprit. I have seen leds ground through the canopy they're mounted on through a tank. Basically salt makes everything worse sorry to say.
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nanomania
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True.. iv seen some videos, they say that stray voltage can be in the air too.. it was funny, but after reading alot, its true, many old lights too have stray passes thru air. Even if therz some distance..
melev
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"A lot" and "lot less" is too vague. How did you determine more or less thus far? Here's my article on how to measure, using a cheap meter from Harbor Freight. http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/45-How-to-Test-for-Stray-Electricity
I have 118 in one tank. plugged into gfci so I dont care. It also happens to be the one tank I have where everything is growing the best and best colors.
Only time this is a problem is if your hand is in the tank, and your feet are in water. Even then if its gfci circuit it will trip before you die. lol
Only time this is a problem is if your hand is in the tank, and your feet are in water. Even then if its gfci circuit it will trip before you die. lol
Unplug everything. Measure voltage. Put your hand in the tank and move the water around. Measure voltage while doing that. Youll see some voltage is created just by moving water.
JMacedo
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The use of a multimeter to test for stray voltage is a must. During all my years in the hobby most of the times I thought I had significant stray voltage in the tank, it was not stray voltage but just small cuts on my fingers from handling rocks! lol Those very small cuts sometimes make us feel the pinch from just to the contact with the salt or small normal stray voltage in the tank. If the voltage is significant try to find the culprit.
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nanomania
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Hey guys, i came to know that it was my float switch and i guess i had left the wire connecters open. So i changed the float switches, reconnected the wires, and also taped the connected part. Though iv not yet bought the voltage meter, i did touch the water and i could not feel anything at all. Its been 24hrs and no shocks yet. Had touched in the morning before keaving for work, and now after coming back from work. Keeping my fingers crossed. Continuing with diy for a few days, lets see. Or will buy hydor smart level, as thats the only ato available with 2yrs warantee. I have purchased relay too, but not working. Dont know why... here are some pics of my sump, wires, etc.
HERE IS HOW I CONNECTED THE FLOATSWITCH AND TAPED IT.
HERE IS HOW I CONNECTED THE FLOATSWITCH AND TAPED IT.
melev
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While I did something similar years ago, your DIY makes me nervous. It looks like masking tape in the first image. With electricity, always use electrical tape.
Also, the part I spliced together was then inserted into a ziplock bag to act like a waterproof cape, ziptied shut to keep moisture out. That area was then oriented in a way that kept it dry, but if water were to splash against it somehow, water would run down the ziplock bag, rather than find a way in.
Using a relay is wiser. You have less voltage going into that float switch. Instead of 110v, it would be 12v. Here's a page with details and links: http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html
Can you explain what is going on with the white plug in the first picture, that has a black tube sticking out of it?
Finally, remember the rule that all electrical needs drip loops. The piece hanging down from the float switch should be elevated so water can't follow the cord to the connection we currently see.
Also, the part I spliced together was then inserted into a ziplock bag to act like a waterproof cape, ziptied shut to keep moisture out. That area was then oriented in a way that kept it dry, but if water were to splash against it somehow, water would run down the ziplock bag, rather than find a way in.
Using a relay is wiser. You have less voltage going into that float switch. Instead of 110v, it would be 12v. Here's a page with details and links: http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html
Can you explain what is going on with the white plug in the first picture, that has a black tube sticking out of it?
Finally, remember the rule that all electrical needs drip loops. The piece hanging down from the float switch should be elevated so water can't follow the cord to the connection we currently see.
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nanomania
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While I did something similar years ago, your DIY makes me nervous. It looks like masking tape in the first image. With electricity, always use electrical tape.
Also, the part I spliced together was then inserted into a ziplock bag to act like a waterproof cape, ziptied shut to keep moisture out. That area was then oriented in a way that kept it dry, but if water were to splash against it somehow, water would run down the ziplock bag, rather than find a way in.
Using a relay is wiser. You have less voltage going into that float switch. Instead of 110v, it would be 12v. Here's a page with details and links: http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html
Can you explain what is going on with the white plug in the first picture, that has a black tube sticking out of it?
Finally, remember the rule that all electrical needs drip loops. The piece hanging down from the float switch should be elevated so water can't follow the cord to the connection we currently see.
In india we have 220v. Well iv used elec tape inside, then taped it with this. The black this sticking out is jus rubber, used it as the wire was very thin and there was a gap in the plug. Thats the female plug attached to male plug of the pump in the reservoir.
