Stealth heater - shocking

[Logzor]

While working in the tank (and touching my light fixture, which is made of aluminum) I felt a nice tingling!

I narrowed it down to the DC8 and assumed it was the unit itself. After further testing I found it was the stealth heated which was plugged into the DC8.

The shock was only a slight tingle/tickle.

Does anyone know how dangerous it actually was? I am assuming it is kind of hard to just guess...

Nonetheless I will be buying a volt-meter (?).

Has anyone else had their stealth heater fail and leak voltage into their system?

 

[imnotanerd]

I have had lots of stealth heaters fail I've had two actually blow up.

 

[Indymann99]

+ 1 the stealth heater on my QT was throwing 48v into the water..

I replaced it...with a free replacement stealth.. from the LFS... so far so good.

 

[das75]

tingle now, maybe death next time. Replace the heater and consider GFIs

 

[Mcubed]

Re: Stealth heater - shocking

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15452397#post15452397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Logzor
While working in the tank (and touching my light fixture, which is made of aluminum) I felt a nice tingling!

I narrowed it down to the DC8 and assumed it was the unit itself. After further testing I found it was the stealth heated which was plugged into the DC8.

The shock was only a slight tingle/tickle.

Does anyone know how dangerous it actually was? I am assuming it is kind of hard to just guess...

Nonetheless I will be buying a volt-meter (?).

Has anyone else had their stealth heater fail and leak voltage into their system?

Same thing happened with one of my stealth heaters! I had my whole arm in the tank trying to reach something and my shoulder touched my ATI light fixture. I thought the problem was with the lights but then quickly realized it was just grounding through it. I have everything plugged into GFCI outlets and nothing tripped.

 

[Logzor]

Re: Re: Stealth heater - shocking

Re: Re: Stealth heater - shocking

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15454063#post15454063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mcubed
Same thing happened with one of my stealth heaters! I had my whole arm in the tank trying to reach something and my shoulder touched my ATI light fixture. I thought the problem was with the lights but then quickly realized it was just grounding through it. I have everything plugged into GFCI outlets and nothing tripped.

Yeah I whipped out a 50ft extension cord to run the electric into the kitchen gfci which was properly grounded. It did not trip!

Regardless, I need to find a way to build a ground. I live in an apartment and can not change the outlets.

 

[saltygeek]

Re: Re: Re: Stealth heater - shocking

Re: Re: Re: Stealth heater - shocking

Regardless, I need to find a way to build a ground. I live in an apartment and can not change the outlets. [/B]

They sell GFIs that plug into your current outlets.

 

[Rysam]

I just pulled out a 250w stealth that had fried in my tank. I dunno what happened but my house filled up with a NASTY electrical smell and all of my under tank goodies were covered in some nasty water. i guess the heater popped somehow(looked fine to the eye) and splashed everything.i didnt find what it was right away, the smell never went away and the GFI didnt pop, heck i was in the tank daily and didnt get shocked either. when the smell didnt go away after a day or 2, i looked harder and started sniffing stuff. whew that heater stunk. its now in the trash and im relying on thermal mass and 3x250mh to keep it warm enough with fans to cool during the day.
so far so good. i wont be using a stealth again. i may not even use a heater anymore, temps have been very good and it doesnt get too cold here.

 

[Nikee1404]

Wish I would have found this thread earlier. I just bought a 50 watt for my BioCube yesterday. What's the consensus? Should I ditch my Stealth?

 

[amore169]

Man I was so pleased with their older model Marineland that I was going to get the stealth, well I think I will pass on the stealth and get me a Ebo Jager.

 

[catfisher]

My stealth almost cooked my tank. I would never use one again.

 

[luvreefs23]

Ive used about 20 of them literally, not a problem yet. What are people doing to em to fry em like this? Odd

 

[MSX-Jeff]

We've had dozens go bad over the years.