need electrical advice

I built a DIY auto top-off device several months ago using a float switch purchased from Ebay, connected to a pump in a water reservoir. I wired the float switch to an extension cord (spliced the cords, connected via wire nuts and electrical tape).

This morning I came downstairs to find my GFI tripped in the tank. Each time I plugged in this particular extension cord, the GFI tripped again. When I tried plugging it in to a non-GFI outlet, it worked but I felt shocks when I held the float switch in my hand. So obviously something is out of whack, and I disconnected the whole thing.

So, for all you electricians and people in the know - what is wrong here and how can I fix it? Why would I be feeling current/shocks when I hold the float switch in my hand, and what can I do about this?

 

i assume the wire you cut wasn't a mains carrier? being a pump maybe 12V shocking you if the switch is leaking current into the water, then when you touch the float it finds its way back into the circuit. Just a proposal.
also, i suggest you dont use it until you get it sorted out, connect a 9v batt to your float switch setup instead of plugging it into the wall if you need to test stuff out.

 

I will certainly not use it until this is fixed (even if I wanted to, it would continue to trip the GFI). Just to clarify, when it is plugged in, the pump works, but I feel shocks in the water every half second or so.

 

bump

 

the extension cord you spliced had a ground plug on it? is it possible the pump is the cause?

 

No, the extension cord doesn't have a ground plug on it. But the outlet it is plugged into does have a gfi. It might be the pump, but not sure how. I was thinking it was the float switch or wiring.

 

it could be the wiring on the switch. also im not an electrical genius, so not sure the extension with no ground plug makes a difference. i thought it might. wheres sparky. lol