Wiring advice/help needed (voltage in tank)

[Wheelman76]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I have a skimmer, return and chiller pumps, 3 x 200w heaters, and 2 maxijets in my sump.

I only get 0.07 volts, so all my gear is still waterproof.

I have a crappy maxijet in my ato and it leaks 4.5v - no big deal.



Looking at your list I'd suggest you start replacing hardware as the units that are leaking voltage will eventually get worse and fail, probably blowing your gfci and turning the whole system off.



And I'd leave the probe out of the tank unless you plan on working in it.

I've never liked the idea of subjecting the critters to voltage with a probe, and only use probes in my tanks to protect me in case of a sudden failure.

I thought having the probe in makes it so the fish are not affected by the voltage?

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Wheelman76

I thought having the probe in makes it so the fish are not affected by the voltage?

The probe completes the circuit to ground, so it is now flowing through the water

[gregzz4]

Bryant it does seem a bit odd that the newer equip is acting up ...

When you tested, you put the black/negative probe in the 'D' shaped socket in your outlet, and the red/positive probe in the water ?

Maybe try individually testing hardware without the lights

[GoFish]

Yes, the red positive probe was submerged in tank water and the negative was in the 3rd D shaped hole in the wall, and also tried a power bar ground hole with no difference.
Not sure if this could be related but something strange I noticed was testing the GFCI wall plug I get 120 volts each, but if I test the power bar plugs (2 y/o Coralife digital power centre) and get 39-40 volts for each plug.

I will try each unit in its own when I have time this afternoon and post results

[CM125]

Something still doesn't sound right here. Did you test the ground in the box before you installed the gfci?

[Wildechild_01]

I still dont think there is an issue with the devices actually leaking power into the tank I will admit the induced levels seem a little hight but depending on the quality of the equipment and the materials used induced voltages can be pretty high, i will check my tank when i get home and see what my results are like. It is worth double checking the GFCI hookups to make sure your white and black are in the right place, even if they are without the ground probe in the tank the gfci will likely not trip since all of the power going out will eventually make its way back through that same gfci assuming all of the equipment is run through it.

[gregzz4]

Those low voltages on your power bar are definitely messed up