AdamSabina
New member
2 can be worse. You make what is referred to as a ground wet. This isn't a big kiss you on most systems but on extremely complex system like skilifts it can cause an issuA
Are grounding probes necessary?
- Thread starter mskvarenina
- Start date
2 can be worse. You make what is referred to as a ground wet. This isn't a big kiss you on most systems but on extremely complex system like skilifts it can cause an issuA
That is correct.....all that is needed is one. Livestock safety aside, I would rather have a grounding probe than be lying unconscious beside my tank lol. I have been zapped pretty good from malfunctioning pumps.
KrazyOnetime
New member
IMO I would never intentionally complete a circuit that may/may not exist from "stray voltage" that would have NO effect to an aquarium without a way to Ground. Which these do very well. Think about it I can hold either a positive wire/cable with no effect if there is no ground . As soon as the circuit is complete (Ground added) .......well I'm sure you can understand what will happen.
sleepydoc
Team RC
Surprised it took so long for someone to bring up a GFCI....
As many have said, the effects of stray voltage are speculative. I do know that if you have stray voltage and you connect a grounding probe it will turn into stray current, and in general currents are more harmful than voltages.
Re: Randy's post, bad side of having the probe to conduct is that it may well trip while you're gone, leaving the tank and equipment off. Any GFCI you use for a tank should trip at 5 mA, Far below the current needed to injure. The one case where they won't help is if you have an isolation transformer, such as a ballast for fluorescent lights.
Of the two, I would argue a GFCI is more important. If you have a grounding probe and no GFCI, you could be running a couple amps through the probe and never know it until the probe gets pulled out of the water while your hand is in.
As many have said, the effects of stray voltage are speculative. I do know that if you have stray voltage and you connect a grounding probe it will turn into stray current, and in general currents are more harmful than voltages.
Re: Randy's post, bad side of having the probe to conduct is that it may well trip while you're gone, leaving the tank and equipment off. Any GFCI you use for a tank should trip at 5 mA, Far below the current needed to injure. The one case where they won't help is if you have an isolation transformer, such as a ballast for fluorescent lights.
Of the two, I would argue a GFCI is more important. If you have a grounding probe and no GFCI, you could be running a couple amps through the probe and never know it until the probe gets pulled out of the water while your hand is in.
I have two because my sump and tank are widely separated (different floors of the house) and in an electrical emergency, there is no reason to think they will even be in contact to ground the other part.
Yes, having GFCI's trip is a fact of life. That's why almost every piece of equipment is on its own GFCI.
Paul B
Premium Member
OK I have a Phd in GFCIs. Not really, but they sent me to school for them when they were invented (probably by the guy who invented the internet)
I have also been a master electrician for 40 years. By law, any artificial body of water needs to be protected by a GFCI. That doesn't apply to home aquariums but it does for public aquariums and any artificial water container as a pond, pool, or sprinkler system.
There is a good reason for that and it has nothing to do with stray voltage or GFCIs.
It is only there to keep you alive. Those systems also, by law have to be grounded, but most are grounded by the associated plumbing. Grounding probes in home aquariums are a personal preference and many people have different ideas about them so do whatever makes you happy. I try to stay away from GFCI and grounding probe threads so have fun. My tank uses both but if you want to run high voltage power cables through your tank to re charge your electric eel, good luck with that. As long as you are happy, thats all that matters.
I have also been a master electrician for 40 years. By law, any artificial body of water needs to be protected by a GFCI. That doesn't apply to home aquariums but it does for public aquariums and any artificial water container as a pond, pool, or sprinkler system.
There is a good reason for that and it has nothing to do with stray voltage or GFCIs.
It is only there to keep you alive. Those systems also, by law have to be grounded, but most are grounded by the associated plumbing. Grounding probes in home aquariums are a personal preference and many people have different ideas about them so do whatever makes you happy. I try to stay away from GFCI and grounding probe threads so have fun. My tank uses both but if you want to run high voltage power cables through your tank to re charge your electric eel, good luck with that. As long as you are happy, thats all that matters.
gpdno
New member
Simple. Place the metal end in you sump/tank. Plug the other end into a power outlet.
Despairodyne
New member
If you have anything that might leak voltage in your DT, You should have a GP in your DT. Once you shut off the return pump, there probably isn't a path to your GP in the sump.
You can wire your outlets in parallel or use the plug in ones on a power strip (make sure they are the ones that don't trip when the power goes out) and use a GFCI breaker on the circuit. Either way, anything protected at the outlet won't kill the whole circuit if it
trips.
Paranoid perhaps but past performance does not rule out an unpleasant future. A 2F capacitor almost killed me. Paranoid can be good.
You can wire your outlets in parallel or use the plug in ones on a power strip (make sure they are the ones that don't trip when the power goes out) and use a GFCI breaker on the circuit. Either way, anything protected at the outlet won't kill the whole circuit if it
trips.
Paranoid perhaps but past performance does not rule out an unpleasant future. A 2F capacitor almost killed me. Paranoid can be good.
Scorpius
Stick Head
A very different response to grounding probes.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/problemsolving/a/grounding.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/problemsolving/a/grounding.htm
Despairodyne
New member
As soon as there voltage leaking, a GP/GFCI will trip and the misbehaving device will be turned off. Both fish and fish persons are better off.
Problems are discovered as they happen.
Problems are discovered as they happen.
Sacohen
New member
I have never cleaned mine, but I would think that a vinegar soak would work to remove and coraline that may be growing on it.
As far as removing it, I would take the probe out of the tank or sump before you unplug it.
Once it is unplugged there is no protection so if you do have a voltage leak that can cause injury it will become active once the probe is unplugged and when you reach in to remove the probe bad stuff could happen.
Also don't put your hand in the water while the probe is out of the water and unplugged.
As far as removing it, I would take the probe out of the tank or sump before you unplug it.
Once it is unplugged there is no protection so if you do have a voltage leak that can cause injury it will become active once the probe is unplugged and when you reach in to remove the probe bad stuff could happen.
Also don't put your hand in the water while the probe is out of the water and unplugged.
Technically, I agree, if you have a GFI on all equipment, and I mean ALL of it, you should not need a ground probe.
Here is an interesting read...
http://angel-strike.com/aquarium/GroundingProbes.html
mskvarenina
Member
I wonder really how much (if any) all the pumps and things cause to the fish in general. I recently put my ear directly on the glass to take a listen and I was shocked just how noisy the tank really is with the powerheads buzzing and the sound of the return water entering the tank.
