Help. I just got shocked by the water.

So I just tried to put my hand in the tank to remove some broccoli from the clip. I got one finger in and got zapped. Started unplugging things one at a time. Got everything unplugged from the power strip that goes into the bottom socket of a GFCI on the wall. The lights were all that were left, they are on a timer on the top socket of the GFCI. Still got shocked at this point with only the lights on so I assumed it was them. Unplugged lights and no longer got zapped. Plugged lights into an extension cord to another socket/circut, everything was fine. Plugged lights directly into GFCI (without timer) and still everything is fine. Plugged lights back into wall (GFCI same socket) with timer on and everything is fine.

Just for the reference my GFCI is insalled on a 2 wire setup, ie: I don't have a true ground. Some of you will say probably that installing a GFCI without a true ground does absolutely nothing, well, it will still trip if made angry or overloaded.

Does any of this make any sense to anyone? What would cause this???

I am paranoid now.

 

Socks on carpet? You sure it was a "shock" due to electrical issues & not just a static shock??

 

Do you have a ground probe? Luna

 

No ground probe. I should have mentioned that.

Yes it was shocking. It was no static electricity from carpet and I also made sure that there were no cords laying around in water or any crazy crap like that. It felt like... well it felt like getting zapped by a 120 but via the water in the tank. I was going to say I can't believe my fish are alive in there... but maybe since they aren't grounded they are ok? I don't get it.

 

I would get the outlet that your using for the fish tank grounded if possible. Luna

 

Grounding probe, should help solve that for ya.

I had a heater that caused the shocks in my tank - used the same method but i would unplug something then stick my hand in.. the last thing I unplugged was the heater and no more shocks. I quickly replaced that sucker too.

GL chica!

-fritts

 

I have never attempted to re-wire anything in my house, however I have been thinking about it. I guess it's now a priority. I still don't understand why everything is ok now and it's all plugged in the exact same way!

 

Am not an electrician, but from my understanding, you can ground an outlet by grounding the conduet pipe that leads to that specific outlet from the breaker box. Since I dont know how your house is wired, talk to a lic. electrician. Luna

 

Could be static. Happened to me a few times. Weird getting shocked by water. I think it would hurt a bit more it it was electrical.

 

Yeah I've been told you can run a ground line to a known grounded pipe or any known grounded thing in the house. What I'd like to do is run a fresh 3 wire line down from this outlet to the junction box (I'll have to find it) and then ground that to the panel.

This is an old house and in many old houses the majority of the house is on one breaker like this one. This outlet is on the "majority" breaker so I have a feeling that starting this will start a whole replacing situation. I think I'll just call an electrician because although I know I can do it, it's just a lot of work.