Stray Voltage

[jbarone]

I'm pretty sure I have some current running through my tank but I don't feel it all the time. Is there a safe way to measure it? Like using a volt meter? SO when I isolate the problem I'll see the voltage drop off.

Jamie

 

[Dert42]

do what I did. Stick your finger in. Unplug something.
repeat til you find the problem.
mine was my canopy fan... The last thing I checked.

I don't think I have ever cursed more and meant it...

 

[paulamrein]

Finger-meters work better when there is a small cut or bitten fingernails. I did the same only, I couldn't feel the current but my wife could so I had her keep her finger in the water while I pulled plugs. She's starting to like me again I think.

 

[jbarone]

Yeh. I've tried the chewed fingers. I only feel once in a while so I never know If I've found the culprit.

 

[Angler02]

I'm not sure if you do already but you could run a grounding probe.

 

[reefergeorge]

If you want to measure current. You will need a ground probe, and an amp clamp. Stick the ground probe in the tank, and clip the amp clamp around the wire.
If you are looking for stray voltage. You can use a voltmeter. Put one probe in the tank, and the other to ground. Anything under 90 volts, I wouldn't worry about. It is just induced. If it is over 90 or close to 120. You have a real voltage, and something is shot in your tank.
I hope this helps...

 

[breutus]

I recently had a stray voltage problem in the tank,

what I did is just like reefergeorge said stick one end of a voltmeter into the water of your tank and put the other end to a ground and it will tell you how much you have in there. then you can systematically unplug till you find out where it is.

If its one big thing then id say replace it but if its a bunch of little things you can put grounding probes in but i'd recommend several, one near each piece that is producing electricity

Lucas

 

[jbarone]

Great! Thanks for the help guys. I have a volmeter so I'll give that a try.

Jamie