Static Electricity?

[StewartK]

Hi
I tried to post this the other day but I don't think it went out due to computer crash
I am experiencing electric shocks when I put my hand in the tank.
I can still get a shock even if the electrical appliances are disconnected [plugs out]
the fish are fine & I would be surprised if there was much current otherwise they would all be floating at the top.

My setup is:

Eheim Professional 3 [filtration]
Aqua One CF 1200 [filtration & supplying flow through UV sterilizer]

the output of the above do enter the tank at 90 degrees so could this cause friction & produce static?

Anyone any solutions

All the best
Stewart

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Hmmm I doubt you would get a static shock from a body of water. If everything is unplugged and you still get a shock it could just mean that whatever is faulty is holding an electric charge. Do you have a heater in the tank (or does your filter have it built in)? These are the things that normally go like this.

You need to get an RCD for your electrical equipment to stop it from potentially killing you if it is giving you a shock. As to finiding out which bit of kit is doing it I'm afraid I dont know the best way to go about checking them. I'm sure someone on here will though.

 

[smithrc]

Its actually a very common problem....

do a google search for "stray voltage aquarium"

 

[StewartK]

thanks for that
I do have an RCD but i suppose as the heaters pumps etc have only live & neutral no earth that could be why it does not trip it I suppose i could try to earth the tank somehow I will have a look to see.
I did do a google search for "stray voltage aquarium" i bet you are both correct there is something which is faulty I will try removing one of the heaters at a time & see if after a while I still get the problem
thanks for your input
Stewart

 

[Rooster]

Try turning off the lights.... I suspect flourescent lamps "couple" with the water somehow... I have an electronic thermometer that goes daft if the lights are on, never really found out why - hood is wooden, and cannot be earthed... I have checked the filter and heater - so it definitely the lights

 

[aibo210]

Try turning off the lights.... I suspect flourescent lamps "couple" with the water somehow... I have an electronic thermometer that goes daft if the lights are on, never really found out why - hood is wooden, and cannot be earthed... I have checked the filter and heater - so it definitely the lights

It might be the moisture onto the lights and lid that tracking the electric into the water. Any product thats near water should carry an IP67 mark as its double insulated and to do with wireing regs!

Could you try pulling the fuse to that rooms sockets then trying you would definatly know you aint going mad then! my tank did it to me once turned out to be a faulty tetra ex filter 3 days later the seal went and dumped water over my floor!

 

[deucebrennan]

thanks for that
I do have an RCD but i suppose as the heaters pumps etc have only live & neutral no earth that could be why it does not trip it I suppose i could try to earth the tank somehow I will have a look to see.

RCDs trip out when there is a current imbalance between live and netural, not when there is current flowwing thru the earth. if there is current flowing thru the earth then there will be an imbalance between the live and netural and the RCD will trip.

Also, freshwater is a poor conductor of electricity. Salt water aquariums have a much greater risk of electric shock as salt water is a much better conductor.

earthing the tank only means that the electricity will flow down the earthing conductor you add. This means you would still have some dodgy kit. finding out what it is that causing this is the main priority.

Also many fish (i.e sharks) use electrical impulses to sense their environment & prey so by leaving a AC current flowing in your tank could harm your fish.!!!

 

[Cantbesaved]

You should get an electrician to wire up a GFI plug for the tank in this case. This is a Ground Fault Interrupt. They are mandatory in bathroom installations (At least in Ontario), and are designed for use specifically around water. If any water or anything makes contact with an appliance, it shuts off immediately, but does not blow a breaker in your electrical panel. it is almost a little breaker in the plug itself. This would prevent electical transfer through the water

 

[spesh]

GFI and RCD are the same things, just known by different names and acronyms either side of the pond

If your in the UK and not sure if your tank is on a RCD protected circuit then the easiest way to resolve it is to nip to B+Q (or any other reputable diy shop) and pick up a plug in RCD. You'll find them around the lawnmowers etc. It will offer you much more protection than not

Also dont be fooled by thinking that a RCD (RCBO/RCCD) will not function due to a lack of earth on a Double insulated (Class II) appliance. It will! If you are able to 'sense' electricity then you are earthed in some way and as such you will cause the phase-neutral imbalance required for a RCD to operate.