View Full Version : Electricity problem
Steve \Srfmon\
July 5th 04, 08:24 PM
I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked like
there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity is
down to 1.022.
Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is stray
current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until it
stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I use a
ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
still unplugged. What gives?
Simon O'Keeffe
July 6th 04, 01:34 AM
Got any cuts on your fingers, sometimes small cuts makes it feel like
there is some stray current in the water when there is not.
Could it have been this?
Simon
Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
> I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked like
>there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity is
>down to 1.022.
> Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is stray
>current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until it
>stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I use a
>ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
>still unplugged. What gives?
>
>
>
>
Steve \Srfmon\
July 6th 04, 06:29 AM
Small cuts yes, but just on one hand. But this is some strong current
going through the water. With both hands I can feel the current.
Steve
"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
> Got any cuts on your fingers, sometimes small cuts makes it feel like
> there is some stray current in the water when there is not.
>
> Could it have been this?
> Simon
>
> Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
>
> > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked like
> >there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity is
> >down to 1.022.
> > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
stray
> >current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until
it
> >stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I use
a
> >ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
> >still unplugged. What gives?
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
Rikko
July 6th 04, 09:21 AM
Get a voltmeter and ammeter and test for AC voltage and current. Mix
and match plugged-in appliances until you find the culprit. You will
*always* have a spray voltage if your grounding probe isn't working
correctly (even a fluorescent bulb will induce a small voltage) but
the current should read as a big fat zero.
On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 05:29:37 GMT, "Steve \"Srfmon\""
> wrote:
> Small cuts yes, but just on one hand. But this is some strong current
>going through the water. With both hands I can feel the current.
> Steve
>
>"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
>> Got any cuts on your fingers, sometimes small cuts makes it feel like
>> there is some stray current in the water when there is not.
>>
>> Could it have been this?
>> Simon
>>
>> Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
>>
>> > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked like
>> >there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity is
>> >down to 1.022.
>> > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
>stray
>> >current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until
>it
>> >stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I use
>a
>> >ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
>> > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
>> >still unplugged. What gives?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>
Steve \Srfmon\
July 6th 04, 04:43 PM
This is getting really weird. This morning it was fine. There was zero
current in water - using my hand to test.
Now, it's back & nothing additional has been plugged in or turned off!
Could this be a problem with the wiring in the wall?
Maybe now is a good time to tear everything apart & check everything
out. The only problem is that I'm out of weekend & it's back to work today.
"Rikko" > wrote in message
...
> Get a voltmeter and ammeter and test for AC voltage and current. Mix
> and match plugged-in appliances until you find the culprit. You will
> *always* have a spray voltage if your grounding probe isn't working
> correctly (even a fluorescent bulb will induce a small voltage) but
> the current should read as a big fat zero.
>
> On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 05:29:37 GMT, "Steve \"Srfmon\""
> > wrote:
>
> > Small cuts yes, but just on one hand. But this is some strong current
> >going through the water. With both hands I can feel the current.
> > Steve
> >
> >"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Got any cuts on your fingers, sometimes small cuts makes it feel like
> >> there is some stray current in the water when there is not.
> >>
> >> Could it have been this?
> >> Simon
> >>
> >> Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
> >>
> >> > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
like
> >> >there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity
is
> >> >down to 1.022.
> >> > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
> >stray
> >> >current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things
until
> >it
> >> >stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I
use
> >a
> >> >ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> >> > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7
is
> >> >still unplugged. What gives?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
>
Charles Spitzer
July 6th 04, 07:33 PM
do you have a heat that cycles on/off?
"Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
...
> This is getting really weird. This morning it was fine. There was zero
> current in water - using my hand to test.
> Now, it's back & nothing additional has been plugged in or turned off!
> Could this be a problem with the wiring in the wall?
> Maybe now is a good time to tear everything apart & check everything
> out. The only problem is that I'm out of weekend & it's back to work
today.
>
> "Rikko" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Get a voltmeter and ammeter and test for AC voltage and current. Mix
> > and match plugged-in appliances until you find the culprit. You will
> > *always* have a spray voltage if your grounding probe isn't working
> > correctly (even a fluorescent bulb will induce a small voltage) but
> > the current should read as a big fat zero.
> >
> > On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 05:29:37 GMT, "Steve \"Srfmon\""
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > Small cuts yes, but just on one hand. But this is some strong
current
> > >going through the water. With both hands I can feel the current.
> > > Steve
> > >
> > >"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >> Got any cuts on your fingers, sometimes small cuts makes it feel like
> > >> there is some stray current in the water when there is not.
> > >>
> > >> Could it have been this?
> > >> Simon
> > >>
> > >> Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
> like
> > >> >there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my
salinity
> is
> > >> >down to 1.022.
> > >> > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there
is
> > >stray
> > >> >current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things
> until
> > >it
> > >> >stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock.
I
> use
> > >a
> > >> >ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> > >> > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The
mag7
> is
> > >> >still unplugged. What gives?
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >
> >
>
>
CheezWiz
July 6th 04, 07:59 PM
Do you have a GFCI on the tank?
If so, then it should trip with a ground probe. That is really the primary
use of a ground probe..
IMHO...
"Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
...
> I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked like
> there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity is
> down to 1.022.
> Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
stray
> current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until
it
> stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I use
a
> ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
> still unplugged. What gives?
>
>
Steve \Srfmon\
July 7th 04, 07:08 AM
GCFI is a plug-in to the wall outlet. I'm having an electrician come in
later in the week for some other work so I'll ask him. Thanks for the ideas
& help!
Steve
"CheezWiz" > wrote in message
...
> Do you have a GFCI on the tank?
> If so, then it should trip with a ground probe. That is really the primary
> use of a ground probe..
> IMHO...
>
> "Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
like
> > there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity
is
> > down to 1.022.
> > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
> stray
> > current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until
> it
> > stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I
use
> a
> > ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
> > still unplugged. What gives?
> >
> >
>
>
CheezWiz
July 7th 04, 07:37 PM
I use a GFCI power strip myself. That way the house wiring does not have to
be modified..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20756&item=4310884869&rd=1
Also it is best to put equipment on different strips so that one failure
does not shut down the whole tank...
"Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
...
> GCFI is a plug-in to the wall outlet. I'm having an electrician come in
> later in the week for some other work so I'll ask him. Thanks for the
ideas
> & help!
> Steve
>
> "CheezWiz" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Do you have a GFCI on the tank?
> > If so, then it should trip with a ground probe. That is really the
primary
> > use of a ground probe..
> > IMHO...
> >
> > "Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
> like
> > > there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity
> is
> > > down to 1.022.
> > > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
> > stray
> > > current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things
until
> > it
> > > stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I
> use
> > a
> > > ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> > > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7
is
> > > still unplugged. What gives?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Marc Levenson
July 7th 04, 07:38 PM
Steve, I was getting shocked by my 29g at one time, and it ended up
being that the grounded plug that went to a 6-outlet powerstrip simply
wasn't pushed fully into the electrical socket. After I pushed it all
the way in, the problem was solved.
Maybe your problem is just as easily fixed.
Marc
Steve "Srfmon" wrote:
> GCFI is a plug-in to the wall outlet. I'm having an electrician come in
> later in the week for some other work so I'll ask him. Thanks for the ideas
> & help!
> Steve
>
> "CheezWiz" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Do you have a GFCI on the tank?
>>If so, then it should trip with a ground probe. That is really the primary
>>use of a ground probe..
>>IMHO...
>>
>>"Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>> I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
>
> like
>
>>>there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my salinity
>
> is
>
>>>down to 1.022.
>>> Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there is
>>
>>stray
>>
>>>current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things until
>>
>>it
>>
>>>stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock. I
>
> use
>
>>a
>>
>>>ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
>>> Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The mag7 is
>>>still unplugged. What gives?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
--
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PaulB
July 11th 04, 10:20 PM
That is a very good price for a auto reset GFCI. You should avoid OSHA
compliant plug-in GFCIs because you have to reset them manually every time
the power goes off.
"CheezWiz" > wrote in message
...
> I use a GFCI power strip myself. That way the house wiring does not have
to
> be modified..
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20756&item=4310884869&rd=1
>
> Also it is best to put equipment on different strips so that one failure
> does not shut down the whole tank...
> "Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
> ...
> > GCFI is a plug-in to the wall outlet. I'm having an electrician come in
> > later in the week for some other work so I'll ask him. Thanks for the
> ideas
> > & help!
> > Steve
> >
> > "CheezWiz" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Do you have a GFCI on the tank?
> > > If so, then it should trip with a ground probe. That is really the
> primary
> > > use of a ground probe..
> > > IMHO...
> > >
> > > "Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I got home last night to find all my pumps/lights off. It looked
> > like
> > > > there may have been a spill. Most likely there was because my
salinity
> > is
> > > > down to 1.022.
> > > > Anyway now when I put my hands in the water it feels like there
is
> > > stray
> > > > current going through the water. I started unplugging a few things
> until
> > > it
> > > > stopped. It turned out that a mag7 pump was giving me a nice shock.
I
> > use
> > > a
> > > > ground probe on the tank so I'm not sure what is going on here.
> > > > Also this morning the stray current problem seems worse! The
mag7
> is
> > > > still unplugged. What gives?
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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