Poll: Do You Use Ground Probes

[Brew12]

If you use a grounding probe how will you know you have an issue.

Ideally you will use it with a GFCI so that if you have a faulted electrical component it will trip the GFCI.

 

[BigHildy53]

My outlets are on a dedicated circuit. But they are not GFCI. Will a ground probe and a portable GFCI such as this https://www.grainger.com/product/POWER-FIRST-Plug-In-GFCI-5YL43 do the trick?

 

[CoralReefer1019]

so basically I can add a grounding probe to my Reef system that uses a basic outlet with a APC UPC backup?

 

[Brew12]

My outlets are on a dedicated circuit. But they are not GFCI. Will a ground probe and a portable GFCI such as this https://www.grainger.com/product/POWER-FIRST-Plug-In-GFCI-5YL43 do the trick?

Yup, but Lowes and Home Depot both carry a similar model that costs $15.

so basically I can add a grounding probe to my Reef system that uses a basic outlet with a APC UPC backup?

Yes, you can, but you won't have the added benefit of GFCI unless you do it after the APC

 

[ReeferRoo]

Actually just bought 2 grounding probes for my Fish QT and my Coral QT. My DT uses Finnex heaters so I am good on that front.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Titaniu...Aquariums-TAAM_Via_Aqua-TA1111-FIMIGF-vi.html

 

[BigJohnny]

Actually just bought 2 grounding probes for my Fish QT and my Coral QT. My DT uses Finnex heaters so I am good on that front.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Titaniu...Aquariums-TAAM_Via_Aqua-TA1111-FIMIGF-vi.html

Again just FYI my finnex titanium heaters did not eliminate stray voltage in my aquarium, had to install a ground probe. I would test with a voltmeter to make sure.

 

[Brew12]

Again just FYI my finnex titanium heaters did not eliminate stray voltage in my aquarium, had to install a ground probe. I would test with a voltmeter to make sure.

That is an interesting situation. Wish I new more about why that is. It looks like they have 3 prong plugs so it "should" have worked.

 

[BigJohnny]

That is an interesting situation. Wish I new more about why that is. It looks like they have 3 prong plugs so it "should" have worked.

Would my heaters have to be on for it to work? They are controlled by my reefkeeper so may have been off when I tested.

 

[Brew12]

Would my heaters have to be on for it to work? They are controlled by my reefkeeper so may have been off when I tested.

Nope. If a ground is properly installed it should be a direct hard wired connection. It should never be part of a switch circuit.

 

[BigJohnny]

Nope. If a ground is properly installed it should be a direct hard wired connection. It should never be part of a switch circuit.

So what are the possible causes? Rubber on the tips of the heaters? (I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about). Is it possible that they were grounding a lot of the voltage but not all and the ground probe was needed to take the rest?

 

[Brew12]

So what are the possible causes? Rubber on the tips of the heaters? (I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about). Is it possible that they were grounding a lot of the voltage but not all and the ground probe was needed to take the rest?

No, it only takes a small amount of surface area for the minimal amount of current needed to drain the voltage.

I would say either the heater ground was not properly connected to the titanium shell. The Reefkeeper outlet grounds may not be properly connected to its ground prong. The ground for the outlet you plugged the Reefkeeper in isn't properly grounded.

It almost has to be one of those 3. It would take an ohmmeter to figure out which was the culprit.

 

[BigJohnny]

No, it only takes a small amount of surface area for the minimal amount of current needed to drain the voltage.

I would say either the heater ground was not properly connected to the titanium shell. The Reefkeeper outlet grounds may not be properly connected to its ground prong. The ground for the outlet you plugged the Reefkeeper in isn't properly grounded.

It almost has to be one of those 3. It would take an ohmmeter to figure out which was the culprit.

Are any of those situations dangerous or no because I have a ground probe?

 

[Brew12]

Are any of those situations dangerous or no because I have a ground probe?

They are mitigated by having a ground probe but I won't say that it isn't still a safety issue.

 

[BigJohnny]

They are mitigated by having a ground probe but I won't say that it isn't still a safety issue.

Great...........any suggestions?

 

[Brew12]

Great...........any suggestions?

Do you have a multimeter you can use to run tests?

 

[Tanghoarder]

I’ll never setup a tank without a groun problem again that has anything electrical in the tank. Been shocked to many times

 

[BigJohnny]

Do you have a multimeter you can use to run tests?

Yes

 

[Brew12]

Yes

Set it to the "ohm" reading and test the resistance from the exposed titanium on the heater to the ground prong on the heater. It should be 0.2 ohms or less. Then do the same thing on the Reefkeeper from the ground socket you removed the heater to a ground on a house receptacle and see what you get there. Again, it should be 0.2 ohms or less.

 

[don_chuwish]

I may have to pull a three prong extension cord over to where I can get the positive lead of my multimeter in the water. I've never actually tested for stray voltage but I've never had the AFCI circuit trip either - which it should if the Finnex heaters are acting as grounding plugs AND there is stray voltage, if I understand this correctly. (And AFCI are horribly prone to nuisance trips - I try not to breath on them when I'm at the panel!)
I'm also kind of surprised people get shocked - how are THEY grounded? I can go outside in shoes and touch my low power electric fence with no zap. Even in bare feet my wood floor wouldn't be terribly conductive, but I usually have slippers on.

 

[Brew12]

I may have to pull a three prong extension cord over to where I can get the positive lead of my multimeter in the water. I've never actually tested for stray voltage but I've never had the AFCI circuit trip either - which it should if the Finnex heaters are acting as grounding plugs AND there is stray voltage, if I understand this correctly. (And AFCI are horribly prone to nuisance trips - I try not to breath on them when I'm at the panel!)
I'm also kind of surprised people get shocked - how are THEY grounded? I can go outside in shoes and touch my low power electric fence with no zap. Even in bare feet my wood floor wouldn't be terribly conductive, but I usually have slippers on.

AFCI and GFCI are two different animals. A stray voltage or even leaking current will not cause an AFCI trip.

Normally people only get shocked to the floor if they are not wearing shoes and are standing on concrete. Wet carpet on concrete would be another more common way. Most people are shocked because they are touching the water along with something else that is grounded, such as the housing of a light fixture. Salt creep between a light fixture and whatever you touch can also provide a path.