Warning... Electricity kills!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I sugest rather than using a grounding probe which as I understand them are stainless steel rods hung in your aquarium with a #14 AWG or #16 AWG wire to the nearest U-ground receptacle, that you make a current collector. QED

Use a stainless steel nipple in line with your return line to the tank. Attach a ground clamp securely on the nipple and run a #6 copper conductor back to the nearest cold water pipe if you have metal plumbing, or back to the ground bus in your electrical panel if you have plastic plumbing. If you have a mixture of both types of plumbing on the way to your fish room then bond at the panel instead.

This will provide a low impedance pathg back to the distribution tarnsformer and ensure your GFCI or circuit breaker will operate as it is suposed to.
 
I couldnt agree more, i recently bought 2 new eheims and i chose the 2180 models due to the built in heaters. the other benefit is that you have one less "appliance" showing in the tank
 
hillbilly;844251; said:
GFI's are great in theory, but I don't trust them on pumps and other vital equipment. I would rather take my chances with careful planning of wiring, and use of drip loops, rather than take a chance of a finicky GFI tripping when I'm not around. If anyone has had GFI outlets in their kitchen or bathroom, then you know what I mean. Been into the hobby for decades, and haven't been killed yet. Just my own opinion, not advice.
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i agree with previous comments... GFI's are not finicky unless they are malfunctioning. GFI's are tested to work properly and unless you have something tripping them on a regular basis [i.e. splashing water], they won't trip just because.
 
I had a channel cat try to eat a heater years ago. He smashed it against the side of the tank in the process. He lived, all the other fish got electrocuted and died. When I saw my fish floating I went to the tank and got zapped through the glass when I touched it. Catfish Ed eventually died at the hands of a porcelain frog decoration that he swallowed. I now use sections of PVC pipe to shield my heaters if they are inside the tank with the fishies.
 
Justin94565;1426103; said:
Interesting I must be in danger, I already got electricuted once by my tank lol. Im a noob.
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Dude,
If you were electrocuted, you would be dead....

But seriuosly if you get a nasty poke from your fish tank, take a couple of aspirin (ASA not tylenol) and go to your doctor. The damage that is done by a solid contact with electrical energy to your heart can take up to 24 hours to show up. You may not feel anything or be aware that you have a problem untill the damage has been done.

Your doctor will measure your heart beat to look for signs of arrythmia caused by the electrical shock. If it is diagnosed and treated early enough there is a strong liklehood that you can make a full recovery.
 
A few electrical shock threads pooping up, good time to bump this thread
 
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