i justaquascaped my whole tank, and when i turned everything back on i stuck my hand in the tank and toitally got shocked, and i thought it was static and di it again and WOW! it huirt soo bad... so i unplugged everything and checked it all , i have 1 suspect plz tell what u think , my heater must have cracked it the process and had water in it, do yall think that is why? i have aq 24 metal halide with brackets holding it up, other than the submesible pump and the filter in the back i dont know, pl help!!!!!!!
I just got electricuted--- plz help!!
- Thread starter alvintheclownfish
- Start date
Although, if you aren't very sure that it is the heater, you can turn things on one by one, sticking your hand in in between, to find out what equipment is safe.
If the shock is really bad, I don't recommend this method. Can anyone else chime in with a better method for detecting stray electricity than self-electrocution? Would a GFI plug trip in a situation like this?
jayo
If the shock is really bad, I don't recommend this method. Can anyone else chime in with a better method for detecting stray electricity than self-electrocution? Would a GFI plug trip in a situation like this?
jayo
Check any wires going to any powerheads circulating water in the tank. You might have scraped one while moving stuff around in the tank. Also, they might be brittle where they enter the water line and where coral has built up on the cables.
Maybe you can see if there is voltage in the tank with a volt meter somehow so you don't have to put your hand in there to test it. 8O Maybe put the positive in the tank and ground the negative somewhere outside the tank and see if you get a reading.
I doubt that your problem lies in your sump unless you messed around in there. I'd suspect the place you were working in first and foremost.
If it WAS the thermometer, then you may want to go out and grab a new one before your local fish store closes this afternoon (and doesn't open until after labor day).
Maybe you can see if there is voltage in the tank with a volt meter somehow so you don't have to put your hand in there to test it. 8O Maybe put the positive in the tank and ground the negative somewhere outside the tank and see if you get a reading.
I doubt that your problem lies in your sump unless you messed around in there. I'd suspect the place you were working in first and foremost.
If it WAS the thermometer, then you may want to go out and grab a new one before your local fish store closes this afternoon (and doesn't open until after labor day).
Well if you have a volt meter you can test the water that way... if not, the finger test really isn't advised, you'll ESPECIALLY feel it if you have any cuts or scratches on your hand/arm. But unplug everything, then plug things in one at a time to test them, when you find the culprit, unplug everything again and plug in ONLY the culprit to test again. Now the reason I say do this is often there can be two items that are the cause where any one item isn't bad two can be bad.
Eitherway be careful with electricity (again especially if you have cuts) it's not a good beast and the electrical resistance between any two people can be orders of magnitudes difference so that someone might feel a mild jolt while someone else could literally get shocked to death. Either way, don't feel too bad I got zapped by a 250w MH
Eitherway be careful with electricity (again especially if you have cuts) it's not a good beast and the electrical resistance between any two people can be orders of magnitudes difference so that someone might feel a mild jolt while someone else could literally get shocked to death. Either way, don't feel too bad I got zapped by a 250w MH
This MAY sound like a hazard, but using a voltmeter you can:
-set it to AC 120 Volt range
-put the negative/black terminal into the GROUND (round, NOT flat) hole in a wall socket. This is the third hole in an outlet that is not always used. You know, two flat holes and then below or above them a single kinda round hole for the thrid prong to stick in on grounded plugs.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHICH HOLE IN THE OUTLET I MEAN, THEN DO NOT TRY THIS. I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN. I just know enough to get me in trouble. :wink: Let me know if you want me to show you a photo of where to stick the negative ("yeah, I'll tell ya where ta stick it!") 8O
-put the positive/red terminal into the water and see if you get a reading
-set it to AC 120 Volt range
-put the negative/black terminal into the GROUND (round, NOT flat) hole in a wall socket. This is the third hole in an outlet that is not always used. You know, two flat holes and then below or above them a single kinda round hole for the thrid prong to stick in on grounded plugs.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHICH HOLE IN THE OUTLET I MEAN, THEN DO NOT TRY THIS. I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN. I just know enough to get me in trouble. :wink: Let me know if you want me to show you a photo of where to stick the negative ("yeah, I'll tell ya where ta stick it!") 8O
-put the positive/red terminal into the water and see if you get a reading
alvintheclownfish":3s48gw3b said:
Electricity and salt water is a dicy combination.
You are INSANE for not using a GFCI, and also in violation of electrical codes which require them wherever you can touch water and provide a conduit for electrons.
Get one and install it.
Lawdawg":11j0sig9 said:
I'm curious about this. Are the little 'pop' switches that come on most of the 6 outlet extension cords GFCI, or are they some other kind of safety device?
I'm talking about the kind that's usually sold as a 'power strip' for computers, etc. They seem to all have some kind of overload protection, but that isn't a GFCI,or is it?
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