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RE: [RC] [RC] electrocution from tank heater - Nancy MittsVanessa,The thing that catches my attention is the 240 volts. I've been using tank heaters for 32 years and I've never seen one that was made for 240 volts, they're made for 120v. Since the structure and wiring are new, I would look for a mistake in the wiring. Both 240 & 120 volt require 3 wires to work. 240 consisits of 2 -120v legs and a ground. The 120 consisted of 1-120 leg and 2 grounds. The 240v could be wired to a normal 3 prong plug but would put 120v one of the ground legs. Most likely the reason the person dipping water didn't get shocked was the plastic tank, rubber bucket and most likely rubber soled shoes didn't provide a ground. If the ground fault was the kind that is wired into the circuit panel, and it was designed for 120v, then it would not have tripped because it would not have recognized a ground "fault". It would never "see" the other 120v hot leg. Also, since the tank is plastic, there would not be a "ground" until something, like the horse, completed the circuit. Having said that, we live in a very wet area in the winter, and even with ground faults and brand new floating tank heaters we have still gotten electrical shock only noticed by our horses when the ground is wet and unfrozen. (not a fatal amount, just enough for a shock.) We had a ground fault on it, too. We had our hands in the water and touching a metal fence post and couldn't feel anything, but the horses wouldn't drink until we unplugged the heater and convinced them to try it again. Monte Mitts From: Vanessa S Waters <kovat@xxxxxxxx>. Her new imported bred 7yr Friesian Ster mare was electrocuted today while drinking from a new plastic tank with a new heater in the bottom. It seems that for some unknown reason the tank had a reading of 240 v when tested with a tester. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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