do I have stray voltage?

[H.E. Pennypacker]

When I use a voltage meter I get 45v on my tank. With everything off and unplugged I get 5v. With some saltwater in a small contain I get 1v.
My son's Betta tank tank shows 40v. Neither tank has a ground probe at present.

Am I using the right settings and doing this correctly?

I have never in years felt electricity from either tank.

I don't have fish in my tank but am planning to add one in a few days.

Thank you!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

When I use a voltage meter I get 45v on my tank. With everything off and unplugged I get 5v. With some saltwater in a small contain I get 1v.
My son's Betta tank tank shows 40v. Neither tank has a ground probe at present.

Am I using the right settings and doing this correctly?

I have never in years felt electricity from either tank.

I don't have fish in my tank but am planning to add one in a few days.

Thank you!

There is a difference between various "voltage" measurements in aquariums. Faulty equipment can cause shorts that can be harmful to you and the animals. "Induced voltage" is more common and is not a concern - various submerged equipment (usually pumps) will cause a minor voltage reading with a probe like yours. Induced voltage doesn't cause any harm to you or the animals.

All aquariums should be attached to ground fault circuits for safety.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Let alone a voltage leak due to water intrusion into say a return pump wiring, I will say this. Magnetic fields produce electrical current into conductive material, this material can be saltwater. Return pumps, skimmers, wave makers all use magnetic fields. This cannot be avoided. There have been talk of grounding probes, but I feel these just may hurt your controller for said pump or wavemaker.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

There is a difference between various "voltage" measurements in aquariums. Faulty equipment can cause shorts that can be harmful to you and the animals. "Induced voltage" is more common and is not a concern - various submerged equipment (usually pumps) will cause a minor voltage reading with a probe like yours. Induced voltage doesn't cause any harm to you or the animals.

All aquariums should be attached to ground fault circuits for safety.

Thank you! Neither aquarium is using GFCI outlets thus the lack of ground wire at present. I'm working on getting these upgraded to GFCI outlets and confirming they will work & be per code with my AFCI circuit breakers

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I checked with my electrician friend and my circuit breaker is AFCI + GFCI so I don't need to swap for a GFCI outlet. Does anyone know if I can safely ground the tank if it's at the breaker and not outlet?

 

[Trueruby]

There is a difference between various "voltage" measurements in aquariums. Faulty equipment can cause shorts that can be harmful to you and the animals. "Induced voltage" is more common and is not a concern - various submerged equipment (usually pumps) will cause a minor voltage reading with a probe like yours. Induced voltage doesn't cause any harm to you or the animals.

All aquariums should be attached to ground fault circuits for safety.

Instead opening a new topic I just saw this one.
I am having the same issue. Using smilar volt meter, but I read 93 V while all the pumps are running.
Tried each pumps individually, all each has reading around 30V. Can not be sure if 93 V is safe? Or It is a faulty of a pump?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Instead opening a new topic I just saw this one.
I am having the same issue. Using smilar volt meter, but I read 93 V while all the pumps are running.
Tried each pumps individually, all each has reading around 30V. Can not be sure if 93 V is safe? Or It is a faulty of a pump?

93v is higher than I usually see with induced voltage, but maybe it's normal for your tank? I don't worry about anything 50v or less......is the tank on a GFCI? If so, you could try a grounding probe.

 

[Trueruby]

93v is higher than I usually see with induced voltage, but maybe it's normal for your tank? I don't worry about anything 50v or less......is the tank on a GFCI? If so, you could try a grounding probe.

I live not in USA but Europe, I could not figure it out what is GFCI? Is it smilar like residual current device? I have 30mA.
I also feel If I have scar or between my nails something is going on..

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I live not in USA but Europe, I could not figure it out what is GFCI? Is it smilar like residual current device? I have 30mA.
I also feel If I have scar or between my nails something is going on..

Do you mean that you can feel a "tingle" in your hand when you put it in the water? If so, you need to correct that! I'm not familiar with power supplies (current and voltage) in Europe, I'll defer to others about that, but I think you may have a short circuit and that can be dangerous to you. Maybe a local electrician can help you?

 

[Trueruby]

Do you mean that you can feel a "tingle" in your hand when you put it in the water? If so, you need to correct that! I'm not familiar with power supplies (current and voltage) in Europe, I'll defer to others about that, but I think you may have a short circuit and that can be dangerous to you. Maybe a local electrician can help you?

Yes, I mean tingle. If either its a scar or if there is some gap between nail and finger. I am looking for a way to correct it but couldn’t find anything so far. I measured plugs and pumps all seems fine. But still whicever rotating pump I try, It increase the voltage in the water.