?'s on electrical interference.

[Gravesj1s]

So in the last 8 months Ive burned through 2 ph probes.For whatever reason,in both instances the probes seem to go bad when doing a waterchange.First probe came with the rke ,lasted 3 months ,the second was a am pipoint whitch lasted 5 months.
Basically ,I shut off all power to pumps/powerheads,followup with a water change,when finished,return power to the pumps/powerheads.Its at this point the probe seems to go at the moment of returning power.
(i.e-reads error and cannot calibrate ever again.Attempts made with cleaning and overnight soaks in vinegar were unsucessfull as well.

I posed the question elsewhere and from the replys the thought was that it maybe related to stray voltage /current.
Using a multimeter ,I checked current and got no reading.For voltage I got a reading between 5.+/-.Added a grounding probe and the number did drop to around 1.3+/-.

The other advice I got pertained to seperating any data cables from power wires,this was a task as it involved complete re-runs of many wires.Also,involved rebuilding the box that holds all this stuff.
I already had 2 seperate gfci outlets on there own runs.1 for pumps/powerheads ,the other to controller so didn't find any reason to change any of that part of it.

As far as the pumps powerheads ,they plug into an outlet strip whitch is then plugged into a gfci.

I'll post root of questions following this post.

 

[naprestsleep]

If it is an interference issue(which it doesn't sound like) I have luck with chokes from Radio shack on the "data" cables for my power strips. Basically its they are metal(magnetic maybe) sleeve you clip over the cable.

 

[Gravesj1s]

So,,,,after all that,I ordered another probe but still wondering a couple things,as Im finding it depends on who you ask.

Questions:
If Im using a gfci does it matter if I use a surge protector vs a standard outlet strip?Im finding most of the ones I looked at say on the packaging "not a surge protector"

Like anyone else powerheads are in dt and return pumps in sump.I placed the grounding probe in my sump ,now Im wondering if 2 ground probes are needed.
Reason being,my powerheads have only 2 prongs (nongrounded) ....so wouldn't that mean whatever minute amounts voltage/current would have to travel all the way through my tank to the sump grounding probe? It seems like no matter what I do its got to go past the probe?(ph)

What would you guys do here? Anything different or that I should consider?
Im hoping Im just not understanding how this should work.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Thanks nap,I do have all data cables seperated from power/wires by a minimum of 6 inches and ran it through plastic sheathing(radio shack flexible stuff) to help with isolating containing the runs together.

I need to get this finished today,so if I got time Ill look into the clips you mentioned.

 

[spinoleo]

The plastic will not help shield the low voltage cables and are the probes still in the water while you are doing a water change?

 

[pascal32]

the BUS cable interference issue will give you abnormal amounts of errors on the data bus which can show as the reefkeeper resetting and things as such. Chokes can help with that, though good grounding and proper wire routing are usually enough to mitigate (unless you have icecap 250 MH ballast like mine )

your probe going out sounds like different issue. The only thing I can think of is the return pump creating a power surge or back pulse on startup. Are your lights on the same circuit? Do they flicker when the pump starts up? what kind of pump do you have again?

on another note I'll help you with wire routing and upgrade you to MyReef 2 when we both have a free weekend. shortening your BUS cables will help keep things stable

 

[Gravesj1s]

The plastic will not help shield the low voltage cables and are the probes still in the water while you are doing a water change?

I used that sheathing with the intent of keeping the data cables together and to seperate them from power cords.(space wise)Probably from my wording in last posts but (I think) understand what your saying in that its not an insulator.Going to make a run for the clips as another precaution as mentioned by Naprestsleep.

Both ph probes were always kept wet and submerged in the tank sump,including during water changes.Just seem to go at that moment.

 

[Gravesj1s]

the BUS cable interference issue will give you abnormal amounts of errors on the data bus which can show as the reefkeeper resetting and things as such. Chokes can help with that, though good grounding and proper wire routing are usually enough to mitigate (unless you have icecap 250 MH ballast like mine )

your probe going out sounds like different issue. The only thing I can think of is the return pump creating a power surge or back pulse on startup. Are your lights on the same circuit? Do they flicker when the pump starts up? what kind of pump do you have again?

on another note I'll help you with wire routing and upgrade you to MyReef 2 when we both have a free weekend. shortening your BUS cables will help keep things stable

Yeah, no problems with resets ,alarms or irradic number jumping.Ive never had any light flickering.
Afew people did mention something similar with pump/powerheads at startup maybe the issue.From what was said ,pumps appliances ect..on startup draw more amperage to get going and if some leakage was occuring that maybe why I was seeing the probes go when I did.Assuming some leakage was occuring.

Main lights,heaters & fan are on pc4 -1.
Fuge light,cooling fan,and dosing pump are on pc4-2.
Both pc4's are plugged directly into a dedicated 20A gfci.

Second dedicated run ,20a gfci has a strip outlet plugged into it.(6 outlet)
Mag9.5 return pump (submerged
Ocean runner 2500 skimmerpump (non submerged)
2 K4 powerheads (submerged
gfo/carbon reactors (mag1.5 & mag 3 submerged
This gfci is also the one I used to connect the grounding probe to.

 

[pascal32]

Could be an issue with the SL module. If you can check the probe on someone else's system or stop out my way

 

[Gravesj1s]

Anyone know if abc (syracuse) has 7&10 ph cal. solution in stock?I think the 7 is expired.Im not sure though.Pascal,hoping its not a bad sl1.

As it stands, I dont think I have ground interference issues,atleast not now,somehow I think I was getting some small amount that caused my probes to go prematurely or,so it seems to me.If not ,im thinking something is wrong with the sl1 mod.


~ Blurry,thanks for the offer and help.I received my sid back from DA not long after the last posting.Went ahead with upgrading the firmware and downloading myreef.I dont know what you think about it but I dont see much difference between that and what the net mod does.Got some glitches to work out on my end with it but, with luck I think I can do it.If not ,Ill have to take you up on that offer.I owe you just for the generousity in offering.

Received a new probe as well ,so Im going to take the rest of today off and devote it to my tank-Steve

 

[pascal32]

No one in Syracuse has cal fluid. Call me if you want some, I buy 10 packs at a time