Curious Case

While fiddling around with one of my tanks, I noticed that I'd occasionally get a small shock if I stuck the tips of my fingers in the water.

After some testing and experimenting and investigating, I found that the shock would only come if the one internal filter and heater were running together, and the only parts of me that felt the shock were my middle finger and thumb on my right hand. Both of these fingers have some skin missing after handling some rough-edged rocks.

Should these shocks be of concern to me? What about the health of the fish?

I find it strange that it only happens when the filter and heater are on at the same time... man I'm confused.

 

Hmm... it's actually not the heater and filter working together. I've found now that it's each piece of equipment that is turned on adds to the shock. (ie: just the heater on, very small shock. Heater and filter, greater shock. Heater and 2 filters, bigger shock etc.)

Is this wierd or what? Or is it just because I have broken skin on my fingers that I can feel the shock?

 

Thats pretty wierd...

 

I bet you were standing barefoot.

 

sounds like it might be some sort of earthing problem

 

Possibly. Can pose a bigger problem if it really is. Make sure your equipment is sealed properly, ie waterproof.

 

Lol. I just tried it wearing a pair of slops... and no shock :bigsmile:

How do I know if it is an earthing problem, and if there is an earthing problem, how do I fix it?

And how do I check that?

Thanks all.

 

the problem with an earthing fault is that it could be any appliance in your entire house that has the fault. Try to isolate what is causing the fauly... Meaning unplug EVERYTHIN in your house, garage, outhouse, garden etc... And test the tank shock everytime you turn something on.

Obviously keep the tank running.

That way you can isolate the exact cause of the fault.

 

Agreed.
Note that most people stay in a house/flat for years without doing any electrical maintenance.
One of the most important electrical maintenance tasks is to check/have it checked by an electrician,the DB Board.The screws tend to vibrate loose,causing arcing,globes blowing prematureturely,and electrical shocks.

 

Heh heh heh... Suspect you might feel a little shaky at the end of this whole procedure. :stickyman:Good luck!

 

guys - remember most hardware that we use in fishtanks has no earth....

 

No shocks today... no, not wearing shoes either. Very, very strange.

 

mmmm this could just be a anomaly i have had exactly the same thing and some days nothing some days something

 

I once dropped the extension cord in the tank while everything was plugged in, I had it resting on the bracing while doing some work, and it fell in! Instantly it tripped and we were in darkness, my wife klapped me for interupting her "Bold"!! I was more keen to get the power back on to make sure none of the fish had fried!! But all was / still is well.

It's my biggest worry having submerged pumps/heaters, one day am I going to get a shocking surprise?

 

Dodgy wiring somewhere in the house.


Neutral and Earth swapped somewhere maybe.

 

Nuetral and earth often get swopped... especially in appliances that are supposedly "double insulated" like most of our equipment in the tank.

In the older days, the neutral and the earth were often a common wire.