SRC Member salivateforme Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 This morning, I had DIY'ed a fish trap, using a soda bottle. Wanted to test-capture my damsel. To put it underwater, I had to shift my PLs. Slippery hands that I have, the end with the eBallest dipped into the water. The lights shorted, and I got an electric shock. It was mild, fortunately enough, but it truly opened my eyes to the possibility of losing my life if it had been another electrical appliance. No harm to the LS, as far as I can see, but I don't know if there would be a delayed reaction. Anybody has experience in this? Would LS be harmed by a short stint in electrified water? I am going to get a Ground Fault Interrupter the first thing I come home from work this evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer82 Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 hey bro welcome to the " Club of Electrical Blunders" ! I've had such experiences due to a leaking powerhead. I got a mild shock too but interestingly it does not bother the LS. In fact they were all fine, fishes happily swimming about and corals well opened. Only I got a shock everytime I put my hands in the water. ( Darn !) Got the faulty powerhead out eventually but my opinion is this; A low current in the water does not cause any harm to LS. If you do suspect however do maintainance standing on a chair ( like I did ! ) and use a testpen to verify for sure if there is a current Cheers Archer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member salivateforme Posted March 8, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 I've sent the shorted PL to the LFS for repair. My soft corals and fish will be without light for about 1-2 days. Any harm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer82 Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Bro, from what I have heard, the fishes shd be alright without light but 3 days w/o light and the corals shd begin deteriorating so get it back asap. Hope it helps Cheers Archer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member akahoshi Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 Oh man, eletrocution.. I once was electrocuted - my PL lighting fell into my 2ft tank, in the panic that the saltwater was gonna spoil the light, i stupidly reach for the lighting ... when my hand touched the lighting, my hand just shook by itself and the lighting went off.. My natural reaction was to jerk back my hand.. I was ok after the incident but my hand was numb for a few hours.. surely it was a incident for me to remember The lighting was ok after i cleaned it of all the water.. No fishes died because i was still cycling that tank when it happened, so there wasn't any fishes.. (I'd guess that any fish in the tank would have died..) My lesson learnt was that (if possible) off all electrical appliances when maintaining or doing things in the fish tank.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member salivateforme Posted March 8, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 Oh man, eletrocution..I once was electrocuted - my PL lighting fell into my 2ft tank, in the panic that the saltwater was gonna spoil the light, i stupidly reach for the lighting ... when my hand touched the lighting, my hand just shook by itself and the lighting went off.. My natural reaction was to jerk back my hand.. I was ok after the incident but my hand was numb for a few hours.. surely it was a incident for me to remember The lighting was ok after i cleaned it of all the water.. No fishes died because i was still cycling that tank when it happened, so there wasn't any fishes.. (I'd guess that any fish in the tank would have died..) My lesson learnt was that (if possible) off all electrical appliances when maintaining or doing things in the fish tank.. Hey, after drying it out, the light still work? Hmmn, I haven't tried that yet. Maybe mine is still working... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member akahoshi Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 I cleaned the lighting thoroughly.. inside and outside.. then when it was all dry, i plugged in and tried, and it worked.. dunno about yours, can try and see lor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member nivlac Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 the fish and coral will be ok as there is no 'earthing' to complete the electrical 'circuit' for the electrical current to travel. Just like the bird standing on the power line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Clownfish Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 Hey, after drying it out, the light still work? Hmmn, I haven't tried that yet. Maybe mine is still working... time to upgrade ur lights DIY it into T5 or if it confirm cannot work, u can try to replace the ballast n use a 3 pin plug to ensure that handling is safer Quote My Personal Blog My Wedding Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member aStRoBo| Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 drop my fan into my tank, and sparks came out, imediately the whole fan turn hot, and i threw it away. Quote Everything's sold. Back in 2yrs time. If it's a WRX, it gotta be STI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member hotlemond Posted March 8, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 8, 2005 i always hear about this Ground Fault Interruptor. have not seen one b4. so it is to plug in into a outlet socket or no..., there are alot of wiring to do, like a ECB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member salivateforme Posted March 9, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted March 9, 2005 The GFI can be an independant unit, plugged into a wall socket before the power bar. I saw one retailing at about $30, in a hardware shop. I think its a GFI, though it's called a Leakage Breaker or something. Not too sure. Haven't got it yet. Lucky thing for me, my LFS loaned me a subsitute set, but one of the tubes seem to have reddish tinge, like a freshwater tube. Darn, I sure hope there'll not be any ill-effects. BTW, I only keep mushrooms, a toadstool leather, buttons. PL seems sufficient. All seems okay. Do I really need T5? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Marineman Posted March 9, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 9, 2005 Not too sure you need one as most of the new buildings comes with a trip switch, that's why some of you only got mild shocks with the power being cut off. Unlike old buildings where there is no trip switch (the powers goes off if there is a trip, or leak or even a fused bulb), a GFI is highly recommended. Better check with an electrician before hand though. There was a case in KL recently where the guy was repairing his water heater and got electrocuted, his son saw him lying motionless in the bathroom and called his mother who rushed home. She went to touch his body and she got electrocuted as well, sad case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannondale Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 If you do suspect however do maintainance standing on a chair ( like I did ! ) someone told me this method before, but i am not sure. like u mention, standing on a chair will not get shock when there are any leaking, is that true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member LaW Posted March 11, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted March 11, 2005 drop my fan into my tank, and sparks came out, imediately the whole fan turn hot, and i threw it away. mine too, my fan dropped into the tank for like 10 seconds. theres smoke out from the fan after i take it out. but no electric shock and nothing happened to my LS Quote If a man could beat his own fantasy. Then to only breed in captivity. Then its pointless. Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. || Tank: 78" x 30" x 30" || Sump: 48" x 22" x 20" || Lights: PowerModule 10 X 80W|| Returns: 2 x HF32 || || Skimmer: BubbleKing Supermarin 300 || Wavemaker: 3 x 6100 & 1 x 6200, 2 x Wavebox 6212, WavySea || || FR: 2 x FR150 || NR: Sulphur Denitrator || CR: RM Custom Made 8" || KR: Deltec KM500 || TopUp: Tunze Osmolator 3155 || || UV: Coralife 12X 36W || Ozonizer: Sanders C200|| Controller: GHL Profilux Plus II Ex || Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.