Help!! Electrified Refugium

[donflaminco]

I have a 210 reef tank with a 75 gallon refugium, they are seperated by a wall and piped with pvc, for some reason the refugium is electrified, there are 2 heaters a 24 mag drive and a 57 watt aqua sterilizer if I unplug all of the above the refugium is still charged but If I kill the breaker to the outlets in the room the charge goes away, will a ground probe solve the problem, oh yah their are no other wires in or in contact with the water or refugium, the charge is big enough that I cant put my hand in the refugium water

 

[bradbmbj]

Start unplugging all equipment one at a time, when you find out which one it is throw it away

 

[donflaminco]

I unplugged everything and it still has a charge

 

[Imzadi]

Are the outlets in that room on a different breaker than your DT?

 

[bradbmbj]

Is there any chance that the pvc pipe in the wall is contacting a wire?

 

[Imzadi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14945535#post14945535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bradbmbj
Is there any chance that the pvc pipe in the wall is contacting a wire?

PVC is non-conductive... the water inside it on the other hand, is. Could be the charge is in the DT, and grounding in the Sump room. If EVERYTHING is unpluged that is in the sump... then it is not the sump. Unplug stuff in the DT and see if the power stops.

 

[donflaminco]

there is no charge in the dt only in the sump

 

[bradbmbj]

I know PVC is non conductive, but high humidity and salt creep can change that quick.

 

[donflaminco]

everything on the same circuit, and gfi'd

 

[bradbmbj]

step on a thick towel and try it again

 

[Imzadi]

I bet if you had a volt meter on the DT, one lead to a real ground, there would be power there...

You are probably insulated while your hand is in the DT. If nothing is plugged in, that is in the sump... then it is not starting there, but you are getting a charge, so it is ending there.

I don't know anything about salt creep... but High Humidity on the outside of a PVC pipe, will not charge the water on the inside... I could be wrong.

 

[bradbmbj]

Its not the issue of humidity on the outside of the PVC charging the water on the inside, what I am getting at, and this is a long shot I agree, but if the PVC in the wall is contacting an exposed wire and the humidity levels are high enough, than the current can travel on the outside of the PVC into the sump.

 

[125G Reefer]

The current may be in the DT, its following the path of least resistance into the sump for some reason and there is where he is picking it up as a charge. Unplug the stuff in your DT one at a time as described above.

 

[donflaminco]

thanks for mentioning the insulation thing dt is on a carpet and pad "insulating me and the tank inhabitants from the charge sump is on wood on cement no insulation under my feet ( I was barefooted) it was a bad koralia powerhead in the dt, all is well now just put in my backup thanks

 

[bradbmbj]

Thats why I had mentioned standing on a towel, Good to hear all is well