Stray voltage

[kau_cinta_ku]

grounding probe, is easy, just plug it into a grounded outlet and place in the tank or the sump.

 

[Michael]

a titanium bycycle spoke can be used, just pop it in the sump or dt or both, and connect to ground, also run a gfci, regardless of what you are told about this, it will probably save your life under fault conditions, ok the livestock may be affected but as much as we love our fish and corals we should care about our own safety first,

 

[tmz]

As Sam noted a grounding probe is easy.
When voltage leaks from any device it generally stays in the area of the device. Voltage is potential current. It only becomes harmfull when it finds ground. Think of a bird on a wire. The probe provides this ground. Or you do when you touch the water.

A gfci outlet or adapter plug together with a grounding probe is really the only way to protect you and your livestock. The gfci in simple terms measures the amount of current going in and out and if there is some missing it trips. The gfci will detect minute stray current but not stray voltage . So you really need them both.

A volt meter test on your system from time to time can give you a false sense of security since it measures voltage and not current(amperage).

 

[cpony69]

 

[eros]

Thanks guys, I'm going to get a grounding probe today. As far as using a volt meter, do I just stick both leads into the water to detect voltage?

 

[Michael]

no 1 in the tank and 1 to ground, however as tom mentioned its worth testing current as well, different scale on the meter but same idea

 

[eros]

Do you think silicone will work?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13191218#post13191218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
wow that is bad, I have never seen it crumble like that.

one thing you could try though, remove all of the old stuff that you can and refil it with a marine epoxy. let it harden, set in a bucket of water and test with a volt meter. that is basically all that insulation is. or at least that is what it was on my quiet one pump.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

I can't say if it will or not. but if you take out all the old junk you will start to see the wiring and such. That is what you want to cover up and make waterproof.

the only reason I suggested the epoxy is due to how it hardens, just like the stuff that should be in there, however silicon should still make it waterproof.

 

[eros]

I couldnt find any epoxy that I was comfortable enough to put in the tank so I used some aquarium grade silicone. I had one smaller size tube and used all of it. I let it harden about 8 hours before testing. I put the pump in a bucket of water, added a little salt to aid conductivity, turned it on and tested it with a volt meter. I got no reading at all. I cautiously stuck my hand in the water and still got nothing. I put the pump back on the skimmer, turned it on and then stuck my hand in the tank... no shock. It seems to be fixed for now. Hopefully it doenst give me any more trouble but if it does at least I know a way to fix it. I am still going to order a new pump because this one is obviously not in the best shape. Looking back I wish I would have used epoxy because I think it would have better heat dissipating characteristics. Only time will tell.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

congrats on getting the pump running again and safely. :thumbsup:

 

[eros]

Not so fast. I went back and tested the pump just a few minutes ago and my stray voltage was back. Armed with my volt meter I picked up 26 volts and I can feel the shock again now. I took the pump out and could see water underneath the silicone I had put in. I didn't let it cure long enough! Supposed to wait 48 hours but ofcourse I couldnt wait that long, I gave it around 8 hours. Tomorrow I will go back to the hardware store and pick up some of the right epoxy. I was thinking of using the 2 part putty type epoxy since it is very dense and should dissipate heat well. I will keep the thread up to date.

 

[Cheetos&Cocopuf]

The epoxy will not stick to any leftover silicone residue.
Be careful and good luck dude.