What will a grounding probe do?Don't think I'd call it "stray" voltage. That's a potentially lethal failure and I'm glad you're still with us.
Stray voltage in my mind is cause by some component aging (or several components) where the insulation is degraded.
That said...you should always have a grounding probe in any water tank that has electrical components and your devices should be connected to GFCI outlet.
Provides a low resistance path to ground. The ground probe is essentially a wire from your tank to the ground plug of an outlet. You could also connect to copper/metal plumbing and do the same thing (usually easier to find electrical outlet).
This is what I will do. I should have realized something was wrong because pri
i actually cut my left hand from the PVC cutter just 20 minutes prior and it still stings.
Do you recommend installing a probe in the sump or display ?
Sump is normally fine. That's where mine is and should do the trick. Realize that if you're doing work with the return pump off and the faulty equipment is in your display then protection will be much less. I only have DC pumps in my display so much less of a concern to me. My UV is in-line with return. When I do another tank, I plan on closed loop for UV and maybe inline heaters...in that case I would need one probe in display. So yeah, for you, I'd get a probe for each (you can connect them to same ground plug).
You can set it up to be notified by Apex. I know I get notified wit heartbeat, but you can also set up power monitoring. You can also take other steps to mitigate risk, like using multiple GFCI plugs or cords. I have my UV plugged into one of the extension cords linked above and other critical tank components split between two separate GFCI outlets to split up the tank life support. UV much like light ballast are known for tripping GFCI which is why I have it on its own. If it trips the cord only the light goes out but everything else continues on.
So if I installed it on a gfci oulet then it would trip it it was leaking or causing stray voltage right.
Electrician here...word of warning, DO NOT install a ground probe without GFCI protection. This can create a very dangerous scenario. But one example, of many possibilities ...bad lighting fixture + grounding probe + no GFCI. If the lighting fixture has something wrong with the wiring and the metal case becomes electrified, and you happen to lean against it while working in the tank? ZAP!!!
As a previous poster @PanhandleReef noted above, you can purchase an in line GFCI plug in unit that you plug into your regular outlet. Then branch out from there. I think it was an Amazon listing. Just ensure the product you are purchasing is UL listed, which the one pictured is...in some cases with so much offshore product coming in, it isn't.
