stray voltage how to test for

[kdrun76]

I used to care for a tank in an aquaculture lab that was known to be "live". BIG sign on the side of the tank.... "wooden handled nets only."

Whenever anyone new came into the lab we turned the sign around and handed them a big steel handled net to "pull out a fish to check for size". The net barely touched the water before the poor sap would leap 2' in the air and look at us like "What the hell was that?!?!!!"

I doubt anyone would ever fix that leak, it was the source of soooo much amusement.

 

[nfored]

Man that's funny, but could be dangerous game. What was causing this. Also showing my ignorance here, why if your shoes are rubber do you feel a shock? where are you grounding to?

 

[kdrun76]

The floor was always wet... he could have been wearing 2" think rubber boots and would still get zapped. A block of 4x4 wood usually stopped the current....

The rest of us would stand on the wooden "step stools" so we could watch the show safely.

I honestly don't think anyone cared where the electric leak was coming from. It was so funny that fixing it would have gotten you beat up after work for killing the joke.

I can tell you that the number of times those of us that knew about it stuck the wrong net in the water was pretty high too. We would cheer and shout when ever we heard one of our own yelp as he stood next to that tank with a metal net. We had about 40 of these 500-10,000 gallon tanks and only one required a wooden net.... no one remembered. You would be doing maintenance and just move from tank to tank doing your job when WHAM!!! Crap, I need a wooden net on this tank. It would light your world, and make my pony tail stand up! It seems like we tested it once to make sure it wasn't dangerous and were surprised at just how much electric was in the water. But we still didn't fix it.

It took placing metal in the tank, you never felt it with just your hands.

 

[gulosis]

thats crazy. you couldnt feel the voltage with just your hands, but once that metal touched the water...BAM! just a lil sting...im sure lol

i just had to install a GFCI outlet cuz my friend thought that he could just use a grounding probe alone in his salt setup without the proper outlet. turns out it was one of his powerheads. at least he knows now! its amazing he lasted this long

 

[mgk]

thank you really made me think twice about ground probes and geting one is out of the question now

I wouldn't discount the use of grounding probes based on one article on the Internet..

In salt aquariums grounding probes are almost always the standard. I have used them and never had issues with then. I would recommend them always for all salt water tanks.

Not so much in fresh water, but if there is stray voltage in the tank then it should be fixed.

yes they claim current only kills and theres no current with out a ground probe. then how does a electric eel or catfish stun its pray in the tank? does every eel and catfish tank have a ground probe?

i think that article is bunk.

 

[Bderick67]

yes they claim current only kills and theres no current with out a ground probe. then how does a electric eel or catfish stun its pray in the tank? does every eel and catfish tank have a ground probe?

i think that article is bunk.

Two totally different things, doing a little research may help you to understand better. Good start would be to get a basic understanding of electric current and how AC and DC works.

 

[mgk]

Two totally different things, doing a little research may help you to understand better. Good start would be to get a basic understanding of electric current and how AC and DC works.

explains nothing, AC goes back and forth, DC one direction. AC can go farther.

 

[Bderick67]

explains nothing, AC goes back and forth, DC one direction. AC can go farther.

Based on your limited understanding, you are completely correct.

 

[mgk]

Based on your limited understanding, you are completely correct.

some ones a little condescending. if you can't explain the difference and why it matters, then how do we know simply trying to defend your post thats erroneous.

if you can explain it to me i will admit mine is erroneous.

 

[Bderick67]

some ones a little condescending. if you can't explain the difference and why it matters, then how do we know simply trying to defend your post thats erroneous.

if you can explain it to me i will admit mine is erroneous.

I am sorry, but you seem to lack a basic understanding of how electricity works as well as the different ways it can be generated. This is why I suggested you do some research on the basics, to help you understand.

Comparing stray voltage caused by 120vac appliances in an aquarium to an electric eel makes as much sense as comparing either to a 9volt battery. All three are very different even though they are all electrical sources.