Stray voltage

[Daniel225]

So if you’ve read my previous post I’ve had 4 chromis all die in the same day and couldn’t decide why while trying to trouble shoot the problem I got a nasty shock from the display and came across stray voltage i know it’s a 50/50 for some people but I couldn’t resit buying a multi meter so I got these result ( all was measured in the sump ) :

Sump

Extensions 1v (Not in water)
Skimmer 7.6v
Heater 18.7v
Ato 3.9v. (Sensor on outside glass & pump in water). Ato pump & sensor 4.2v
Refuigm light 0.8v. (Not in water?)
Pump 13.3v

Display

Nero 5 (1) 25v
Nero 5 (2) 23.8v. Combined 47.8v (doesn’t add up?)
Hydra 32hd (1) 0.2v
Hydra 32hd (2) 0.1v Combined 0.3v

everthing powerd on give me 89.7v (attached picture)

from what I understand all tanks give some volts off but was told the following when measuring

0-40v - good
40-50v - not good
50v + bad

so going off all the information I know that’s not good and could be why I lost 80% of my fish in 1 day also I found 3 fish stuck on my wave maker and seeing how these throw off close to 50v on there own makes sense to me but I know abouslty nothing about electricity (I can change a plug and that’s about it) So could this be the cause of my mystery fish death any advice on what I should do now? also I have 2 chromis still in and have been for for 2 days now since the accident could anyone maybe explain this Also?

 

[Reefahholic]

Most of the time it seems to be a heater when I come across these threads.

From what I understand there’s also induced voltage form equipment (pumps, heaters, etc), but that is different from stray current. A guy on my forum was recently measuring 24V induced voltage, but nothing after he installed a grounding probe according to him. In your case, it might be a good idea to look into grounding probes. I’d like to have one myself.

Try to unplug one piece of equipment at a time until you find your culprit.

 

[Daniel225]

How do I test for induced voltage with that multimeter what setting do I need? Also from what I understand the grounding probes are only a temporary fix as whatever is shocking me and possibily killing my fish is only going to keep getting worse I would rather replace than hide the problem but a lot of my equipment is emitting quite a lot of voltage as you see above and the return pump and heater are both new with the tank (1 month max) rest was bought second hand is the only way of doing it to buy all new equipment again and hope it doesn’t do the same ?

 

[Daniel225]

Bump

 

[ichthyoid]

How did you measure the voltage on your tank?
Specifically, where are the meter probes touching when the readings are taken?

As mentioned, it’s typically one component, found by disconnecting them one at a time, until voltage drops.

Heaters and pumps are prime suspects.

 

[Daniel225]

How did you measure the voltage on your tank?
Specifically, where are the meter probes touching when the readings are taken?

As mentioned, it’s typically one component, found by disconnecting them one at a time, until voltage drops.

Heaters and pumps are prime suspects.

Red probe in sump black probe in earth in extension and i turned everything off and switch 1 thing on took the reading switched it back off and went on to the next plug I repeated it for everything in tank even light they still emitting some voltage into tank and mostly the wave makers are high but everything is high by itself in my opinion and when everything is on running as normal I got the reading of 89.7v

 

[Lyss]

So, I recently had an electrical issue with a pump and here are my thoughts: I think we use the term “stray-voltage” without really understanding what is and is not dangerous. Fish aren’t grounded so they can’t be shocked. But if a piece of equipment has a fault, or a cord is energized, this is super dangerous for us, and the fish can show signs of serious stress and irritation. That’s why we’re told to plug everything into gfci. In my case gfci never tripped until I put a grounding probe in the tank.

Prior to putting the probe in, I was made aware of the issue b/c my fish randomly started freaking out. I couldn’t figure out why and started one by one turning off equipment. When I turned off the pump the fish settled down and acted normal again. So I got a grounding probe, b/c I still wasn’t sure it was an electrical issue, b/c gfci never tripped.

When the gfci tripped w/the addition of the probe I knew there was an issue and removed/replaced the pump that was the source. No issues since.

 

[ichthyoid]

I would unplug them all. Then reconnect one at a time, until you see the voltage.

Completely disconnect the devices.

Starting with heater(s) and pumps, reconnect them one by one.

 

[Daniel225]

Hmmm I’m no electrical wiss but

So, I recently had an electrical issue with a pump and here are my thoughts: I think we use the term “stray-voltage” without really understanding what is and is not dangerous. Fish aren’t grounded so they can’t be shocked. But if a piece of equipment has a fault, or a cord is energized, this is super dangerous for us, and the fish can show signs of serious stress and irritation. That’s why we’re told to plug everything into gfci. In my case gfci never tripped until I put a grounding probe in the tank.

Prior to putting the probe in, I was made aware of the issue b/c my fish randomly started freaking out. I couldn’t figure out why and started one by one turning off equipment. When I turned off the pump the fish settled down and acted normal again. So I got a grounding probe, b/c I still wasn’t sure it was an electrical issue, b/c gfci never tripped.

When the gfci tripped w/the addition of the probe I knew there was an issue and removed/replaced the pump that was the source. No issues since.

I’m no election but from what I read about the gcfi do they work in the uk? as aren’t our plugs grounded anyway and fuse to stop things grounding out and shorting?

 

[Lyss]

Hmmm I’m no electrical wiss but


I’m no election but from what I read about the gcfi do they work in the uk? as aren’t our plugs grounded anyway and fuse to stop things grounding out and shorting?

Oh, I didn’t realize you’re in the uk — it may very well be different. Since you have the meter (I didn’t have one) and can test, it’s good to carry on testing equipment one by one. If you felt a shock from the water something’s up.

 

[Daniel225]

I would unplug them all. Then reconnect one at a time, until you see the voltage.

Completely disconnect the devices.

Starting with heater(s) and pumps, reconnect them one by one.

Yes this is how I got the results from my first test nothing is overly high apart from wave makers but when all plugged in adds up to the total of 89.7v

 

[ichthyoid]

You might try measuring DC voltage to ground, using the same protocol as above. All unplugged, adding them back one at a time.

Sometimes you may detect a DC voltage from defective devices. Which may be intermittent.


If you are in the UK, I presume you have 230 volts AC at 50 Hz? Be very careful.

 

[Daniel225]

You might try measuring DC voltage to ground, using the same protocol as above. All unplugged, adding them back one at a time.

Sometimes you may detect a DC voltage from defective devices. Which may be intermittent.


If you are in the UK, I presume you have 230 volts AC at 50 Hz? Be very careful.

Interested results I got reading from 3 devices 1st being the ATO of about 0.4v max all the result I got was intermittent as you see from video bouncing between the highest reading I got which I what I’m posting and back to 0 and secondly both wavemakers one of about 0.5 and the other being as high a 2.1 what’s interesting about these is that non of which are uk plugs this could be why I’m getting shocked and I need to ground them with these gfci plugs ?

 

[Daniel225]

Not sure if video worked for you but I cant see it so I also uploaded it to YouTube