DIY grounding probe

Maybe something to consider when working on your tank but if you leave it in the tank don't you run the risk of electrolysis of your salt water ?

I understand this is precaution but we don't want to wipe our tanks out by slowly affecting our water chemistry with a "silent problem"
Rather treat the cause then
Solve the problem a
 
Grounding probe DIY

How do you connect the groundinig probe> Do you swith it on after connecting to the mains? I tried and it tripped my entire household circuit. Please advise
 
Only one wire to the earth prong.

DO NOT CONNECT LIVE AND NEUTRAL.

If it still trip the power, then it means it does what it is supposed to do. Something is leaking power. Switch off and remove all plugs. Put the earth plug on. Then plug in and switch on each piece of equipment until you find the faulty one.
 
Yes connected to the earth only and then plug it to one of the sockets. When i turn on the power the entire aquarium trips and everything in the house goes off.

I suspect the filter unit is leaking current but the filter is on a 2 pin plug so how do I ground the filter unit?

Please help as this is giving me nightmares.
 
klkhoo said:
I suspect the filter unit is leaking current but the filter is on a 2 pin plug so how do I ground the filter unit?
Click to expand...

Unplug the filter unit.
If it does not trip anymore, you know what to fix.
 
What the legal state in South Africa with residual current circuit breakers? In Oz all houses have rcb's (as law). Was so confused when i first came here...no green earth leakage in the db..
 
Yes ...have followed your instructions and have connected a piece of copper wire to the earth of a plug. pleaced the copper wire in the water and switch on the power. The aquarium does not trip any more.However, i can still feel the tingling shock waves on the wooden panel of the aquarium cupboard. Why is that so?

Would have thought after putting in this home made grounding probe that the tingling stray current feel will go away. Please advise
 
Grounding probes do not make the current go away. The probe is an extention of the buildings' earth leakage breaker circuitry. The probe only trips out the power in the event of a leakage and thereby saves lives. Your earth leakage breaker needs to be in maintained in working order as well for the system to work.
 
Thanks Riaan.

Doing this ASAP after my skimmer pump did the same thing with the wires, they went hard and split. Went to feed the fishies and ZAP!!!!!

At least it was an excuse to upgrade skimmer to a TS2 ;)
 
Should I have a probe in my display tank as well, or is just the one in the sump the better way to go? I do have a pump in my display tank.
 
fit said:
Should I have a probe in my display tank as well,
Click to expand...
not needed. The water in the overflow and return lines would complete the circuit.
 
@RiaanP Doesn't this quick fix just give the electricity a route to travel through the tank instead of solving the problem. My question to you is, is the light shocks that we feel harmful towards the fish?
 
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@RiaanP Doesn't this quick fix just give the electricity a route to travel through the tank instead of solving the problem. My question to you is, is the light shocks that we feel harmful towards the fish?
 
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HoboHoppy said:
@RiaanP Doesn't this quick fix just give the electricity a route to travel through the tank instead of solving the problem. My question to you is, is the light shocks that we feel harmful towards the fish?
Click to expand...

depends on the cause, if its induced electricity from friction etc then not really, the fish are fine, the oceans carry a small charge etc.

if its stray voltage from a pump the copper/wire can oxidise releasing heavy metals which can affect fish etc..

but yes if its equipment based, toss the offending hardware
 
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dallasg said:
depends on the cause, if its induced electricity from friction etc then not really, the fish are fine, the oceans carry a small charge etc. if its stray voltage from a pump the copper/wire can oxidise releasing heavy metals which can affect fish etc.. but yes if its equipment based, toss the offending hardware
Click to expand...

But either way you guys recon its still a good idea to earth the tank?
 
I know if i have small cuts on my fingers, like paper cuts get regularly i feel the light currents. Is this normal or not, i should also add i only feel this when barefoot...
 
HoboHoppy said:
But either way you guys recon its still a good idea to earth the tank?
Click to expand...

yes, because if something shorts you want it to trip your lights so you know...
we had a member pass away here being electrocuted in his sump
 
dallasg said:
we had a member pass away here being electrocuted in his sump
Click to expand...

Damn really, when was this and who was the member... Thats really bad...
 
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