Shocked with grounding probe

[bubbaque]

I use a grounding probe on my tank and today I noticed when I stick my hand in the tank, I get a shocked feeling on some tiny cuts. Why is this happening with a grounding probe? The probe is plugged into a power strip and the power strip is plugged into a gfci outlet.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Do you still feel shocked with the probe unplugged?

 

[bubbaque]

It zaps me either way.

 

[Instigate]

Do you get the same sensation with all equipment unplugged?

 

[bubbaque]

Do you get the same sensation with all equipment unplugged?

I’m not sure. It will take me an hr to unplug and plug stuff in. I will do that if needed.

I thought a grounding probe prevents stuff like this.

 

[KrisReef]

Can you check the ground? maybe it's not connected inside the wall plate.

 

[bubbaque]

Okay well here is something weird. I went and unplugged everything from the wall all at once. I was still getting zapped some how.

 

[Instigate]

Okay well here is something weird. I went and unplugged everything from the wall all at once. I was still getting zapped some how.

Maybe you're just feeling a stinging sensation from the salt? It's always a good idea to check for stray voltage and make sure your ground probe has a good ground but I bet that's all it is.

 

[bubbaque]

Maybe you're just feeling a stinging sensation from the salt? It's always a good idea to check for stray voltage and make sure your ground probe has a good ground but I bet that's all it is.

I don't feel it with shoes on though.

 

[declanisadog]

I had a similar experience a few years ago. It turned out to be a temp probe. Never would’ve thought

 

[Instigate]

I don't feel it with shoes on though.

That's odd. Are your lights on gfci? Are they laying on the rim of the tank? @Brew12 knows how to troubleshoot it I'm sure.

/did you check for stray voltage?

 

[bubbaque]

The lights are on a gfci. If I touch my lights and water at the same time my lights shock me.

 

[Instigate]

The lights are on a gfci. If I touch my lights and water at the same time my lights shock me.

I would guess that the lights are providing a ground. Are you 100% that nothing in the tank in plugged in? I'm curious what brew will say. Anything on auto battery backup?

 

[GK3]

Is the power strip also a surge protector? If so, I’d bet that the ground on the outlets on the surge protector are not true ground as you find inside your wall. Thus your grounding probe is lowering the potential, but not all the way.

Also, I’d stop testing this with your hand. Whatever is causing this could be failing equipment. This could start leaking higher voltage levels and will shock you a lot more. Also, if you remove that grounding probe, the voltage differential may increase and give a larger shock. I suggest you start checking with a multi-meter.

 

[bobman]

Are you also sure the GCFI is working it would have tripped if it was electricity. Some people do get a tingle sensation from the salt but with shoes on you should still get the same sensation. Also keep in mind even though everything is unplugged anything with capacitors will keep a charge even after being unplugged.

 

[GK3]

Are you also sure the GCFI is working it would have tripped if it was electricity. Some people do get a tingle sensation from the salt but with shoes on you should still get the same sensation. Also keep in mind even though everything is unplugged anything with capacitors will keep a charge even after being unplugged.

Good point on the capacitors. Should be noted that once unplugged, the caps will only hold a charge for a certain amount of time. I’d suspect 5 minutes would be plenty of time to wait for the caps to discharge.

This is the same reason your cable company says “unplug everything, wait 5 min, and plug it back in.”

 

[bubbaque]

I am sure the gfci works. I went through 80% of the equipment in the tank before I just decided to unplug the whole power strip. Maybe the power strip holds some electricity. I will finish going through the equipment and see what I can find. I just went and double checked the getting zapped with and without shoes and it definitely shocks without shoes and when I wear them I am ok.

 

[Instigate]

I am sure the gfci works. I went through 80% of the equipment in the tank before I just decided to unplug the whole power strip. Maybe the power strip holds some electricity. I will finish going through the equipment and see what I can find. I just went and double checked the getting zapped with and without shoes and it definitely shocks without shoes and when I wear them I am ok.

Get a multimeter out! I didn't think a little shock was anything until I learned that even a minor shock can put your heart into arrhythmia and not have any effect till hours or days later.

 

[bobman]

Get a multimeter out! I didn't think a little shock was anything until I learned that even a minor shock can put your heart into arrhythmia and not have any effect till hours or days later.

As an EMT I second this. If you know you are getting shocked dont stick you hand back in the water.

 

[KrisReef]

The lights are on a gfci. If I touch my lights and water at the same time my lights shock me.

The million dollar question, does the GFCI trip when your lights shock you? I read an article that stated something like: "The GFCI only detects current differential, and it cannot detect the difference between you and a light bulb. When you are getting shocked, YOU are the light bulb, and the GFCI cannot differentiate between you switching your lights on and off and just reaching into the tank and absorbing stray current."

Another member on here told me I am ignorant and insisted that the GFCI must have tripped if I got shocked. Help me learn, thanks!

Keep your shoes on, and keep your hands out! Hope you locate and remove the source of potential in you system.