I took a multiMeter and measured my tank. It read 8.06 Volts. Wow big problem. So I started looking for the sorce of my voltage and started by unplugging my koralias. It then dropped down to 2.5 Volts. After that I unplugged my heaters and it jumped UP to 7.5 Volts. How is this even possible? It doesn't make sense.
Stray Voltage Mystery
- Thread starter Zylski
- Start date
Or unplug everything take a reading and start plugging in from there.
8.6v is not that bad. If you have tons of equipment plugged in and running then you will get an induced electric field of a few volts. This is one reason why people use grounding plugs. Now 110volts, that's a big problem and man does it sting.
Testing voltage in saltwater is tricky; it is an excellent conductor. Digital meters can get messed up and give false readings at low voltages in saltwater. Analog meters are less prone to this issue.
I suggest doing what Kafuda suggests and keep track of the voltage after each piece of equipment is plugged in. Also make sure eveything is clean and there isn't any dried salt on the surfaces around the tank. You will probably find that each piece of your equipment is contributing a half a volt to the total.
Testing voltage in saltwater is tricky; it is an excellent conductor. Digital meters can get messed up and give false readings at low voltages in saltwater. Analog meters are less prone to this issue.
I suggest doing what Kafuda suggests and keep track of the voltage after each piece of equipment is plugged in. Also make sure eveything is clean and there isn't any dried salt on the surfaces around the tank. You will probably find that each piece of your equipment is contributing a half a volt to the total.
jansenwrasse
New member
you wont be able to meaure current unless you deliberately short the pendant to the water. dont do this by the way.
You should probably unplug that MH fixture and open up the pendant as something is wired wrong for sure. You should get continuity between your green/bare copper and the ground on your plug that measures <.1 ohm. so that sould take care of the ground then hopefullly black to black and white to white. the other 2 wires should not make a huge safety issue but for sure i would not encourage you to use that light. its not a 277 ballast wired for 208 is it?
where were your leads when you tested for the stray voltage? both in the tank?
You should probably unplug that MH fixture and open up the pendant as something is wired wrong for sure. You should get continuity between your green/bare copper and the ground on your plug that measures <.1 ohm. so that sould take care of the ground then hopefullly black to black and white to white. the other 2 wires should not make a huge safety issue but for sure i would not encourage you to use that light. its not a 277 ballast wired for 208 is it?
where were your leads when you tested for the stray voltage? both in the tank?
