when it is on and I test with a volt meter using one probe and a ground on the other I get a reading anywhere from 1-5 volts (checked with 3 different meters). When the light is off I get 0 volts. I also think this may be a reason why my oscar is fading in color when the light is on and his Hole in the Head disease isn't getting better (both symptoms of stray electrical current). I've eliminated any other possible causes for HITH. Getting shocked isn't really my concern here.
I know that voltage does not necessarily mean there is current.. but there is definitely the potential for it.
You were measuring voltage, not current. Even cheap voltmeters these days have very high input impedance, and will pick up static and induced voltages very easily.
Flourescent lights use energy in the RF spectrum, and it's no surprise waving the input probe to a high-input impedance voltmeter nearby will pick up a small number of volts. Sticking a grounded piece of metal in the tank water won't change this.
You need to find the real cause of the fish's health issues. Remember, just running a comb through your hair generates thousands of volts.
Interesting thread. I plan to install a GFCI for my 40G and was thinking that a GFCI... PLUS a ground probe would lead to faster/more sensitive tripping if there was leakage current in the tank. ????
...I realize that for the time (milliseconds?)BEFORE the GFCI trips, the leakage would be higher than without the ground probe.
you should never use a probe for a direct ground to earth, as you may easily become the alternate route....it can be earthed to the metal case fo the product or through the plug...
You should always ues a safty switch with your tank and if your houes dose not have one you can buy a portable one that pluges into the power point and everything eles pluges into it and if there were any stray current enough to be a worry the safty switch would cut out. If your light has 3 pins on the plug it is already grounded through the earth of the power point but if it has only 2 pins it is dubble insulated and dose not have to be earthed."any sparkys out there correct me if iam wrong "
