electrical stimulation ?

[waterwize]

So, I'm looking for some opinions on this off topic thought. I lost the ground for my pump via the battery back up and now I have a small electrical charge in my res. When I touch the water, I feel a small electrical current. I'm not sure as to the effects this may cause on my ladies and was hoping for some insight on possible ramifications of this electrical current. When I mentioned this to an 'expert', he proceeded to go on a tangent about ion stimulation which could assist in breaking down my nutes and/or increasing oxygen uptake to the roots. My system is aeropoinc.

Thanks
Waterwize

 

[waterwize]

I have seen no ill effect on the ladies and have no idea how long this has been going.

 

[waterwize]

Anyone?

 

[EvilTwin]

The loss of a ground wouldn't cause what you're experiencing. Your pump should be taken out of service and replaced.
ET

 

[waterwize]

I have tested the circuit any it shows a bad ground I changed the ups and there is now no current,ground has been fixed. But the ? is can this cause the nutes to breakdown faster, or in some other way simulate the ladies? They have done better than any others I have had on this table. I am not saying that the current caused it but I keep good notes and as I look back it seems the ladies are growing faster by 25%

 

[EvilTwin]

waterwize,
Having a bad ground shouldn't have caused any stray current...but you seem satisfied that the electrical issue is resolved. Hope you're right.

Far as it's impact on nutrients. Sorry man...I have no idea.. Maybe you're on to something though. Doctors sometimes use electricity to stimulate bone growth.
ET

 

[Kcar]

Do you digest better while being electrocuted?

 

[waterwize]

I thought that also and but the tester or better yet my finger isn't lying. I know one thing I cant find much info on this topic.
Thanks

 

[waterwize]

Do you digest better while being electrocuted?

" Come on really" I am not a plant but the ion breakdown makes since if you know anything about electric

 

[EvilTwin]

I thought that also and but the tester or better yet my finger isn't lying. I know one thing I cant find much info on this topic.
Thanks

WW...
This is one scenario that occurred to me.

IF your pump was defective with an internal short circuit...it could still be working properly though may be using the ground as a partial "return path".

And THEN when your battery backup unit malfunctioned and removed the ground...your pump was then in a situation where it was "seeking out" a new return flow.

In other words...your malfunction of the battery unit revealed an existing problem with the pump.

Plus that pump insulation must be defective if it allowed stray current into the res.

At the very least...pull the pump and check it out using a volt ohm meter.

You had stray current in your res..no matter how you look at it, that's a scary thing.
ET

 

[HappyDog]

I've saw something years ago about ionization years ago in a commercial greenhouse catalog, so tou may not be too far off base. Instead of applying direct current it was done using a magnetic ring around the outbound flow tube.
Be careful dipping your finger into a 'hot charge', I nearly got knocked on my ass once when one of my pumps lost ground.

 

[Kcar]

Here's a little article in favor of your hypothesis.
hxxp://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1984-01-01/Photovoltaic-Root-Stimulation.aspx

Seems to help more with less light...

 

[waterwize]

Thanks I will replace the pump and go back to the old ups to see if the pump is causing my problem. I know what you mean about about a "hot charge" its not the volts its the amps that will kill you. Its just weird that that the current is so minor imo I think the current should be stronger but maybe I haven't lost enough insulation though the pump to create a stronger current. "It probably will get worse if not handled it a timely faction"

 

[EvilTwin]

Thanks I will replace the pump and go back to the old ups to see if the pump is causing my problem. I know what you mean about about a "hot charge" its not the volts its the amps that will kill you. Its just weird that that the current is so minor imo I think the current should be stronger but maybe I haven't lost enough insulation though the pump to create a stronger current. "It probably will get worse if not handled it a timely faction"

WW,
An important part of the equation is how well your body was grounded. If you had one hand wrapped around a steel waterpipe...well you could be dead right now.

So I definitely agree with replacing the pump. It's the safe and smart thing to do.
ET

 

[waterwize]

ET, funny enough I found out one day I didn't have my shoes on, bear feet on concrete but it was still very minor. Well I guess I have to wait till 6pm to start fixing this.

I know this is a very large what if, but if the ladies seem to slow down after I fix the current leak any good ideas on how to get my current back in a safer manner.

 

[SKUNK420]

Do you digest better while being electrocuted?

electrocuted = dead
shocked = you lived to talk about it.

You should also have a GFCI outlet for water pumps.

 

[waterwize]

electrocuted = dead
shocked = you lived to talk about it.

You should also have a GFCI outlet for water pumps.

I wish you could feel this so you understand, it is a stray current it does not tingle, shock, or any thing else yes I did get a new ups and a new pump as to rid my self of the current.

The reason I posted this is to A. understand what effects this has on plants and B. maybe try to replicate in a safe way if this seems to help my situation.

 

[Kcar]

If your "being electrocuted" then your not dead yet. as in
"I'm not dead, yet!" "Shut up, you!"

You could run a small charge from a DC block (5v out or so) I have tons of them laying around.

 

[delta9nxs]

hey, people!

and you too, oh evil one!

20 yrs in the live marine specimen industry has created in me a healthy respect for this part of the spectrum. if i ever stuck my hand in a tank and got an electrical charge i would jump away, go turn the power source off immediately and find out what the hell was wrong before it killed someone.

 

[ChaosCatalunya]

Hi WW, I think your friend may be right, running an electrical charge through a solution can cause some of the salts to either precipitate or electrolyze onto one pole, it is a risk I would not take.... a Hydro solution missing one element is a grow disaster waiting to happen.

As HappyDog says, there were products trying to sell something similar around, not really heard anyting in ages, so I dismissed it as Snake Oil.... but another friend did run a grow with some very iffy equipment and swore the plants sitting by a dodgy electric wire were going mad because of it.... I saw them and they were.... If I had the time and the room it is something on the list to try out.