Voltage reading in tank is 8.1v is this a problem?

saltyfilmfolks · Apr 28, 2016

Cheers!

twilliard · Apr 28, 2016

Waterjockey said:
I wouldn't trust a grounding probe in the tank to do a lot for my protection.....a ground in a salt-water bath is not a "hard" ground....I could just as easily end up being a parallel path to ground. The *only* thing I would trust is a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). The cost of a gfci isn't that much more that a grounding probe and (a) it could save your life, and (b) no danger of cooking any livestock in the tank by completing the circuit to ground in the event of stray currents in the tank. There is no way in the world I am going to feel any safer from shock with a ground probe in a liquid bath...way way too many possible paths for current. The only thing I might do, is put a ground probe in, wire it through a resistor and a small led, then to ground. That way if there stray voltage in the tank, the little led will light up warning you the tank is "hot", yet only provide minimal current flow (just enough to light the led.

Cheers!

This here is a cool idea!

Waterjockey · Apr 28, 2016

twilliard said:
This here is a cool idea!

Wish I could claim credit for it, but ground fault indicator lights have been around a long time in heavy industry. If you were to build one (I'll probably get around to building one in the fall), I would include a test button/circuit so you could do a lamp test periodically and before sticking your hands in the tank/sump.

Cheers!

twilliard · Apr 28, 2016

I am getting about 2.5 volts through my tank, no big deal to me but would be fun to build something like that. Here is what I am currently building

brandon429 · Apr 28, 2016

hey neat thread

ive never v tested my reef

given that I only have a heater in the water and an airstone, any leaks would be from the neotherm if any

so is there a resting voltage simply because of charged particles a dc meter would show?

twilliard · Apr 28, 2016

brandon429 said:
hey neat thread

ive never v tested my reef

given that I only have a heater in the water and an airstone, any leaks would be from the neotherm if any

so is there a resting voltage simply because of charged particles a dc meter would show?

I think so
I have a funny deal with my voltage wish I knew how to do videos
On my spyglass reactor I get 1.9 volts at the bottom (out side riser tube) and as I slide the probe up the chamber the voltage increases to 3.8 volts.. weird!

brandon429 · Apr 28, 2016

then your tank has the output of a 1 s Lipo battery cell meaning it could power (w some sort of ideal capture/capacitance and distribution scheme) a host of small electrical devices, toy drones etc. that's neat heh

whats its milliamperage

can I run nine toys off it?

Waterjockey · Apr 28, 2016

twilliard said:
I am getting about 2.5 volts through my tank, no big deal to me but would be fun to build something like that. Here is what I am currently building

Cool! What are we building?

twilliard · Apr 28, 2016

Waterjockey said:
Cool! What are we building?

3 6 channel led fixtures for a buddy of mine
(Not to take thread off track)

Waterjockey · Apr 28, 2016

twilliard said:
I think so
I have a funny deal with my voltage wish I knew how to do videos
On my spyglass reactor I get 1.9 volts at the bottom (out side riser tube) and as I slide the probe up the chamber the voltage increases to 3.8 volts.. weird!

Just curious....is it the same if the pump is running or if the pump is shut off?

Cheers!

Waterjockey · Apr 28, 2016

brandon429 said:
hey neat thread

ive never v tested my reef

given that I only have a heater in the water and an airstone, any leaks would be from the neotherm if any

so is there a resting voltage simply because of charged particles a dc meter would show?

I imagine you can get minor stray floating voltages/currents circulating around as many our powered devices and power cords do run submerged....but unless you have stuck a grounding probe in you tank (or have a piece of equipment shorting to it's ground supply, you don't really have a ground reference.

I've never tried a meter in my tank....now it sounds like a good experiment for tomorrow

Cheers