Ponds and Electricity

[BonnieIN]

Is your pond grounded?
Should it be?

Thanks,
Bonnie

[Terri]

Any electrical wiring/outlets near water need to be GFI(ground fault interuptor) protected, it's code.

[BonnieIN]

Terri, absolutely!

I should have asked, should the POND itself have a ground?

Awhile back on AWGS forum, someone brought up that we should have our ponds grounded.

Bonnie

Here's a copy of the post that I'm referring to:
http://www.awgs.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002952#000007


ALL outdoor circuits require ground fault protection. REMEMBER HOWEVER, GFI's protect only from current running from the circuit to ground. If you should find yourself across the line voltage of the GFI output you can STILL DIE! If this were not true, your pump would not run. Think about it! This is possible in rubber liner pools because the water in the pool is often insulated from ground by the rubber liner. Because of this you can have a leakage from a faulty submerged pump and the GFI will not trip because there is no leakage to ground. However, should you come in contact with neutral AND THE WATER in the POOL, you could be toast.

[Terri]

It's my understanding that water is a poor conductor of electricity... add salt though and that's another story. How would one go about "grounding" a body of water :-| ? Most of us have rubber liners, that material as well is a poor conductor.

One way not to have to worry about this (I'm assuming we're leading into a discussion about stray voltage) is to not use in pond pumps. Another note to that is that the fish (or you) would have to be in rather close proximity to any stray voltage in the water for it cause effect... ???

Then there's mother nature, lightening... I don't think a ground would do much good... in the pond :-?

[Cinnamon]

Terri you are very right about the proximity to the pump. If a pump shorts out it will trip the GFI. But there is still a small amount of electrical charge that escapes. And fish close will be fried. That cannot be helped. Everything I have learned states the ONLY way to get away from that is no sumbersible pumps. So we have one submersible pump. I know at times just unplugging a pump can trip the GFI. That has happened to me a lot.

[GregBickal]

The other problem of putting ground in the pond would be using Copper (toxic).

[OttawaPonder]

So Terri, so what you are saying is that it is ok to swim in a body of water while a lighting storm is going on - because water is a poor conductor of electricity. LOL HAd to have some fun with this one... :smile:

Since I have worked for a electrishian(sp) many years ago - I would think to ground a body of water - POND - would be like grounding a house.

Take a long rod and drive it down at least 3 to 4 feet into the ground then attach a heavy braided wire using a clamp to the one end of the rod and - ONLY if it would be ok for the fishiesssss health over the long run, place another rod in the pond clamped to the other end of the heavy wire.
The rod should be either brass or copper a long with the wire and the clamp that is used. IF ANYONE KNOWS FOR SURE - as I can NOT recall right now - which one it should be PLEASE chime in... So I am old now and forgetful. It was almost 20 years ago when I worked as a elect. helper :-P lol


I for one know about the Submersible Pumps leaking LOW voltage and still operating.

I lost SPOT that way!! That is why I will NEVER have a submer. pump in any pond or body of water that I have or plan to have fish in!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See my thread at Koiphen.com in the Emergency Section.

[Terri]

Yes it's "ok" to swim in FRESH water when it's been hit by lightening... only you best not have your feet touching the bottom or you're fried :grin: Like I mentioned before, water is a poor conductor of electricity. Simple experiment, take a cup of fresh water(or distilled) a battery 3 pieces of wire and a light bulb(from a flashlight). Attached the wire to the negative side of the battery and to the light bulb, take another wire from the light bulb into the water, take the 3rd wire and attach it to the positive side of the battery and insert it into the water NOT TOUCHING THE OTHER WIRE ATTACHED TO THE BULB. If it's fresh water, the bulb will not light up. Add some salt and stir the cup, repeat above... the greater the concentration of salt the more light the bulb will glow. In short, electricity takes the shortest path of resistance and fresh water is not it.

There is no "safe" way to ground a pond... it's the appliance that has to be safely grounded to a GFI, if it's not, you take your chances ;)

[ozzyrockman]

Ok lets say for a moment that you did ground your "pond water" what about the concussion lightening would place on the pond if it did strike and if you grounded the pond you would probably have to replace your liner because it melted from the heat being generated. Also another note if you did ground your pond wouldn't the likelihood of lightening striking it greatly increase because now it has a much lower path of resistance? Allen

[Ian]

Now as I see it a freshwater pond with a rubber liner is more like a rubber lightning rod, not quite the least path of resistance. Now if a submersable pump or grounding the pond with a wire and rod and adding some salt??? My guess is your getting closer to being a lightning rod :grin:

[luke frisbee]

three Summers ago lightning hit the palm tree right next to the 1000gallon liner pond in the front yard. it was a strong strike. it split the trunk, fried my baldor motor pump, knocked out two computers, and melted a surge protector in the house between the computers and the pump outside (and blew it apart).
Didn't harm a single fish.

[OttawaPonder]

Me thinks I should of added to my post above:

I am NOT grounded!!


So how would I be able to talk about any thing that was or were to be grounded. !rofl