Pump electrocuting my hair!

[Miami Reef]

I am curing a tub of rocks and it’s very possible I got the plugs wet by accident.

The Brute can has a heater and a pump - 2 plugs into the outlet (I might have got the outlet wet as well).

Everything was fine. I put my phosguard, live rocks, dry rocks, medias etc.


I took a small break and then I went to put my activated carbon in the tub and when I put my hand in I felt shape knives above my nuckles…where my hair is.

I tried touching the water again but not reaching the hair and it was fine, but when my hair was inserted I felt a painful sting.

I unplugged the heater…still stinging me. I unplugged the pump and no stinging.


This is the hair I’m referring to lol.

I want to know if hair conducts electricity.

Should I try plugging the pump into a different outlet tomorrow, or should I just toss it out? I don’t know if the plug from the pump is bad, or if the wall outlet is bad. Will getting the plugs to be dry again stop electrical currents, or is it done for good?

 

[dakoop]

Sounds like a bad pump

 

[moz71]

I think you should toss it! Not worth it. Shouldn’t get shock from water if just outlet is wet

 

[Miami Reef]

I think you should toss it! Not worth it. Shouldn’t get shock from water if just outlet is wet

Really? I thought water on the plug causes electrical shocks.

The pump was purchased from Amazon, so it’s no wonder!

 

[moz71]

If plug was wet, breaker should blow. Or gfci tripped. Which need to use. That is on dry end. Break in line would be on wet end in water That would give you shock. You can always dry our everything and try again. Can also return to Amazon

 

[Miami Reef]

If plug was wet, breaker should blow. Or gfci tripped. Which need to use. That is on dry end. Break in line would be on wet end in water That would give you shock. You can always dry our everything and try again. Can also return to Amazon

Thank you for teaching me this! It does seem like there was a break in like since my outlet is gfci.

 

[moz71]

Thank you for teaching me this! It does seem like there was a break in like since my outlet is gfci.

No problem! Also, if plug was wet and your hands were wet touching the plug ouch! But still if you had it plugged in all juices flowing sounds like more of voltage leaking in pump head. Electricity is the one thing I don’t mess with. Had plenty of floods though with water so plumbing I need to get better! Lol

 

[Miami Reef]

No problem! Also, if plug was wet and your hands were wet touching the plug ouch! But still if you had it plugged in all juices flowing sounds like more of voltage leaking in pump head. Electricity is the one thing I don’t mess with. Had plenty of floods though with water so plumbing I need to get better! Lol

Thank you! I didn’t know this either!

One last question, I noticed my water was MUCH hotter even with the heater set at 72F. It was reading 82 which isn’t really normal. I don’t know if the pump caused this or not.

Do you think that stray voltage can cause water to heat much more than normal?

 

[moz71]

Thank you! I didn’t know this either!

One last question, I noticed my water was MUCH hotter even with the heater set at 72F. It was reading 82 which isn’t really normal. I don’t know if the pump caused this or not.

Do you think that stray voltage can cause water to heat much more than normal?

Don’t think so! But pumps do generate heat. It could have been pump burning out which caused both hotter water and burnt wire causing the stray voltage. ! What heater do you have?