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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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08-14-2009, 11:06 PM
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#1
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Thousand Oaks, California
Posts: 555
Reviews: 16
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Grounding question for the experts
http://angel-strike.com/aquarium/GroundingProbes.html
I read this article (its kinda long) and was wondering if everything in it is accurate?
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Last edited by Doug1; 08-15-2009 at 10:12 AM.
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08-14-2009, 11:16 PM
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#2
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,178
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I know it helped a yellow Tang with Lateral line erosion and my fish are more peacefull,but making it more dangerous,not sure.
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08-15-2009, 08:57 AM
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#3
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 1,087
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interesting article ...i just bought 2 ground probes so im still going to use them. the article does make sense but i wonder how long a shorted pump could continue to short with out tripping your breaker or gfi ?
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Don
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08-15-2009, 09:45 AM
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#4
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,178
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I agree Don!
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08-15-2009, 10:30 AM
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#5
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They call me EC
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lakeland Florida
Posts: 3,616
Reviews: 3
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I use ground probes, not because I believe it helps the inhabitants of the tank (because I don't), but because I don't like getting shocked. Electricity takes the path of least resistance. If the tank is well grounded the current will take that path. If its not, it's more likely to use me as a path to ground. That's not a pleasant feeling, so all my tanks and lights are well grounded.
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"Research and setup a solid tank"CRVZ
"my arch nemesis EC is warping your minds." Geoff 
Buy only AUSSIE Elegance corals.
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08-15-2009, 05:07 PM
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#6
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 689
Reviews: 3
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If you have all of the equipment plugged into a GFCI you won't need ground probes. GFCI work off a difference of potential it takes 1 tenth of 1 amp to trip a gfci well enough before a human will sense a shock. My opinion they are just a waste of money
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08-15-2009, 08:53 PM
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#7
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They call me EC
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lakeland Florida
Posts: 3,616
Reviews: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfenbuttel
If you have all of the equipment plugged into a GFCI you won't need ground probes. GFCI work off a difference of potential it takes 1 tenth of 1 amp to trip a gfci well enough before a human will sense a shock.
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I agree. That's also why I would never have a GFCI on one of my tanks. They trip way to easy. I would be some kind of upset if I came home to a tank full of dead critters because a GFCI tripped.
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"Research and setup a solid tank"CRVZ
"my arch nemesis EC is warping your minds." Geoff
Buy only AUSSIE Elegance corals.
Last edited by Elegance Coral; 08-15-2009 at 09:09 PM.
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08-15-2009, 08:56 PM
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#8
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 1,087
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfenbuttel
it takes 1 tenth of 1 amp to trip a gfci y
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how many volts is that?
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Don
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08-15-2009, 09:13 PM
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#9
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Gone Snorkeling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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120vac
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My 135RR Tank build
Upstate SC Reefers Unite!! Join the PMAC!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
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08-15-2009, 09:21 PM
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#10
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 1,087
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so like 5 volts or so of stray voltage wouldn't trip a gfci?
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Don
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08-15-2009, 09:36 PM
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#11
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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the only time that a GFCI is going to trip is when it detects a direct short that causes an amperage spike enough to cause the shunt in the GFCI to trip. Stray voltage typically is pulling low amperage and is not spiking as the water offer some sort of resistance to the electricity which would not be detected as a direct short do to the chemical makeup of saltwater. Saltwater is an electrolytic compound and offers a decent amount of resistance to the electricity and causes a small amp draw instead of a spike.. for small voltage readings of stray voltage you are best served with a ground probe.
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My 135RR Tank build
Upstate SC Reefers Unite!! Join the PMAC!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
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08-16-2009, 12:39 AM
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#12
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 4,762
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I had 2 pumps running in a bucket, one leaked 17 and the other leaked 21 volts. The 21 volt pump would trip my GFCI if I started it up in the water but if I started it and dropped it into the water it would not trip it. If they were both running they would trip it no matter what.
I tested the voltage being leaked with a fluke meter. I'm goofy like that.
A normal voltage for a fancy system with lots of pumps would be around 6 volts. If you put a grounding probe into the system it will complete the circuit. While I can see how not having the voltage staying in the system staticly could reduce fish stress but I can also see how it could cause "hot" spots for current in the tank. I agree with who ever stated that its better to have the GP complete the circuit instead of you. Its also a good idea to test tank voltage periodicly to reduce the risk of electrocution and definatly test voltage after adding any piece of equipment that have components that touch the water.
Water flow can also add voltage to the system due to the friction of the water molecules rubbing on eachother.
I don't like to be shocked either.
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Jason
My girlfriend says bigger is better, so I am going to build the biggest skimmer I can.
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08-16-2009, 12:42 AM
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#13
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uber-stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Biloxi, MS
Posts: 4,762
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Ps I'm not an expert
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Jason
My girlfriend says bigger is better, so I am going to build the biggest skimmer I can.
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08-16-2009, 07:53 AM
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#14
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 689
Reviews: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by three90s&125sump
I had 2 pumps running in a bucket, one leaked 17 and the other leaked 21 volts. The 21 volt pump would trip my GFCI if I started it up in the water but if I started it and dropped it into the water it would not trip it. If they were both running they would trip it no matter what.
I tested the voltage being leaked with a fluke meter. I'm goofy like that.
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Cause a GFCI doesn't work off how much voltage is "leaking out". You could have 13000 volts if they is no amps than the gfci wont trip. The last thing i would want is to come home to my tank off cause a 20 dollar receptacle broke
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08-16-2009, 07:56 AM
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#15
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,178
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I'd raather come home with the tank off to a house that didn't burn down!
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