Stray voltage and grounding probes?

[Fishnet]

Hello all,

Ok, I read posts about stray voltages and grounding probes. Now, Iam a bit confused...

In the presence of stray voltages, is the grounding probe used to protect the invidual cleaning the tank or the tank inhabitants. To me it seems that the stray voltage only is of concern when I would touch the water in the tank hence giving the current a path to ground. Now if this is true and if I add a grounding probe to a tank that didnot have one originally, I have protected myself since if there is any voltage present it will chose the path of least impedance, in this case the grounding probe instead of me. BUT by adding the probe i have also now completed the currrent path which would be from the source of the leakage thru the water column to the grounding probe. This path would not be present if there wasn't a path to ground. Isn't this bad for the inhabitants in the tank?

Hope I did not confuse anyone...

Thank You

 

[Anonymous]

Been there, argued that.

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

Yep you're right.

Most people don't see it that way though. They connect a voltmeter between the tank and ground, see some current is flowing, and then conclude they need a grounding probe.

 

[NasotheHutt]

Then why worry about broken heaters? Just unplug them when you want to stick your hand in the tank.

 

[carolina98]

Here's a link to a great thread I found on AquaLink a year ago. The whole argument is there, but no flames... just good solid info'. (This copy of the thread is in .pdf format, so I could post it to our club site. You need to have Acrobat reader installed to view the page.)

"Grounding Probes, Good or Bad?"

HTH!

 

[livingstone]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by carolina98:
<strong>The whole argument is there, but no flames... just good solid info'.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The trouble is, the whole argument is NOT there. The problem of the grounding probe causing current flow through the water is not even mentioned that I could see. I, for one, would like to hear a definitive solution to this.

Dan

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

Some time within the last six years there was a very good article on this in TFH (sorry I can't narrow the issue down).

That article did cover the issue you're worried about i.e. that the grouding-probe is fundimentally altering the "circuit". The conclusion was that is does.

Somone here might be able to drag out the old magazine and scan the article - I've long since recycled my copies...