Shock from LEDs

[mr11]

Has anyone else been shocked by their LEDs? I have a "premium" black box fixture from a sponsor. When I have my hand in the water and touch one of the metal mounting legs I get shocked. Anyone else have this problem? What can I do about this?

 

[Brew12]

I doubt it is your LED that is shocking you. It is probably something else shorted out in your tank and you touching the metal mounting leg is providing the return path.

 

[mr11]

So I should get a voltmeter and test? Systematically unplug components in my tank until I see a drop of voltage?

 

[Brew12]

If you have a voltmeter, that is the safest way to do it. Test your voltage from water to a ground source. Then test it from the LED frame to a ground source.

I would start by unplugging heaters if you find the voltage is water to ground.

 

[mr11]

Thanks. I actually am not running any heaters on my tank but I'll investigate

 

[Brew12]

Sounds like you have already eliminated the most likely source then!

Good luck!

BTW... it shouldn't be your LED fixture because if it has a metal housing, that metal housing should be connected to a ground plug. If it uses a 2 prong plug instead of 3 that could be a problem. Even then, you shouldn't get shocked buy touching the water and light leg unless your have a ground plug in your tank. I highly recommend putting one in your sump but others disagree.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sounds like you have already eliminated the most likely source then!

Good luck!

BTW... it shouldn't be your LED fixture because if it has a metal housing, that metal housing should be connected to a ground plug. If it uses a 2 prong plug instead of 3 that could be a problem. Even then, you shouldn't get shocked buy touching the water and light leg unless your have a ground plug in your tank. I highly recommend putting one in your sump but others disagree.

It actually good to check both the tank and the fixture. There's numerous reports of faulty plugs and just plain sloppy wiring.

 

[Brew12]

It actually good to check both the tank and the fixture. There's numerous reports of faulty plugs and just plain sloppy wiring.

I agree it is worth checking but it is very unlikely.

If the metal housing was not grounded and was energized he still wouldn't get shocked when he touched it and the water unless he has a ground plug in his tank. There still wouldn't be a path for current flow without a ground plug. That is why it is much more likely for him to have a faulted electrical component in his tank with the LED frame being the path to ground.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I agree it is worth checking but it is very unlikely.

If the metal housing was not grounded and was energized he still wouldn't get shocked when he touched it and the water unless he has a ground plug in his tank. There still wouldn't be a path for current flow without a ground plug. That is why it is much more likely for him to have a faulted electrical component in his tank with the LED frame being the path to ground.

Agreed. Unless he has reverse polarity somewhere. Or a lifted ground. Or he is the ground on the tank and the leak is tank to ground. Or light to ground. Best to check it all back to the first original plug.
It actually and sadly not to unlikely that the fixture is very poorly made with little to no quality control. The American black box distributors (still China made) have several links to help and such from jostled wires etc.

 

[mr11]

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to go pickup a voltmeter today and I'll let you know. I'll probably have some more questions too

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to go pickup a voltmeter today and I'll let you know. I'll probably have some more questions too

Also pick up a polarity checker. It plugs in to the household plug. Usually under $10.

 

[mr11]

The suspense must continue. I'm not spending $50 for a multimeter at homedepot when I can get a voltmeter online for less than half that price.

 

[Brew12]

Just please be careful around your tank until you can find your voltage leak!

Your local Walmart may carry a much cheaper model if you would want to go that route. Just checked their website and they are showing a $30 model on the shelf in the store on sale for $14 that would work for you.

 

[Joey waid]

Pawn shops always have cheap meters too.

 

[new2mac]

Had this once, appeared to be broken heater. Brrr...

 

[Benders Bay]

Harbor Freight has cheap ones too. Those should be good enough for what you need

 

[mr11]

Ok so probe in water plus probe on LED leg = 75 volts. I unplugged various things. Unplugging my Koralia powerhead dropped it to 25 volts. I couldn't find the source of the 25. What next?

 

[RamsReef]

I thought you just said your powerhead was 25 volts, so you still have 50 volts somewhere?

 

[PaReeferJ]

Ok so probe in water plus probe on LED leg = 75 volts. I unplugged various things. Unplugging my Koralia powerhead dropped it to 25 volts. I couldn't find the source of the 25. What next?

Everything is unplugged and you still have 25 volts?

 

[mr11]

I thought you just said your powerhead was 25 volts, so you still have 50 volts somewhere?

I started with 75v, unplugged Koralia which dropped it to 25v. So I remove 50v by unplugging the Koralia.

Everything is unplugged and you still have 25 volts?

I didn't unplug everything at once, just went around unplugging and plugging back in certain things to see if it changed anything. I never unpluged the ATO or the lights though.

I'm inexperienced with this area so any advice is appreciated. Thanks everyone for your help.