We need some electric help.

cowboyswife

cowboyswife

New member
Brannon is checking my tank for stray voltage and here is the deal.

The heater is appearing to be putting in 10 volts into the water. The return pump is 8 volts. If I plug in just one power strip, with nothing plugged into it, I get 3 volts. What am I doing wrong?
 
the power strip has nothing plugged into it.
it is plugged into the wall,
and you are getting 3 volts IN the water!?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10648228#post10648228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ben&bobbi
the power strip has nothing plugged into it.
it is plugged into the wall,
and you are getting 3 volts IN the water!?
Click to expand...

Yes and as soon as I unplug the power strip I have 0.15


BTW this has not been a long term issue, we have very recently moved the tank across the room.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10648228#post10648228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ben&bobbi
the power strip has nothing plugged into it.
it is plugged into the wall,
and you are getting 3 volts IN the water!?
Click to expand...

Yeah, and we have no idea why! Im so confused lol We are getting grounding probes, so that will help. Thanks Joe for pointing out that the voltage could be a problem with my tank :D
 
what made you guys look? what meter are you testing with? i have a fluke 87 that you guys can borrow. but you may just have residule voltage in the tank. also the meter could be off. zero the meter by touching the positive and ground then recheck. replace the ph and heater. what is the tank temp at night? if not below 74 keep the heater out. it will probaly lower your over all daytime tank temp. let me know if you need any help;)
 
With everything plugged in, it looks like 27v total! Ack!!

I have it grounded temporarily using some cable.
 
check the voltage drop from the wire to the outlet and if it's zero then it's working. i'll be over there saturday as usaual and i'll bring my meter with me. way to weird. ps is the power strip and timer for the light ul listed?
 
It is zero. I tried two different power strips, one was a cpl volts less than the other, one is for sure ul listed.
 
If it is a 3 prong outlet, try testing from the ground to each slot, and see which one has voltage on it. It should have voltage from the smaller of the two slots. If not, your hot and neutral are reversed, and could be leaking voltage back through a ground.
If you didn't have this problem until you moved the tank, and didn't change any equipment, I am led to believe it might be the receptacle it's plugged in to.
 
Well I ran out of time testing last night, and have to head to the airport, but I will be back home late tonight, for the moment, I seem to have a quick fix in place, but will do more testing tonight when I get home.
 
But if stray voltage can lead to fish jumping, I have lost 3 fish to my tile. Not saying that is definitely why, because they were being bulled by one of the fish anyway.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10650803#post10650803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cowboyswife
But if stray voltage can lead to fish jumping, I have lost 3 fish to my tile. Not saying that is definitely why, because they were being bulled by one of the fish anyway.
Click to expand...

the real question is would you jump if someone shocked you?:eek1:
 
The fish would have to be grounded to recieve a shock. I keep a titanium grounding probe in all of my tanks. I have become the ground that the stray voltage is looking for before and never want to experience that again.
 
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