Shock tank?

Jim Bright · April 20, 2022, 06:38:09 PM

I want to start shocking the crabs before I steam. I don't want to ice them. If anyone on here uses a shock tank to dip your basket of crabs in before you steam can you please post a few photos of your tank and a note about how to build one? I searched the forum and there isn't much info on it.

jack1747 · April 20, 2022, 07:16:44 PM

Most of the time this subject has come up, the folks that have tried it have said "Don't do it". Guess it's not worth killing yourself. $:-\$

Jim Bright · April 20, 2022, 07:22:58 PM

Sage advice. If I can find someone to post up some safe guidelines to do it I'd try it, at least once.

Mr. Ray III · April 20, 2022, 09:32:20 PM

It don't think it would be much of a safety issue for anyone with a little common sense. Like working with a saw or router, don't mess with it until you unplug it. I'm not an electrician but I think you need a metal tub to dump crabs in, put leads into the water and run a ground off the metal tub. Add some salt to the water to make sure the water becomes a good conductor. Add a voltage regulator if you keep popping a breaker.

Big Rad · April 22, 2022, 05:54:43 PM

It is "safer" to use a big plastic cooler instead of a metal container. I simply cut the female end off a heavy-duty extension cord, separated the leads, stripped the ends and attached them to two oven racks. Place the racks on opposite sides in the cooler. Crabs should already be submerged in water. Plug the cord into a socket and crabs will be electrocuted.

I am an electrician by trade, training and state certification. It is not rocket science, however some common sense should be employed for safety's sake. I should also mention that I am an old guy who uses this method all the time

Jim Bright · April 22, 2022, 06:46:00 PM

Thank you for the replies. I assumed most crab houses did this or gave em an ice bath before steaming so they keep their claws. I have noticed if I keep mine in the fridge for a day or two fewer crabs drop their claws.

Crabhound · April 25, 2022, 10:02:03 AM

I use a big plastic tub, kind of like the one you would ice a keg in.

I use to use the ice water method to stun them, but after shocking them last year, I will never go back.

All I did was solder an old extension cord to two old copper pipes. The shock time is only like 30 seconds. Is it dangerous, I guess so. Is crabbing from a boat dangerous, yeap.

Risk vs reward is worth it to me. It is a quick 30 seconds, and my outlet is right there. Now if I was leaving it plugged in for hours, that would be a bit sketchy, but 30 seconds is all you need.

Stabilizer · April 26, 2022, 11:57:54 AM

Quote from: Crabhound on April 25, 2022, 10:02:03 AM
I use a big plastic tub, kind of like the one you would ice a keg in.
...
All I did was solder an old extension cord to two old copper pipes. The shock time is only like 30 seconds. Is it dangerous, I guess so. Is crabbing from a boat dangerous, yeap.

So this doesn't just short the circuit and trip the breaker? If this is as easy as described I may try this method vice ice picking the crabs before cooking. Poking a bushel of medium crabs is ridiculous. I only do this for others, since I CBC crabs for myself.

rdbeard · April 27, 2022, 08:36:57 AM

Guy, i sell live crabs only, there's just not enough hrs in the day for me. If i'm steaming crabs they are for me and my family and only on Sundays. and just for the record i believe it's illegal to sell steamed crabs to the public without a health dept. ok. just sayin i don't need a lawsuit if something goes wrong.

Mikie · April 27, 2022, 02:08:49 PM

Rdbeard, you're post above reminds me of one of the reasons I don't really like the shockers. Most guys using them are into speed and convenience. The shockers are made so you can put whole baskets in them. It becomes the standard practice to pull baskets out of the walk-in and put them directly into the shocker. Once they're zapped, there's no way of knowing which one's were already dead, they all go into the steamer!

Stabilizer · April 27, 2022, 03:09:55 PM

Quote from: rdbeard on April 27, 2022, 08:36:57 AM
Guy, i sell live crabs only, there's just not enough hrs in the day for me. If i'm steaming crabs they are for me and my family and only on Sundays. and just for the record i believe it's illegal to sell steamed crabs to the public without a health dept. ok. just sayin i don't need a lawsuit if something goes wrong.

No worries, I'm definitely not a restaurant. Live crabs only!

shtoong · May 02, 2022, 03:29:58 PM

I just fabricated my first shock tank. Here's a dry run test. I'll post result after I catch my first candidates.
https://youtube.com/shorts/zWbxiZLoSqg?feature=share

Sethehook · May 08, 2022, 09:28:57 PM

Personally I don't like messing with electricity.

Up before sunup, long day in the sun, a few beers.... and Oh yeah... when we get home lets play around with electricity and water?!?!?

Logical1 · May 11, 2022, 09:18:38 PM

I work with Electronics everyday and taught a survey course on the Concepts of Electronics at the college. It only takes 1/10th of an amp through your heart to kill you. A 15 amp breaker allows 150 times that much through. Not something I would do at home.

Stabilizer · June 27, 2022, 08:20:09 AM

I started using a very thin punch to pith them. Its an inconvenience, but works pretty darn well. With big crabs its not too many to do. I've moved past the thought of zapping them as others suggested.

Mikie · June 27, 2022, 02:57:12 PM

Quote from: Stabilizer on June 27, 2022, 08:20:09 AM
I started using a very thin punch to pith them. Its an inconvenience, but works pretty darn well. With big crabs its not too many to do. I've moved past the thought of zapping them as others suggested.

I use an icepick. Stick it in the membrane around the backfin, aim it toward the opposite eye keeping the point up to the top of the shell. When it's all of the way in just snap the point down and drag it back. Kills 99% of them instantly. If you get one that keeps moving, before you pull the point out just aim it at the other eye and repeat. I call the few that need two snaps "left handed" crabs

. I then stack them in the pot and fold the claws in. You can't tell it was ever done. You get more crabs in the pot and they're all nice and neat with the claws folded in.

flounderpounder · February 21, 2023, 09:28:54 PM

Just ice bath them you gotta use the water anyway to shock them and icing is a better end product anyway.

Harford Crabber · March 23, 2023, 11:17:40 AM

I've never tried shock method but I know a guy that does it every time. Typically most people would be doing this outside or in garage. Most outdoor and a lot of garage receptacles have a GFCI breaker built into them or they're dowstream from a GFCI receptacle. Shock WILL NOT WORK if you're on a GFCI circuit or receptacle. It'll just trip the receptacle.

Logical1 · March 23, 2023, 01:58:43 PM

Quote from: Harford Crabber on March 23, 2023, 11:17:40 AM
I've never tried shock method but I know a guy that does it every time. Typically most people would be doing this outside or in garage. Most outdoor and a lot of garage receptacles have a GFCI breaker built into them or they're dowstream from a GFCI receptacle. Shock WILL NOT WORK if you're on a GFCI circuit or receptacle. It'll just trip the receptacle.

That is a confusing thing about a GFCI circuit. It does not need a ground to work. When it detects a very slight imbalance between the hot and the neutral, it knows something is not right and trips the circuit. It would trip below a threshold that you could even feel a shock.

shtoong · March 23, 2023, 02:41:04 PM

I guess my GFCI is not working. I shocked three bushels for a party in my driveway. It never tipped the breaker.