Just got zapped hard!

FishyFishy! · #1 07-29-2014, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

Get a cheap multi meter, stick the black end into the earth pole on a three prong plug, put the other end in the tank. Get a helper to unplug things one at a time, when the voltage drops to zero the last item unplugged is the culprit. Good luck.

Edit:
When a heater went bad in my display I had the same shocking experience, I didn't notice any damage to the livestock in the tank. The fish were a bit skittish, but no harm done. The fish that were in there are still in there after about 2 years.

Just saw this post. I will definitely try this, as I do have a multi-meter at home.

One question though, should I ground it on the socket end of the power bar in the ground prong position?

hillbillyreefer · #2 07-29-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Just saw this post. I will definitely try this, as I do have a multi-meter at home.

One question though, should I ground it on the socket end of the power bar in the ground prong position?

Sure, that will work. Anything that completes the circuit will work.

Like scherzo said, the voltage won't drop to zero, but it will drop significantly. Give me a few minutes and I'll grab my multimeter from the shop and post hat my tanks voltage is.

For anyone that isn't sure the earth (ground) prong on a power outlet is the round hole, not one of the flat blade holes.

FishyFishy! · #3 07-29-2014, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

For anyone that isn't sure the earth (ground) prong on a power outlet is the round hole, not one of the flat blade holes.

Yes, this one here:

hillbillyreefer · #4 07-29-2014, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Yes, this one here:

Thank you.

One tank has 43v and the other 56v, neither give a tingle or zapppppp!

When I was getting zapped it was over 100v, the culprit was a heater.

I just remembered I had a pump in a small skimmer go bad on my kids nano tank, also a shocking experience. I don't recall testing the tank with a multi meter.

FishyFishy! · #5 07-29-2014, 02:14 PM

I'll check what my live one is today and let you know. I'll bet it will be much higher!