Just got really Zapped - Electrical Shock - From Tank/ Light Fixture, please help

[heathlindner25]

i cant reach my outlet its behind the tank stand... 1 surge protector is plugged into it, and then a have another plugged into that and all my devices plugged into the two surge protectors.

can i just plug this into the surge protector that runs to the wall outlet?

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Manufa...8&qid=1488415009&sr=1-3&keywords=gfci+adapter

or better yet, this product, since the amazon one wont get to me till friday.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1297864

I smell smoke...

 

[scuzy]

Daisy changing isn't recommended.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[moneymm]

Now.. If you do have a multimeter you can
1-set it to measure AC voltage
2-place the black probe to the screw on your outlet or even into the round ground pin socket (assuming USA with 2 vertical line/neutral flat blade and 1 round ground hole outlets)
3-place the tip of the red probe into the water and look at the voltage..
With a failed piece of equipment you should see roughly 50-100% of the line voltage reading (120V in US)
4-Keep the probes where they are and start unplugging anything line powered thats in the water..
5-When the voltage reading drops considerably.. You found the culprit..
6-Continue unplugging to see if anything else causes a reduction in voltage (but don't assume its bad yet)
(don't be surprised to still see voltage.. As long as its less than oh 30% of line voltage it should just be ignored as its just picking up the emi,etc.. from near by electrical devices,etc.. motors/lights,etc..)

7-Now assuming you found the culprit you can continue with the probes in place and plug it back in.. If the voltage jumps back up again.. Thats surely your bad device..


8-Then still go out and buy a GFCI device..

okay got the multimeter.

it showed .8 with everything plugged in, and with nothing plugged in. nothing dropped it. i plugged the light back in, and there is no longer a current running to it. and that didnt have an effect either on the voltage reading either.

i wish it showed something went bad, b/c then i could atleast go to bed tonight not worried that this is gonna cause a fire or something.

any ideas how to find the problem now?

they didnt have a GFCI adapter at ace hardware. i guess ill get the one they have on amazon. and somehow get it behind my tank to the outlet. or just run extension cord to a different outlet.

if i plug in the gfci adapter to an outlet, can i then run an ext cord and a power strip to that extension cord, and plug in all my devices to that strip?

 

[ajoe]

I had a similar experience and it ended up being a very old heater at the end of it's life. Replaced that and all was well. Heater ? Powerhead ? possibly

 

[VirginiaMarine]

I stuck my hand in my sump recently when I noticed I had no flow in my reactor. I got a rude awakening with a healthy shock. I keep a ground probe in my tank but one of my pumps melted its cord and exposed the wires in the water. Check your heaters and cords. I suspect your problem is in one of them.

 

[jml1149]

okay got the multimeter.

it showed .8 with everything plugged in, and with nothing plugged in. nothing dropped it. i plugged the light back in, and there is no longer a current running to it. and that didnt have an effect either on the voltage reading either.

i wish it showed something went bad, b/c then i could atleast go to bed tonight not worried that this is gonna cause a fire or something.

any ideas how to find the problem now?

they didnt have a GFCI adapter at ace hardware. i guess ill get the one they have on amazon. and somehow get it behind my tank to the outlet. or just run extension cord to a different outlet.

if i plug in the gfci adapter to an outlet, can i then run an ext cord and a power strip to that extension cord, and plug in all my devices to that strip?

Did you specifically set the multimeter to read AC Voltage? Should be a V with a squiggle above it. With no grounding probe, 0.8 should be darn near impossible, unless you were measuring DC.

 

[jml1149]

:headwallblue:

If a device is short to tank water, a grounding probe will trip the breaker. It's what's for dinner. It completes the circuit. Like you complete me.

This is why the OP was shocked, but her fish aren't dead.

 

[moneymm]

Did you specifically set the multimeter to read AC Voltage? Should be a V with a squiggle above it. With no grounding probe, 0.8 should be darn near impossible, unless you were measuring DC.

yes .8 when set to read AC, it has a 500 option and 200 option, it is 0 when on 500 and .8 when on 200. when i first put it in the water it is like 2.4 or so then quickly drops and settles at .8

 

[mcgyvr]

Well.. first stick the black end in one flat prong on your outlet then the red in the other and make sure you are reading 120V (or close) just to make sure your meter is even working..

It could be an intermittent failure I suppose (or you don't have a good ground connection when you ran your tests)..
Then place the black lead on the case of the ATI fixture and red into the water again (right at the edge/corner of the sheet metal to ensure a good contact and wiggle the black around a bit and see if the readings change)
There is an oxide/finish on the chassis of the ATI that can prevent a solid ground connection hence the request to place it on the edge/wiggle

 

[moneymm]

Well.. first stick the black end in one flat prong on your outlet then the red in the other and make sure you are reading 120V (or close) just to make sure your meter is even working..

It could be an intermittent failure I suppose (or you don't have a good ground connection when you ran your tests)..
Then place the black lead on the case of the ATI fixture and red into the water again (right at the edge/corner of the sheet metal to ensure a good contact and wiggle the black around a bit and see if the readings change)
There is an oxide/finish on the chassis of the ATI that can prevent a solid ground connection hence the request to place it on the edge/wiggle

i thought the black was just to ground the meter, so i was using it on a switch as the closest outlet is too far away.

 

[mcgyvr]

i thought the black was just to ground the meter, so i was using it on a switch as the closest outlet is too far away.

Yes..The black gives you a reference (to ground)
But you can stick the red in one slot of an outlet and the black in the other to measure the outlet voltage (line voltage) which should net you a reading of 120V.. Do that to ensure your meter is working.
And please make sure you aren't holding the metallic tips of the probes when you do so or you WILL get a NASTY shock that could be fatal..

but
As long as you are 100% positive that the switch (I assume the screw on the switch) is grounded then its fine to use..
Or just use the ATI enclosure (again..edge of the material where its more likely to be at ground potential vs a flat area that could be effected by oxides/finish.. or even one of the screws holding the enclosure together)

 

[moneymm]

Yes..The black gives you a reference (to ground)
But you can stick the red in one slot of an outlet and the black in the other to measure the outlet voltage (line voltage) which should net you a reading of 120V.. Do that to ensure your meter is working.
And please make sure you aren't holding the metallic tips of the probes when you do so or you WILL get a NASTY shock that could be fatal..

but
As long as you are 100% positive that the switch (I assume the screw on the switch) is grounded then its fine to use..
Or just use the ATI enclosure (again..edge of the material where its more likely to be at ground potential vs a flat area that could be effected by oxides/finish.. or even one of the screws holding the enclosure together)

the meter measures 120 when i go to an outlet and ground the black and put the red in the outlet, however that ground is too far from tank, so i dont know if im grounding the black properly, i am sticking it on to the light switch screw that is next to the tank,

 

[mcgyvr]

No access to an outlet on your power strip near the tank?

 

[moneymm]

finally grounded it properly by using the light (but the light had to be turned on which i didnt know. anyway, it stayed at 80 as i unplugged all devices.. eventually got to of the pumps and it dropped to 11. if i plug it back it goes back to 80, i guess the pump just needs to go.

is 11 volts still too high?

 

[Elricsfate]

the salt can cause it to become like this?

does a grounding probe help just the aquarium water? or does it make the stand and fixture safe.

is there something to test what the problem really is?

i have a 3 year old and i really dont want her touching anything that will shock her.

Dude, you just ended the whole conversation. You have a baby. Get an electrician to your house ASAP, and forget all the advice on DIY fixing this issue. If you mess with it and get something wrong, and then something tragic happens...you're never going to forgive yourself.

As a dad...my two cents.

 

[mcgyvr]

11 volts is nothing to be concerned about..
But the 80 was.. That pump is faulty and should be replaced immediately..

And your GFCI outlet will keep you safe in the future so make sure you use it..

Good luck.. Glad you finally did what needed to be done..
Stay safe