|
The term stray voltage has been used for
the past 40 years to describe a special case of voltage
developed on the grounded neutral system of a farm. If this
voltage reaches sufficient levels, animals coming into contact
with grounded devices may receive a mild electrical shock
that can cause a behavioral response. At voltage levels
that are just perceptible to the animal, behaviors indicative
of perception such as flinches may result with little change
in normal routines. At higher levels avoidance behaviors
may result.
The term stray voltage is often applied incorrectly to
other electrical phenomena such as electric fields, magnetic
fields and most recently electric current flowing in the
earth. These phenomena are generally referred to as
EMF or Electric and Magnetic Fields. The
physiological interactions with these phenomena are different
than the mild shock associated with stray voltage. For more
information on EMF and other electrical exposures, go to
the EMF Page.
The following is a broad range of information
resources intended to increase your understanding of
stray voltage. Should you have information
to contribute to this Web page, please contact the MREC
at mrec@uwex.edu.
Electric Utility Service Territories
|
Illinois -- click "IEC
Directory" and then select "Maps" |
| Iowa -- none
available (6/2003) |
|
Michigan |
|
Minnesota |
|
|
|
South Dakota |
|
|
|
Wisconsin |
|
|
Electrical Power Rates ($/kWh) in the US: based
on state average residential rate
Michigan Agricultural Electric Council
Minnesota Public Utility Commission
MREC Publications
-
EPRI Stray Voltage Programs, Doug Door, EPRI-PEAC
(Presentation from the 2006 MREC Rural Energy Conference)
-
Idaho Power's Stray Voltage Program, Paul Ortmann,
Electrical Engineer (Presentation from the 2005 MREC
Rural Energy Conference)
-
Stray Voltage - Regulation Versus Litigation, Paul
Ortmann, Electrical Engineer (Presentation from the
2005 MREC Rural Energy Conference)
-
Earth Current Research Update, Douglas Reinemann,
Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
(Presentation from the 2005 MREC Rural Energy Conference)
- Equipotential
Planes for Stray Voltage Reduction: Installation Guidelines
- Planning Electrical
Systems for Dairy Expansion
- Stray Voltage
Detection: A Self-Help Guide
-
The Anatomy of a Stray Voltage / Earth Current Trial
from an Engineer's Perspective [Presentation
given at 2004 MREC Conference]
-
Educating Veterinarians on Stray Voltage [Presentation
given at 2004 MREC Conference]
-
Update on Pennsylvania Stray Voltage Conference
[Presentation given at 2004 MREC Conference]
-
Making Measurements on the Farm [Presentation
given at 2004 MREC Conference]
-
Installation and Operation of Fencers, Cow Trainers
and Crowd Gates
-
Capacitors and Capacitive Electrical Filters
National
Electric Code Internet Connection
Publications
National Resources,
Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES)
State of Michigan
- Complaint of Attorney General against Consumers
Energy Company
State of Pennsylvania
University of Wisconsin [Note: The Web site downloads
slowly.]
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, Consumer Protection
(DATCP)
Wisconsin Public Service Commission
MREC Conference
Presentations on Stray Voltage Issues
-
Measuring Animal Resistance and the Components of the
Cow Contact Circuit, Doug Reinemann, University
of Wisconsin- Madison (2007)
-
Activities of the IEEE Working Group on Voltages at
Publicly and Privately Accessible Locations, Chuck
DeNardo, PE-WE Energies (2007)
-
Using
the PMI for Stray Voltage Investigations, Ricky
Evants, Power Monitors, Inc (PMI); and Pete Engstrom,
WE Energies
-
DC Voltage and Transient Measurement and Animal
Sensitivity, Chuck Forster, Phasor Labs; and
Doug Reinemann, UW-Madison (2007)
-
Review
of Research on DC Electrical Exposure, Doug
Reinemann, UW-Madison (2007)
-
Transmission Under-Build and Stray Voltage Issues,
Mark Cook, PSCW; Robert Fick, Alliant Energy; and
Richard Reines, PSC (2007)
-
Anatomy of a
Stray Voltage Trial, Rodrick Lewis, DVM, JD,
Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP. (2007)
-
Review of Measurement Methods for Urban Stray
Voltage Investigation. Chuck DeNardo, WE
Energies (2007)
- Stray Voltage Measurement Workshop, Chuck
Forster,
Phasor
Labs (2005)
-
Earth Current Research Update, Douglas Reinemann,
PhD., University of Wisconsin-Madison and
Milking Research and Instruction Lab (2005)
-
Accomplishments of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission,
Dick Reines (2003)
-
Updates on Recent Legal Developments in Stray Voltage,
Keith Tinsey (2003)
-
Final Report on Earth Current Measurements, David
Alumbaugh (2003)
-
Overview of Stray Voltage Instrumentation [Part 1],
Chuck Forster (2003)
-
Overview of Stray Voltage Instrumentation [Part 2],
Chuck Forster (2003)
-
Automated Meter Reading, Allen Herrman (2003)
-
A Veternarian's Perspective on Stray Voltage, John
R. Roberts, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade
and Consumer Protection (2003)
-
Demonstration of Common Electrical Measurement Errors,
Richard Reines, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
(2002)
-
Stray Voltage Complaint to the MI Public Service Commission,
James M. Schrandt, Agricultural Services Director (2001)
Articles:
|