Haman Stray Voltage

Terminology
0 Primary Neutral-to-Earth Voltage (PNEV) 0 Voltage measured between the utility primary neutral and an earth reference point which is generally a ground rod placed specifically for this purpose 0 Secondary Neutral-to-Earth Voltage (SNEV) 0 Voltage measured between the farms secondary neutral and an earth reference point which is generally a ground rod placed specifically for this purpose.
STAR Energy Services, LLC Alexandria, Minnesota tel 320.762.1697 fax 320.762.1479 alhaman@star-energy.com
Terms
0 Stray Voltage 0 Difference in voltage measured between two surfaces that may be contacted simultaneously by an animal* [cow contact areas] 0 Isolation 0 Separation of the primary neutral from the secondary neutral through the use of an approved isolation device 0 Isolation Device 0 Piece of equipment which is accepted by the National Electrical Safety Code for purpose of isolation
*Effects of Electrical Voltage/Current on Farm Animals: How to Detect and Remedy Problems; US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD; December 1991; Page 9-4
Neutral-to-Earth or Stray Voltage?

0 PNEV is measured at the transformer location or
other spots off farm 0 SNEV is measured at spots within the secondary system on the farm
0 Could be utility-owned or consumer-owned
0 Could fall under NESC or NEC jurisdiction
0 On properly installed and maintained secondary
systems without isolation, PNEV and SNEV are nearly equal

Field Connections
Utility
Barn Transformer
Isolator
Neutral-to-Earth or Stray Voltage?

0 Properly installed and maintained isolation devices
separate PNEV and SNEV at the transformer location during low (less than 10 volts) voltage levels 0 Is SNEV present in cow-contact areas? 0 Measurements should be made to determine voltage levels in cow contact areas
0 Initial inspection 0 Chart recordings taken over a several-hour period
Stray Voltage
0 All animals are affected by current flow, not voltage.
However, current flow has historically been difficult to measure, which is why voltage has become the standard. 0 Stray voltage (as defined by USDA) will exist on all farms. The investigator must properly measure the magnitude and interpret results.
Source: Stray Voltage Detection A Self-Help Guide, Wisconsin Farm Electric Council
How Do We Determine Conditions?

0 Todays one and only equation: 0 Voltage = Current x Impedance 0 Impedance is a complex variable which is dependent
upon frequency of the power source R+jX 0 Studies have shown impedance of a dairy cow can be reduced to the resistance component of the complex variable
University Studies and Field Trials

0 University studies yield typical cow resistance for various
situations STAR chooses 500 as level of interest 0 University studies yield typical cow behaviors for varying levels of current passed through the body STAR chooses 1 mA as level of interest
0 V=500 x 1 mA
V=0.5 V
Looking for Voltage

0 Cow resistance published through research
0 Behavioral response to current flow published
through research 0 Voltage is the variable quantity and must be investigated at each farm and its cow contact areas 0 Many unique characteristics of the farm and myriad of variables can make this challenging
Cow Reaction to 60 Hz Electrical Current

0 Primary impact of stray voltage/currents on milk
production involves changes in behavior1 [dairy cows] 0 Electrical current cannot directly cause infections2 [mastitis] 0 Numerous causes of behavioral changes and physiological changes in animals3
Effects of Electrical Voltage/Current on Farm Animals: How to Detect and Remedy Problems; US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD; December 1991: 1Page 1-4 2Page 3-2 3Page 3-2
Steps to Successful Stray Voltage Investigation

0 Have a plan and follow it 0 Build trust with the farmer 0 Investigator should interview the farmer and note
behavioral characteristics of the animals, management practices, electrical incidents and other items of interest 0 Initial inspection using a digital multi-meter, measure PNEV, SNEV, and cow contact areas with the farmer present 0 Examine farm wiring for NEC compliance
Overnight Recording
0 Test Setup 0 PNEV and SNEV 0 Cow contact areas selected by the investigator based upon experience and the farmer interview 0 This recording period may be more than one day in length
On-Farm Electrical Items

0 Wiring problems within the secondary system 0 Intermingling of neutral and grounding conductors 0 Loose neutral connections 0 Inconsistent use of three-wire and four-wire secondary systems 0 Inadequate bonding between service panels and milk lines, water lines, and other conductive equipment 0 Improper grounding of electric fencers and cow
trainers 0 Unbalanced load within the secondary system
Off-Farm Items
0 Primary neutral has a high resistance 0 Poor neutral connectors, specifically bolted connectors 0 Poor neutral grounding in immediate area, need more and deeper ground rods 0 Underground cable with bare concentric neutral 0 Primary neutral return current is high 0 Load balancing on three-phase circuits 0 Undersized neutral conductor; on a typical system, about 1/3 of return current flows on the neutral conductor
Other Things
0 Items of concern on neighboring secondary services
can cause hard to find NEV conditions 0 The isolation device is bypassed by another utility 0 The isolation device is defective
Why This Renewed Interest?
Items to Remember
0 Build trust with the farmer
0 Stray voltage, as defined by USDA, will be found on the
farm 0 Stray voltage research is voluminous 0 Use NESC and NEC experts to investigate and interpret measurements 0 Implement recommendations of the experts
Items for Communicators

0 Use consistent terms 0 Publish notices regularly in cooperative newsletters 0 Treat all member inquiries carefully 0 Respond to inquiries in a timely fashion
0 Designate one person to handle inquiries

0 Have a plan and follow it 0 Understand and respect this is a scientific
phenomenon, therefore quite complex
Key Points for a Good Plan

0 Designate a single point of contact
0 Receptionist should be familiar with keys of a stray
voltage inquiry 0 Single point of contact must return call in timely fashion 0 Follow a prepared procedure once in the field 0 Get the results back to the farmer in a timely fashion 0 Make reasonable accommodations 0 FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!
Questions?

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Terminology

Neutral-to-Earth or Stray Voltage?

0 On properly installed and maintained secondary

systems without isolation, PNEV and SNEV are nearly equal

Neutral-to-Earth or Stray Voltage?

How Do We Determine Conditions?

University Studies and Field Trials

Looking for Voltage

0 Behavioral response to current flow published

Cow Reaction to 60 Hz Electrical Current

Steps to Successful Stray Voltage Investigation

On-Farm Electrical Items

trainers 0 Unbalanced load within the secondary system

Why This Renewed Interest?

Items for Communicators

0 Designate one person to handle inquiries

phenomenon, therefore quite complex

Key Points for a Good Plan

0 Receptionist should be familiar with keys of a stray

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