Anyone Hear About Electrocution?

C

clayartisan

Patti-who-likes-her-fishies
Oct 1, 2006
9
0
0
Poulsbo, WA
clayartisan.home.comcast.net
Okay, so my Mom, who is 70-something, has to tell me on Christmas Eve about hearing this thing on the news. According to her, a woman got electrocuted from her fish tank. She thinks it was in Seattle. Of course, that's all she's got for me in the way of info.

I did some I-Net news searches and can't find anything on it. Anyone else hear about this? I have a flaky (literally paint-peeling flakey) heater right now and, if it is some heater brand that did it, I'd like to know.

Happy Holidays All!
 
I haven't heard anything about that in the news lately. Certainly it is possible to electrocute yourself if either the lighting falls in the tank or if the heater glass is broken exposing the elements to the tank water and you stick your hand in. It's recommended on the equipment instructions (and common sense to most) that you unplug the heater, lighting (unless mounted over a secure hood), and filter when working in the tank (i.e. rearranging or during water changes). Filters are such low voltage/wattage that I'd scarcely worry over them.
 
I recall some story on some forum (a while back) about someone who's heater broke. In that case, it wasn't even enough to kill the fish (and the person put their hand in the tank and didn't realize the heater was broken, as it felt like I mild tingle).

that said, I'm sure it's possible to electrocute oneself - better safe than sorry and all that.
 
Caution! Caution!


To clarify webcricket's comment....yes, yuo do need to be concerned over all items, run by electricity in the vicinity of water.

It is not the wattage of the component (she mentioned not to worry about filters)....

It is the voltage of the power supply. Most of us have our filters, lights and heaters connected to 120 volts AC. This is the voltage that can generate the current through you when a component fails. It has nothing to do with the wattage the component draws when everything is okay.

Current kills, voltage is it's driving force.
 
And just to put some clarity on the voltage/current argument. It takes 1/10th an amp across your heart to kill you dead. Your house circuits run on 20 Amp breakers, meaning they can put out 20 amps at any given moment before they fail-safe. Which means that in an absolute short scenario, your aquarium accessories can put out up to 20 amps at 120V. And, being that water lowers the resistance of your skin by about 90%, Yeah, unplug your stuff :D.


Another fun fact about why shorting equipment in an aquarium Usually will not harm fish in any way: Aquariums are not grounded. Glass is an insulator, and 120V is not enough voltage to force it's way through the glass. So the water jumps to 120V of potential, but there is no current because it can't move anywhere. Then foolish old you sticks your hand in, with your feet planted firmly on the ground (which is the good old universal 0V potential) and bam, you're no better than a copper wire :)
 
clayartisan said:
Okay, so my Mom, who is 70-something, has to tell me on Christmas Eve about hearing this thing on the news. According to her, a woman got electrocuted from her fish tank. She thinks it was in Seattle. Of course, that's all she's got for me in the way of info.

I did some I-Net news searches and can't find anything on it. Anyone else hear about this? I have a flaky (literally paint-peeling flakey) heater right now and, if it is some heater brand that did it, I'd like to know.

Happy Holidays All!
Click to expand...
I was curious so i did a search on the local Seattle news stations..

I can find NO stories related to an electrocution from a fish tank. I followed news bact to the big wind storm that downed electrical lines..

possible Urban legend??

it doesn't seem to have happened ..atleast to the point that it gained local coverage.
 
As a precaution it's always good to disconnect everything in the tank before sticking your hand or anything in there. I have all my connections plugged into a 6-plug in where I can just flip the switch to turn everything off and then when I'm done cleaning I turn everything back on as usual.
 
Wow! Lots of good input here! I do unplug everything before cleaning, and water changes, but haven't been to move a plant or decoration around a little. When I first set up the tank in October, I wasn't even unplugging the heater during water changes at first, then smartened up thanks to all of you out here in the forum. I think I'll start being a little bit more cautious. Even if it is a remote chance that things can go haywire, it's still a chance.

I was mainly "fishing" to find out if anyone had heard a news story like that. Thanks for the help with the internet searches, which didn't net me anything either.

I'll have to press Mom to see if she can remember the source. If it was word of mouth from people, I think it would be a candidate for Snope.com.
 
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