Tunze Return Pump and Induced/Strahy Voltage?

[awbowden]

Hey,

Anybody out there run a Tunze Silence Return Pump and have some voltage in the tank?

I was running one and found that I was reading about 40VAC from my tank. I took out my pump, put in in its own bucket of fresh salt water, and got a reading of 26VAC from it. I noticed the electrical cord going into the back of pump looked a little frayed so I figured it was damaged.

I just bought a new one today, everything visually looks good with it. I put it into its own bucket of salt water and it reads 26VAC as well.

Just wondering if this is normal with pumps, or normal with this particular pump or what the deal is....


Thanks!

 

[rvitko]

How did you make this test? Since both read 26VAC, I suspect it may be an issue with the meter. Is this a good quality meter? I have learned to not trust anything except a Fluke. I have yet to find an electrical device for an aquarium that doesn't emit a few volts, usually in the range of 2-8VAC. In testing here we use a Warner Fault current alarm, which is essentially a fancy ground probe that sounds an alarm if more than 24V is detected in the test tank. From there if voltage is detected I measure using a Fluke 185 with the black or negative lead connected to a ground and the red lead in the tank. Some voltage is normal as the magnet spinning in the saltwater ions essentially is acting like a low power dynamo. I suspect what is happening is the meter is overreacting to a galvanic reaction, saltwater is an electrolyte and the probes are likely nickel plated copper or brass and are acting like a battery and the basic needlegauge voltmeters you find for under $50 are not terribly accurate, you can use them to test a battery or your mains voltage but they produce errors on more intricate tasks. I am happy to test these pumps here and see what is going on, once you pass about 24V this is perceptible, you would feel it especially with some small cuts or abrasions on your hands.