Shocks from T5 Fixture

[firewill65]

I have a 39watt, 12 bulb T5 fixture about 5 inches above my water. Occasionally, when they are on I get a shock if my arm touches the fixture while hand is in the water. My questions is can T5's project electricity, do I have a short of some sort? I only get shocked when hand is in water when lights are on...no other time. Any suggestions?

 

[ericarenee]

Salt Creep or Condensation. Of course you should have a grounding probe in your water...

It could be a short but i would have to be there to really check that.. Also check your outlets for a FLOATING GROUND..I was getting zapped in my basement standing on the Damp Concrete. when i checked with a meter it was 23 Volts.. It tuned out to be a Rusted grounding rod

 

[alton]

More times than not your light is providing a grounding means. Check your electrical equipment that is running in your aquarium like power heads and heaters and find out which one has a short.

 

[firewill65]

When light is turned off I don't feel any shock. I don't run any heaters, only a return pump, and one small pump for gfo in my sump. Can electrical from sump travel to display tank?

 

[alton]

When light is turned off I don't feel any shock. I don't run any heaters, only a return pump, and one small pump for gfo in my sump. Can electrical from sump travel to display tank?

Yes

 

[grigsy]

Could be a wire in the reflector is touching the metal which is causing the shock.

 

[firewill65]

ok...ill have to take it apart to see whats going on.
Thanks!

 

[alton]

Get a meter while wearing gloves and place one lead in the grounding slot (U shaped) of the duplex receptacle and the other in the ungrounded slot. You should show 120v +/-, then take the lead out of the ungrounded slot and touch your light fixture and if you have any voltage you may have a cracked lamp socket. One question I forgot to ask is your light a two wire or three wire with ground?

 

[firewill65]

thanks...3 wire ground