Rw-8's are shocking!

[bubbaque]

I purchased a couple of the jebao rw-8's a month ago. They put out a lot of flow and was very pleased with them, until...I had a cut on thumb and needed to stick my hand in the tank. I noticed when I would stick my thumb in the water with the cut on it, I would start to get a electrical shock at the location of the cut, nothing crazy but enough of a shock where it didn't feel good.

So I started unplugging all my equipment one by one to see what was giving off the electoral charge. Since I had two of the powerhead's it was hard to find the source, since I was unplugging one at a time but noticed the shock wasn't as bad when one wasn't plugged in. I unplugged both of the powerhead's and the shocking sensation went away. I could not notice anything at all with my other fingers and everything seemed normal when I had them plugged in. The only way I ever found out was because of the cut I had.

If only one of the pumps was giving off the charge I would of thought I just had a bad powerhead but since both of them were doing it, I think something is wrong with the product.

For those of you who use these powerhead's I would test your water with a voltage meter and see what you get. I have a gfci and it was not tripping the breaker on it. I can only image it was stressing out the fish I have in the tank.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I am guessing that the Fish Probably were Fine unless they were cut too like you.

Maybe they do not even feel it?

I don't know.

Anybody have any experience on this that can Chime in?

At the Very least if the Fish were affected I would think that they would be Swimming Very Funny.

Did you notice the Fish Acting Odd?

Were they eating OK?

What does Stray Voltage do to Coral?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

heres a thing. The rw 8 are DC voltage at the head. The actual pump is running on DC. It cant shock you.
The power supply converts the ac to dc. Sends DC to the head.
I would have to hazard a guess if there is a problem it goes back to your electrical distribution.
I suppose its possible your getting ac through the head. but....

with a cheap multi meter test AC voltage from tank water to verified ground.
Check outlets with a polarity checker. for polarity and to verify ground.
Both cost less than $10 ea.

 

[bubbaque]

I am guessing that the Fish Probably were Fine unless they were cut too like you.

Maybe they do not even feel it?

I don't know.

Anybody have any experience on this that can Chime in?

At the Very least if the Fish were affected I would think that they would be Swimming Very Funny.

Did you notice the Fish Acting Odd?

Were they eating OK?

What does Stray Voltage do to Coral?

They seemed fine and we're eating but since the water goes through their gills I would of thought they had to have felt it. I do not feel the charge was strong enough to kill or make them swim funny but enough to stress them out over time. Even more then the fish it had my terrified to stick my hand in the tank after I discovered the electrical discharge. It just wasn't worth it to me to keep the powerhead's and had to buy different ones, even though I just bought the rw-8's.

 

[ckozma]

+1 Just check it with a multimeter

 

[bubbaque]

They seemed fine and we're eating but since the water goes through their gills I would of thought they had to have felt it. I do not feel the charge was strong enough to kill or make them swim funny but enough to stress them out over time. Even more then the fish it had my terrified to stick my hand in the tank after I discovered the electrical discharge. It just wasn't worth it to me to keep the powerhead's and had to buy different ones, even though I just bought the rw-8's.

I had the powerhead's on two different powers trips at different ends of the tank. I know I was getting shocked and when I unplugged them it went away. I no longer have them but wanted to give a heads up to anyone who does to check the water.

 

[zoomonster]

Definitely not something you want to have and I never have a tank without a titanium grounding rod. Stray voltage can do all sorts of damage to fish and corals and has been attributed to lateral line issues in tangs. There's a bunch of discussions/articles around. What you will find is that the argument is a ground rod is good for you and bad for fish/corals because if there is a leak it completes the ground so current flows through the tank. Supposedly w/o a ground rod no current flows. My doubt there is something else may have already grounded it. In any case the leaky device (often heaters) needs to be found and disposed of.

 

[DamianOZ]

I have 4x RW 8 in my tank, I love them
I swapped out Vortech, Tunze, Gyre, for Jebao, Jeboa has out lasted all my Vortech and Mazspect Gyre and quieter too.

 

[bubbaque]

I have 4x RW 8 in my tank, I love them
I swapped out Vortech, Tunze, Gyre, for Jebao, Jeboa has out lasted all my Vortech and Mazspect Gyre and quieter too.

I wasn't saying they don't work well, they just give off an electrical charge and I couldn't tell until I had a cut on my thumb.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

DC doesnt give off stray voltage.
AC produces EMF electro magnetic fields that collect and needs somewhere to go.
Not dc, unless you have a serious problemb.(ac leakage)
Still baffles my mind that the industry decided it was best to use ac in salt water in the first place.

and yes. check for stray voltage. Always.

 

[DamianOZ]

I wasn't saying they don't work well, they just give off an electrical charge and I couldn't tell until I had a cut on my thumb.

You have other problems, The pumps use 24DC, your not going to feel it if it was direct contact.

 

[DamianOZ]

DC doesnt give off stray voltage.
AC produces EMF electro magnetic fields that collect and needs somewhere to go.
Not dc, unless you have a serious problemb.(ac leakage)
Still baffles my mind that the industry decided it was best to use ac in salt water in the first place.

and yes. check for stray voltage. Always.

^

All my pumps are DC for this reason, I wish there was a similar option for heaters

 

[ngvu1]

DC shocks too. If you let 120v DC 1Amp or more going through your body, it won't be fun. In fact DC shock can be more deadly than the ac shock. We just don't have that many DC devices that output hi DC voltage and current to worry about.

Moreover, the stray voltage in aquarium only shocks you if you touch the ground while putting your hand in the tank. Therefore, the fish won't get electrocuted even the pumps leaking voltage because they don't have legs touching the ground.

 

[ngvu1]

Use central heat instead :-)

^

All my pumps are DC for this reason, I wish there was a similar option for heaters

 

[jsker]

I wasn't saying they don't work well, they just give off an electrical charge and I couldn't tell until I had a cut on my thumb.

Good post, Thank you. I have read in some of the threads of the same thing happening were there is stray voltage from pumps, heaters, etc. yes even the first gen gyre had issues with the cords. Did you contact Jebao to let them know about the issue? And thank you again for the notice.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

^

All my pumps are DC for this reason, I wish there was a similar option for heaters

google dc heater. its a titanium element that goes in water heaters. needs an external controller and temp sensor.:)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

DC shocks too. If you let 120v DC 1Amp or more going through your body, it won't be fun. In fact DC shock can be more deadly than the ac shock. We just don't have that many DC devices that output hi DC voltage and current to worry about.

Moreover, the stray voltage in aquarium only shocks you if you touch the ground while putting your hand in the tank. Therefore, the fish won't get electrocuted even the pumps leaking voltage because they don't have legs touching the ground.

its the constant exposure to the emf thats the danger to livestock. Like sitting on a microwave or living under power-lines. or having a cell phone near your jewels.

.5 amps of ac through the heart kills you.

and dc we use in the tank, its pretty impossible(unless catastrophic failure ie ac leak). Love to side bar that. I like to learn new things after a lot of years using electricity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You have other problems, The pumps use 24DC, your not going to feel it if it was direct contact.

Why do you think you cannot feel 24v DC?

Any kid sticking their tongue on a 9 v battery will tell you otherwise.

 

[ngvu1]

I guess this is why the OP felt the shock when putting his hand with a cut into the tank.

the tongue is more sensitive just like the cut....

Why do you think you cannot feel 24v DC?

Any kid sticking their tongue on a 9 v battery will tell you otherwise.

 

[DamianOZ]

Its virtually imposible for a switch mode power supply to fail rendering mains to the secondary out.

Why do you think you cannot feel 24v DC?

Any kid sticking their tongue on a 9 v battery will tell you otherwise.

Yes you are correct. The power supply is current limiting, so 24V DC at 1A, put it on your tong and it will likely tingle, probably quite a bit less than a 9v DC battery though, as the battery can supply greater current.
But, cut your finger, put the 24V DC direct into you tank, I bet you wont feel anything, other than the salt stinging... I haven't tried, but be my guest :)