How to test if there are stray voltage in the fish tank?

[Barry Tetra]

So recently I've been doing water changes on my cherry barbs tank and get shocked by water, but the problem solved, it was the table lamp light.
The question is how to test if there are stray voltage in the tank because just in case it happens again, I dont wanna put my finger in there. can I use volt meter?

@Colin_T

 

[Colin_T]

You should be able to use a volt meter to check for power in the water.

Most electrical shocks from aquariums come from lights that have water on them, or power filters with damaged cords/ cases.

If you keep light units dry and have coverglass on the tanks, there will be less chance of getting zapped.

 

[erikawells]

Pretty simple. Get a DVM or any volt meter and put it in AC V. Put the black leg on a ground or neutral and then stick the other probe in the water and see if you have any voltage.

 

[StevenF]

You can do it with a DVM but you need to to find a good ground connection. In the US the 3rd pin (U shaped pin) on the outlet is ground. i don't know if Thailand outlets have a ground pin. The other option is to find a water pipe. In the US water pipes are also connected to ground. It's important to mention that "Ground " does not refer to the soil outside. So putting the black probe of a DVM in soil is not going to work. The "ground" connection is a 0Volt safety connection that does go back to the power plant.

Another option is to connect your tank to a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) outlet or GFI power strip. Then connect a stainless steal wire to ground and then put the other end of the ground wire in contact with the water in the tank. That way if there is an electrical fault in the pump the lights or water heater the GFI will detect current flowing from the power lines of the outlet to ground and automatically shut off power to the tank.