how to determine faulty equipment?

[tinghich]

Anybody know how i could find out if any of my equipment is leaking current? Would GFCI be tripped if that happen? Is there any benefit of using grounding probe?
THanks,
N

[Hockeyfan]

What i did was to use a voltmeter. positive lead in water and ground on the
ground of the outlet that you are using. then start unplugging equipment in the water. i found that i had voltage in my tank. after installing a grounding
probe found no more voltage. on the gfci i would think that it would trip but
i still have not installed on on my tank, but i really should.

[spsick]

grounding probe is a necessity, if anything goes it will neutralize the current in the water.

[tinghich]

I came across this article (http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:8XuUIc8QK7EJ:avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/GroundingProbes.html+ground+probe+aquarium&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&client=firefox-a) awhile ago and kinda hesitate to use the grounding probe. Currently i'm using the portable GFCI to hook to the power strips that power everything in the tank.
I am thinking if i plugs the grounding probe in the power strip that is GFCI protected then the GFCI would trip when there is problem but i see on the label of the grounding probe that it is not allowed to plug into extension cord or power strip. Kinda still confused. Anyone has an explanation?
TIA
N

[David Grigor]

There was also an in-depth discussion of this topic on our old tcmas forum on thereeftank. Do a search over there to find it.

[mrbill]

I don't see why a grounding probe wouldn't work if plugged into a extension cord or a power strip that has a working ground. The grounding probe is just a way to get the water connected to the wall outlet's ground wire. The mfg probably states that you must wire to a outlet because of liability reasons. Like if you used a cord that had the ground prong broken off or if the cord came unplugged, then the probe wouldn't be grounding the tank.

FYI: A GFI does not need to be grounded to work. Simply said, it measures power in and power out. If the power is leaking (shorting out) there is less power out than in, so the GFI shuts off.

A ground wire basically just gives the power a better path to ground (instead of trying to go through your body).

Since the GFI senses the power in and out it will shut off if it goes out to any ground (including your body).

GFI's can fail but the ones I have had go bad, keep tripping off, not failing to trip.