CAUTION! Aquapod 12 shocking!!! Product Recall

DirkG · #1 01/02/2006, 06:11 PM

I have the same problem that other aquapod 12 users have.
You can't use 2 timers for the daylites & atinics. They have 2 switches
and 2 seperate power cords (actually they have 4 cords, one for the pump and moon lights). They have them wired wrong, while I was trying to figure why the timers didn't operate the lights correctly I unpluged one of the cords from the timer and touched the plug prongs with my hands and ZAP!!!!! With one light pluged in the ourtlet and the other one unpluged it has power to the exposed prongs. Good thing my hands were dry, My wife could of owned Current USA!

I will call Current USA Tuesday and keep you informed!

SHOCKED but alive,
Dirk

nodbugger · #2 01/02/2006, 06:19 PM

That is why you only touch something with one finger, if it shocks you your muscles will flex and your fingers will not stay clamped.

aural · #3 01/02/2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nodbugger
That is why you only touch something with one finger, if it shocks you your muscles will flex and your fingers will not stay clamped.

the point is that he shouldnt have gotten shocked by an unplugged plug in the first place.

do let us know what you find out.

surfnvb7 · #4 01/02/2006, 07:22 PM

maybe another reason why people should just avoid all of the aquapods and nanocubes all together??

seems to me like they all cause more problems then actually simplifying things.

go with AGA.

fishman805 · #5 01/02/2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfnvb7
maybe another reason why people should just avoid all of the aquapods and nanocubes all together??

seems to me like they all cause more problems then actually simplifying things.

go with AGA.

Ahh cmon now....

Bob

surfnvb7 · #6 01/02/2006, 07:46 PM

JMO......

I'd say they are useful to the kids and other beginners, or for a small desk at work or whatever...if they didn't seem to have so many problems.

DirkG · #7 01/02/2006, 08:02 PM

Picture to show current in unpluged light

DirkG · #8 01/02/2006, 08:03 PM

surfnvb7 · #9 01/02/2006, 08:08 PM

gooooood lordy..... how is that possible?? how does a plug that is not plugged in have current?? man, that is crazy!

post somethin about this on the nano-reef forums, see if they've had experience.

do you happen to have an amp/volt meter on hand? to see what kind of current is running through that plug.

dga · #10 01/03/2006, 03:15 AM

Whoa, and thats on the male plug! i thought you were speaking of a female recepticle, until i saw your pics. possible lawsuit somewhere.

Jimsmowen · #11 01/03/2006, 05:01 AM

I wouldnt say touching it with anything other then a multimeter is a good idea... but if you had to I would say back of your hand over anything.

armagedon48 · #12 01/03/2006, 06:48 AM

looks like an effective tazer or stun gun.. be careful, buy a dog, zap it to death then sue for a few million dollars because their poor wireing killed your best friend. just joking.

but do be careful

diverdan814 · #13 01/03/2006, 08:30 AM

Tell you what, I have the 12 and was going to swap it for the 24 when it came in. I have the trouble with the timers and also received a shock this weekend.
I think seriously of forgetting about these cubes. They are unique looking and fun, but the M-Tanks look like they are better constructed, Finnex makes them and they come in 20 and 32 gallons.

Carl_in_Florida · #14 01/03/2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfnvb7
maybe another reason why people should just avoid all of the aquapods and nanocubes all together??

seems to me like they all cause more problems then actually simplifying things.

go with AGA.

Truer words have not been spoken.

DirkG · #15 01/03/2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfnvb7
gooooood lordy..... how is that possible?? how does a plug that is not plugged in have current?? man, that is crazy!

post somethin about this on the nano-reef forums, see if they've had experience.

do you happen to have an amp/volt meter on hand? to see what kind of current is running through that plug.

Checked it today with my volt meter

120 VOLTS Ouch!!!!!!

Dirk

diverdan814 · #16 01/03/2006, 10:54 AM

I checked my 12 today and had the same result. I called my LFS and told him this is going back, I no longer want the 24. I then called Premium Aquatics and ordered the 32 gallon M-Tank. It will be here at the end of the week and I will switch everything over.

The only thing I couldn't do with the M-Tank is add MH lights as the center brace on the 32 would not be a good thing to do according to them. That is ok I am just learning and probably won't do SPS this soon.

I don't see how anyone can buy these cube-tanks with any degree of confidence.

DirkG · #17 01/03/2006, 09:14 PM

Called Current-USA and spoke to Ike about my problem with the Aquapod 12, he said that only a hand few had lighting issues and they would do whatever it takes to correct the problem to my satisfaction. Replacement part (parts) are on the way.
Great company to do business with and they stand behind thier products.

Like any new products sometimes bugs need to be worked out. It is nice to know that some companies ( Current) take pride in thier products, and now how to make a bad situation better!
I can't wait to get mine all stocked up.

Dirk

PS I still have my 24 on order! Shock or no Shock

Carl_in_Florida · #18 01/03/2006, 09:40 PM

No slight to current usa but stray voltage and water are a really bad combination. I am amazed that these made it to market.
Imagine how many people may have bought these for their kids room?

Carl

greenlm · #19 01/03/2006, 09:48 PM

hey,

lgreen here from www.nano-reef.com

Here is the word at nano-reef.com:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...pic=75466&st=0

Freed · #20 01/03/2006, 09:55 PM

Are they UL listed/approved?

kjoz · #21 01/03/2006, 10:06 PM

Dirk,
How do I check my 12gal AquaPod if I do not have a meter and I don't want to chance a shock by touching on of the plugs while unplugged?
Thanks for the info from Current USA. I knew they would stand by their product. IMHO I can't see a company risking their reputation with such a major error and not fixing it.

diverdan814 · #22 01/03/2006, 10:17 PM

Pick up a small votage reader at the hardware store for 2 or 3 dollars. They have a small light and two probes. Touch the probes to the plug- if the light goes on, you have a winner!

That's what I did today after I noticed the timers were not operating correctly.
Mine's going back. And I do not want a replacement.

DirkG · #23 01/03/2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kjoz
Dirk,
How do I check my 12gal AquaPod if I do not have a meter and I don't want to chance a shock by touching on of the plugs while unplugged?
Thanks for the info from Current USA. I knew they would stand by their product. IMHO I can't see a company risking their reputation with such a major error and not fixing it.

Do like diverdan814 said JUST BE CAREFUL! On mine I put one probe of ther tester on the ground probe of the plug and the other on the prong of the plug. If it lights up you have a problem. Let your supplier or Current know. They will make things right.

To me, it looks like a quality product. They just have a issue with a few of the 12 gal pods sold. Current makes quality products and stands behind what they sell! Thats what really counts to me.

Dirk

kjoz · #24 01/03/2006, 11:37 PM

Thank you both. I will run by WalMart in the morning and pick one up. I still like my AquaPod and I don't want to get rid of it. I'm hoping mine doesn't have a problem. I'll find out tomorrow. Why would they give an example Timer Program (7 days per week) in their instructions sheets if they knew there was a problem. This reads:
LED Light-Leave on 24 hours per day.
Dual Actinic-Turn on at 7 am.
Dual Daylight-Turn on at 8 am.
Dual Daylight-Turn off at 7 pm.
Dual Actinic-Turn off at 8 pm.
I still have to believe this is a fluk and there are not very many with this problem. Maybe I'm naive.

PuppyPR · #25 01/04/2006, 01:16 PM

This is a major wiring issue, as you can see from the photos, all the black wires (live wire) are connected together.

This is a serious hazard and should be corrected. I took the pictures from my Aquapod before modding it.