FINMOOD FISH FORUM

Did a search but could not find much discussions on the captioned; which I think is very important considering the huge capacity of water we're handling and especially when electrical items are submerged (eg. pumps, wavemakers, heaters etc) and also falling of lighting fixtures and so on.

Here's my compilation:

1. Number ONE "Must Have - ELCB Plug/Adaptor

If a submerged electrical item has a earth leakage, your fishes may swim normally but you WILL receive electrical shocks (minor) or electrocution (worse) the moment you put your hands in the water. (The hand serves as a electrical return through your body to the ground)

The ELCB Plug/Adaptor, having a typical tripping current of 10mA or 30mA (get the 10mA ones), will save your life by tripping the circuit the moment a live or earth fault is detected including water splashes on any electrical sockets:





DO NOT depend solely on the Master Circuit Breaker (MCB) which was mandated in every households. It will trip almost instananeously if there's a earth/current leakage BUT may NOT be FAST ENOUGH to stop the current from killing you (main "culprit" - Excessive Cable Length).

The ELCB Plug/Adaptor will trip within a heartbeat fast enough (forgotton the specs - in terms of nanoseconds) to stop the current (including the weaker harmless ones) from reaching you.

IMPORTANT Notes:
(1) The ELCB Plug/Adaptor must be attached to the wall socket (not extension sockets)
(2) If you use an extension cable, make sure the total cable length is NOT >15m. Anything longer WILL NOT WORK. (Simple electrical law: Voltage = Current x Resistance.... where Voltage & Current (tripping current) are constant and Resistance the only variable and is affected by the cable diameter, resistivity and most importantly... length)

*Disclaimer: I'm only familiar with the 2 brands depicted in the above pictures. If you do purchase other brands; pls read manufacturer's instruction very carefully especially on the rated tripping current and recommended max cable length.

* ELCB = Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (some countries called it RCCB, Residual Current Circuit Breaker or GFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor in the USA)

2. Number ONE "Must Know"

When electrocuted, why some people died and some only received electrical burns? (same current rating in both scenarios)

The answer lies in the "path the current travalled". In short... if a current travel pass your heart, you can kiss the world goodbye....

Now all of us know that current travels "everywhere" and fastest by the shortest path especially mediums with the least resistance...

Scenario 1:

If you put only 1 hand, say your right hand, into the tank (with electrical leakage), the shortest path for the current to travel is:
Right hand -> torso (right flank) -> right leg -> ground

The current did not travel pass your heart, you'll get electrical burn and won't get electrocuted (in most situations except extreme cases...).

Scenario 2:

If you put both hands into the tank, the shortest/possible paths for the current are:
1 hand -> heart -> the other hand -> tank water or/and
Right hand -> heart -> left leg -> ground or/and
Left hand -> heart -> right leg -> ground.

The current crosses the heart in all the above paths and fatality is almost guaranteed.

Preventive Measures:

1) Install the ELCB Plug/adaptor (strongly recommended to every aquarium/pond owners)
2) Cultivate the habit of putting only 1-hand into the tank (if need to) and the other hand into your pocket (or elsewhere) as much as possible.
3) Keep the floor dry whenever practicable.
4) Forgotton the most important 1.... Swtich off your mains when performing tank maintenance or when you need to put hands in it.
5) There's also this rubber gloves that can cover the entire length of your arm

Thanks for opening thread and highlighting the risk everyone is facing in fish keeping and outline the prevention and mitigation. I have always have this phobia and concern all along particularly if I have a submerged equpiment like powerhead, submerged lighting, UV, heater...because of a couple of bad experience.
One instance is my mains keep on tripping ended up I got to spend money to call an electrician to trace the source of leak to a powerhead. Strange that he did not caution me not to use and I continue using despite of the occasion trips till one fine day I got a very bad electric shock then I pull out and discarded away.
Another instance is my UV bulb or adpator I suspect leak current and I got an instant shock even when I touched the glass panel, can't imagine how bad if I touch the water!
Whenever I touch water I always do it very slowly and carefully, if need be I would wear a rubber sole shoes or stand on a chair or stool. I also have a test pen to test the water occasionally. However, I realized there is alway very light stray current passing through water if you have electric equipment like lightings (due to water splashing) and pump. Never would I get a zero reading on current when measure with test pen. I am always wary.

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LauLanChu

Well.. keeping a aquarium ought to be something that all of us should be enjoying.. not something that would give us something to be fear of in return.

For my pretty-safe setup, I don't install any electrical items in the tank at all. I used batteries on all my monitoring meters even when a AC Adaptor is available.


For the ultimate in fishkeeping electrical safety: Get the ELCB Plug/Adaptor (The best thing about this thing is... when it trip, the rest of the house will not be affected; only this particular socket will be shut-off... one less reason for your Minister of Home Affairs to nag you on spending too much time on the hobby.)

Additonals Safety Measures:

- Get extension sockets with SURGE PROTECTOR built-in (abt $10 more then the normal ones) - Submerged electrical items will be less prone to stray currents and damages -> well worth the money!

- Get an Aquarium Grounding Probe to better capture stray voltage that also contributes to fin rot, hole-in-the-head disease etc (Not Recommended to be used on its own):



- Install electrical items externally when practicable; e.g UV lamp.

- Avoid cheap electrical items; use established & reliable brand especially the powerheads (If I remember the figures correctly... >70% (pls refer to SCDF web site for correct figures) of HDB fires were attributed by overhead pumps due to overheating... according to the SCDF Statistics).

* HDB-Licensed Electrical Contractors: The last time I checked with my renovation contractor, the supervisor and his workers did not know anything about tripping current and the max cable length thingy; and their Licensed Electrical Workers (LEW) were always busy at other sites. I never get to see any LEW even when my renovation was completed! Can only be more careful on our sides - i.e to assume that the cable lengths are not always optimal. Demand to see the original copy of the LEW license if your contractor claimed to be an approved electrician.

Have a safe and enjoyable fishkeeping journey!

Once again thanks, you are knowledgable!

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LauLanChu

I have Aquarium Grounding Probe in my tank for years now, it is not expensive and very important to have in tank if you have any submeresed electrical equipment.

I have read a story of a someone who had a fish, fish was swimming all right with no problem but whenever she get close to heater, just like something hit her, she would scare and swim away quickly, person figured latter on by the shock received in one day from heater that heater glass was cracked and leaking current to water.

Sometimes it is not that easy to notice as electric current is not high but it will cause all kind problem for fish that no medication could cure.

Good info civic5163 thanks

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I Hope helped by sharing, Alex.

hi cibic thanks for the post! May I know where this ELCB can be purchased?

You can get it in most hardware shops. But those shops in Sim Lim Tower Basement 1 (didn't go other levels) are selling them at a cheaper rates. They also have 24-hr timers with assorted designs and at much cheaper rates then LFSs.

Bro civic5163, great info and thanks for highlighting the danger. I normally switch off the main before putting my hand into the tank, but sometimes laziness get into the head. For safety sake and for lazy fellow like me, really better to get hold of these safety devices. Will the earth probe alone be sufficient to prevent electric shock?

"Grounding Probes" are Not recommended to be used on its own...

The Grounding Probe will only protect you... not the fishes. As installing the probe will close the loop for electrical return to the ground; and your beloved fishes will be subjected to continuous "electrical therapy" if there's a stray current (and no ELCB is used) until they finally given up hopes with this world.

It's going to be the same as those birds standing on a single power cable and never get "barberqued"; but would be if the bird's backside got itchy and decided to put 1 leg on another cable (that itchy 1 leg is providing the electrical return path)

Also bear in mind that water is a relatively good conductor of electricity... and that the source of problem/stray current will always be there until someone removes it; and pls DON'T touch any submerged electrical item if you never switch off the mains.

Getting the ELCB plug/adaptor is the way to go. If not, pls at least do a visual checks on the submerged cables/casings for damages everytime you do a tank maintenance.

Come on bro.. if investing $100 can potentially save a life, you will do it for all your loved ones wouldn't you? (Not too sure abt the retail price for each piece, I normally buy in bulks at abt $50-70 for my workplaces)

BTW, I'm not affiliated/related to any ELCB plugs/adaptor suppliers, I'm just a Safety Practitioner sharing what I preached at the workplaces. And some of those good inputs were actually given by very experienced Electrical PE or medical practitioners.

So the question of harm to fish due to stray current is unfounded. A suspended tank is like a floating body which is an open circuit that current cannot flow, unless we earth the tank, just like earthing of any electrical appliances. So earthing the tank or water could do more harm then good to your fish?

Another concern I have is would the adaptor used be too sensitive and trip your supply often? You know goldfish cannot withstand even a short cutoff of areation and any sudden cutoff will prove fatal to fish, another side of problem to consider. As mentioned, I always find light stray current in the water, whenever any electrical equipment is used, because fish tank is overall a "wet" body and we trying to mix electricity with water.

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LauLanChu

My take: Install the Grounding Probe bro.. with the ELCB plug

After reading this thread, it can be really scary, man. Another word, if you do not have any submerging pump or heater, are you save from getting electrocuted?

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i?m truly sorry.. think my last reply was very confusing indeed..
it?s only meant for 'using the grounding probe alone?

if u have the elcb plug, that dangerously high level of current, if any, will b detected and tripped remember?

Let's clarify things a little further..

1) Stray current (discussed in this thread)= refers to current leaked from a electrical device and does not include induced current from all electrical devices within the tank or nearby.

2) Induced currents are normally harmless.

3) Grounding Probe, when used alone, is more for protecting the aquarist then the fishes and is only of concerns if there is a leaked/stray current esepcially the significant ones. (If used with the ELCB, power will be cut-off saving both the fishes and aquarist for maybe the next 6-10hrs or more if you have the AC/DC pump or UPS or can execute recovery procedures in time. Otherwise, it's just another Power Outage.)

4) ELCB plugs will work better with a grounding probe. And in some scenarios within the tank, the ELCB will ONLY work if there's a grounding probe. Clarification: ELCB plug will work fine on its own at all times; but will cover more electrical situations (especially those within the tank) if used togather with the grounding probe"

5) If there's a defective elect equip in the tank.. replacing it at the soonest is the best way to go (instead of relying of safety devices).

6) Lastly, don't be too complacent even if you have installed all the best safety gadgets mankind could think of.

And maybe I should just add this: All safety devices discussed in this threads are more for protecting the aquarists/humans.

Do google a little more on grounding/ground probe and/or ELCB/RCCB/GFCI for more info.

civic5163..

thanks for this safety info..very informative...

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Pardon my limited knowledge on this aspect. Few more questions hope you can clarify (without googling).

i) Can elaborate more on what you mean by induced current, issit minor leaks caused by water splashing or wetting of cables?

ii) My understand of ELCB plugs is it will limit the current if there is an upsurge through plug tripping, but your main still remain intact, if the equipment draw excessive current.

iii) Grounding probe is earthing and there would be short circuit when current leak, your ELCB will trip if you have one else your main will trip.

iv) So I heard of grounding probe protecting the fish from fin and wen rots, how is that so? If grounded current would flow if there is an induced current and short circuit if there is a stray, how the fish got protected. Without grounding isn't no current flow and fish will not be affected. Maybe I understand wrongly.

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LauLanChu