Testing your titanium heater as grounding probes

[jonelder68]

So a few have asked how to test there titanium heaters to ensure there properly grounded and will act as a grounding probe.

*** @BeanAnimal has brought to my attention some heaters are in surplus without the ground wire bonded at the heater therefore making it not capable doubling as a grounding probe.

*** To add to this grounding probes should only be used on GFCI outlets/protected circuits

So to test:

You’ll need a volt meter capable of measuring continuity/ohms

Install the leads into the meter. Turn dial to continuity/ohms as seen in photo (horse shoe looking symbol)

You should get display reading of O.L. (Out of limit) or open

Touch the two leads together to measure your leads and meters continuity

My meter and leads have .2ohms

Take your unplugged heater and set it somewhere (floor, table, etc) take one of the meters leads and connect it to the ground pin of the heater. (The round cylinder pin)

Next take your other lead and touch the heater body with it

With one lead now on the connector ground pin and the heater body confirm your reading

Reads .2ohms. So my heater has ground connected therefore doubles as a grounding probe. If you were to get an O.L., open, or much different reading then step #2 it won’t work as a grounding probe as the ground isn’t installed/hooked up.

Most meters just come with pin style ends

So you will have to hold the pin style in place will watching meter reads. Do not hold/touch any of the metal pins, heater body, etc on the leads as that will skew your readings. Only hold touch the rubber/plastic parts of the leads while testing.

Hopefully this will help out. I’m not the best at writing and explaining things. Feel free to add to this or ask questions.

 

[BeanAnimal]

So a few have asked how to test there titanium heaters to ensure there properly grounded and will act as a grounding probe.

*** @BeanAnimal has brought to my attention some BRS heaters are in surplus without the ground wire bonded at the heater therefore making it not capable doubling as a grounding probe.

To be sure - I don't think they were BRS sourced heaters.

I am not sure where they were coming from and BRS may not have even been a thing at the time. Some were shipped with 2 prong polarized plugs and others with grounded plugs but no actual grounding to the heater tube or components.

 

[jonelder68]

To be sure - I don't think they were BRS sourced heaters.

I am not sure where they were coming from and BRS may not have even been a thing at the time.

Ok thanks. I removed BRS from it. Better we test our heaters anyways if we’re relying on them for doubling as ground probes.

 

[RobertK]

Thanks for this helpful info and guide.

What if that heater is plugged into a temperature controller like a Ranco? Is it still functioning as a ground probe if the water temp is warm enough that the temp controller has the heater powered off?

Also, if the heater is in the sump and we are relying on it as a ground probe should there also be a separate ground probe in the display?

 

[jonelder68]

Thanks for this helpful info and guide.

What if that heater is plugged into a temperature controller like a Ranco? Is it still functioning as a ground probe if the water temp is warm enough that the temp controller has the heater powered off?

Also, if the heater is in the sump and we are relying on it as a ground probe should there also be a separate ground probe in the display?

Good question! Even when my heaters aren’t commanded on/powered the ground remains connected at least on my helio controller. I believe most would? But without testing others I can’t say for sure.

If the return pump is off and DT is not connected to sump via water then yes a second grounding probe would be needed in DT to have a path to ground.

I personally don’t run one in DT as I’m never in it when returns off (do water changes at basement sump). Though now after this incident with Miami I ordered a grounding probe and if I ever need to I’ll install it temporarily while in DT with return off.

Add a grounding probe to your water change gear if you do from DT would be wise and/or leaving it in DT constantly even better.

 

[RobertK]

Even when my heaters aren’t commanded on/powered the ground remains connected at least on my helio controller. I believe most would? But without testing others I can’t say for sure.

Thanks! So to test that, would I use the above procedure and touch one lead to the heater body and the other to the ground pin of the unplugged temp controller (with the heater plugged into the temp controller)?

 

[jonelder68]

Thanks! So to test that, would I use the above procedure and touch one lead to the heater body and the other to the ground pin of the unplugged temp controller (with the heater plugged into the temp controller)?

Yes. Though it’s possible a relay in the controller would need power/energized etc but I’d highly doubt they would be wired in such a way. I tested in another way but I’m not posting or recommending how I did.

 

[jonelder68]

All I say is “most” that I know of switched/relayed controlled circuitry leave the ground side complete at all times (maybe it’s even code?) Especially on 120v stuff. Now lower voltage stuff like 12v automotive it’s common to have the ground side switched by relays.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Ok thanks. I removed BRS from it. Better we test our heaters anyways if we’re relying on them for doubling as ground probes.

Thank yo both so much for going to this trouble! I did get mine from BRS but I will be testing it anyway? I very much appreciate this!