Freak accident or preventable?

[Tahoe61]

Two days ago I reached over to turn on my Smatfarm 95 watts and a static shock from my finger zapped the Smatfarm. The fixture turned on from the static spark, the fixture than ran through it self check, the fixture still runs but it's pretty damaged.
Granted not an expensive fixture but I am rather surprised that a static shock would do so much damage.
I would have been furious if it were my Reefbreeders or MH fixture.

So just be aware of grounding myself prior to touching electrical equipment. If it were a one off I would not be concerned but for some odd reason I am seeing a lot of static electricity recently. I don't have carpet so that's not contributing.


Weird.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is it possible you didn't shock the fixture but the fixture shocked you? And the static shock you received completed the circuit which is why it turned on?
I know youre a shocking person after all

 

[Tahoe61]

Is it possible you didn't shock the fixture but the fixture shocked you? And the static shock you received completed the circuit which is why it turned on?
I know youre a shocking person after all

I would have been inclined to think the same, BUT I have been getting zapped on both tanks. More on the other tank with the Meridian than the Smatfarm tank.
Awe the joys of this hobby.

 

[Reefering1]

I would expect the metal case of these devices to be grounded, and this couldn't happen unless you touched the circuit board directly... hmmm

 

[Tahoe61]

I would expect the metal case of these devices to be grounded, and this couldn't happen unless you touched the circuit board directly... hmmm

That's what I thought. In that split nano second my finger had not even made contact yet, the ark snapped between my finger and the housing. The fixture was off so there's got to be some stray voltage. I have tile floors, everything was dry.

I suppose the fixture could be bad and it's purely coincidence. That's a logical line of thought.

But I have no clue.

 

[Reefering1]

That's what I thought. In that split nano second my finger had not even made contact yet, the ark snapped between my finger and the housing. The fixture was off so there's got to be some stray voltage. I have tile floors, everything was dry.

I suppose the fixture could be bad and it's purely coincidence. That's a logical line of thought.

But I have no clue.

These lights have a 3 prong grounded plug?

 

[Reefering1]

I have seen non UL approved (Chinese) devices have a 3 prong plug but the ground not actually connect to the case of the unit. You can easily check that with a multimeter, assuming there are 3 prongs.

 

[Tahoe61]

These lights have a 3 prong grounded plug?

Ok now that I am looking at it no. I am going to move the tank and look at the sockets and put on another fixture.

IMPORTANT: I did not plug the fixture into the surge protector strip. Now that's a rookie mistake for sure.

 

[Reefering1]

Ok now that I am looking at it no. I am going to move the tank and look at the sockets and put on another fixture.

IMPORTANT: I did not plug the fixture into the surge protector strip. Now that's a rookie mistake for sure.

Its 2 prong? And has a metal housing?
If so, you can change the plug to 3 prong and ground the case.

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup 2 prongs.

 

[Reefering1]

Yup 2 prongs.

And that cord goes directly into the light or is there a external power supply that only sends DC into the fixture?

 

[Tahoe61]

And that cord goes directly into the light or is there a external power supply that only sends DC into the fixture?

External power block.

Thank you for your help BTW.

 

[Reefering1]

External power block.

Thank you for your help BTW.

So that makes sense. External power brick means its not a electrocution hazard to you and explains the ungrounded case that allows damage to the electronics via static...

Is the air in your home very dry? That increases static electricity potential...
I like relative humidity around 40-45%

 

[Tahoe61]

So that makes sense. External power brick means its not a electrocution hazard to you and explains the ungrounded case that allows damage to the electronics via static...

Is the air in your home very dry? That increases static electricity potential...
I like relative humidity around 40-45%

S. Arizona, so yes the humidity on most days is low. I considered this variable as well.

 

[BryanM]

I get shocked a lot more when the humidity is low.... ANd I also do not have carpet.