Measureing Stray Voltage

T

tvoydan

Member
I suspect I might have a return pump or heater leaking current periodically. Can I just place the positive lead of a volt meter in the water with the ground lead to earth ground or grounded thru the equipment ground of my electrical outlet to get a voltage reading?

Will a grounding probe remove any stray voltage?

Of course I would have to identify the leak and replace what ever causes it.
 
It could be as simple a measuring the difference of potential with a fluke or other meter, positive in the tank and negative on the grounding outlet. If u have a apex power bar u are going to get different reading because of the amp measurement equipment. Grounding prob will remove the voltage because it goes to the least path of resistance but that does not fix it. Also if u don't have a GFCI please don't stick your hands into the tank. Your feet are grounded and if there is high stray voltage u won't be happy.
 
No apex. Standard power strip. No GFCI.

Some of my house is older wire, so not even sure if the outlet I'm plugged into is 3 wire or older 2 wire. I'll have to double check when I get home. It's location makes it's easy to update if it's older 2 wire line.
 
Get a GFCI immediately. (either replace the outlet with a GFCI outlet, get a corded GFCI powerstrip or GFCI breaker in the breaker box for that circuit)

DO NOT INSTALL A GROUND PROBE WITHOUT GFCI PROTECTION.

"stray voltage" is NOT A PROBLEM. "current flow" IS.
 
I know it might suck but when you get home, kill your breaker to the tank outlet and see if there is even a grounding wire. There should be one black one white and one copper colored. If you only have two wires you can't install a GFCI outlet. It just won't work :/ . Don't freak if there is 2 black 2 white and 2 copper that is just going to another outlet. I must say this, don't do this live no need to be a macho man.
 
Every man wants to be a macho macho man
to have the kind of body, always in demand
Jogging in the mornings, go man go:dance: ... Sorry I got distracted
 
I'm sure macgyver and I could harp all day about why u need a GFCI but your going to have to just trust us. It's goes hand and hand with a tank, like corals in a reef
 
ReefCoastie said:
I know it might suck but when you get home, kill your breaker to the tank outlet and see if there is even a grounding wire. There should be one black one white and one copper colored. If you only have two wires you can't install a GFCI outlet. It just won't work :/ . Don't freak if there is 2 black 2 white and 2 copper that is just going to another outlet. I must say this, don't do this live no need to be a macho man.
Click to expand...

You can install a GFCI in a 2 wire outlet, but you are not suppose to plug in grounded equipment. The GFCI is just added protection and will still trip. Saying a GFCI won't work is incorrect.
 
It monitors the imbalance of current between the ungrounded (hot) and grounded (neutral) conductor of a given circuit.With the exception of small amounts of leak-age, the current returning to the power supply in a typical 2-wire circuit will be equal to the current leaving the power supply. If the difference between the current leaving and returning through the current transformer of the GFCI exceeds 5 mA, the solid-state circuitry opens the switching contacts and de-energizes the circuit. So yes you are right, but having a ground wire(copper colored) adds to the safety to the unit. Seeing how you are using it in water applications haveing a BACK UP wire is great. And IMO I would not use it or think of it working with out one.
 
I am not saying it is good to use. I was just saying that a GFCI will still work without a ground wire. By code you can install a GFCI in a 2 wire outlet if you don't have a ground wire, but are not to plug in grounded equipment to outlet. If the OP has a 3-prong outlet with only 2 wires the outlet is out of code.
 
I'm sure macgyver and I could harp all day about why u need a GFCI but your going to have to just trust us. It's goes hand and hand with a tank, like corals in a reef
Click to expand...

I will stay away from the GFCI discussions but for your problem, your heater is not leaking current. If it was, it would not be working and the circuit breaker would have tripped, but there are circumstances where it will not trip and if you put your hand in the water, you will be the first to know.
As was said, stray voltage is not a problem.
(master electrician 40 years)
 
Regardless, I agree a GFI circuit is a requirement.

This tank is in the basement and the wiring runs thru the rafters/ceiling, so inspecting or re-running the wire shouldn't be a problem. I use to have a tank on this line many years ago. Just don't remember the specifics of the circuit. I might even have a GFI breaker in the fuse box on this line.

I'll have to double check everything tonight and take appropriate actions to bring it up to safety specs.
 
And yes per nec 406.3(D)(2) u must mark it ungrounded. But hey let's by pass that and see if he as a 2 wire old or 3 wire new lol
 
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