Got a nasty little bite today.....

[tranquility]

 by a submersible pump.....just reminds me to check these things from time to time....poor fish--glad I found it before they did...it was a back up pump I keep around for extra water movement during the hot days of summer...I went to hook it up and got a nice little surprise when I put my hand into the filter chamber...OUCH  -It went promptly into the trash---don't want to grab that pump again by accident....
Lawanna

[ThornyGardener]

Yowser. Scary.

I have one that starts and stops when pulled by the cord (ie the cord must be loose). I feel a bit of a buzz in the cord but don't feel a shock with my hand in the water. However the fish don't like to swim near it (and they don't mind it's twin pump) so it must have a bit of a power leak. But since my 401k has been 'leaking', is there is a way to repair a sub pump with an electrical leak? I've changed the cords on vacuum cleaners and lamps... is it the same?

[Pa Nancy]

That sucks Tran. I  don't like zaps like that. Good thing you did find it. I am so leary of those pumps. I had a couple that wouldn't work this spring. I put them in the laundry tub to help kinda prime them up and I was so afraid to touch the water. I would touch it real quick before sticking my hands in.

[Esther]

I assume that everyone has a GFI there somewhere. If you don't, some day we not hear from you again. I also have heard of people killing all their fish with electricity, but better the fish than you.

[Johns]

As Esther said...

BTW It is criminal to have permanent outdoor electrical connectons not protected by GFI.  Now for the bad news:  GFI protection may be foiled in a rubber lined pool.  This is because a rubber lined pool is insulated from ground by the rubber liner, and  the water may become electrically charged killing your fish without the GFI shutting down.  Also, should you be reaching in the pool and happen to complete a circuit in one hand and out the other, your relatives will be gathering by the river for you. You can avoid this problem by grounding your pool water, which is easily done with a grounding stake and a length of copper wire.

[tranquility]

All of mine are plugged into GFI...Johns can you explain more in detail about grounding a pond...
Lawanna

[Pa Nancy]

Mine outside at the ponds are definitely GFI. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I was testing the pumps in the basement.

[Bullfrog]

I was planning on an exterior pump and this just cemented it home. Water and electricity are not friends but there is a safe way to use submersibles as John stated. I'm glad that we have his experience and knowledge here.

[Esther]

Great Johns. Could you make up a nice essay about GFIs? We could sticky it somewhere so it could be a resource available for our members always.

[Johns]

Will work on that, Esther.

One other note on GFI's in the meantime: They do fail occasionally, which can remove protection.  Test them often.

[Bullfrog]

I like the exterior pump in a housing. I'm thinking about burying most of the housing to reduce the noise.