Dl4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 8,1982 Stray voltage BY DONNA TOMMELLEO UNIVERSITY PARK - On July I, funds for Penn State’s research and educational program on stray voltage will run out “With some additional funding we feel we can put on a very much needed educational program,” explained Extension agriculture engineer Joe McCurdy The program will be geared to not only farmet s but to all that service the industry, including electricians, equipment dealers, etc Since last August, McCurdy, Paul Anderson, Penn State teaching researcher and graduate student Jim Fairchild have been concentrating their efforts on learning more about stray voltage, the nationwide problem affecting an increasing number of farms each year McCurdy explained that the program is two-told The researchers are trying to establish the extent ot the problem and look for bonified solutions In addition, they are currently working on a portable set-up which simulates a dairy farm at the end ot five miles of electrical line, complete with neighbors The table-top sunulation, which is six feet in length, is still under construction, McCurdy noted When completed the model can be transported via an automobile to extension meetings and seminars Through the use ot an overhead projector, meter readings can be seen readily on a screen, allowing the audience to notice drops and rises m voltage Operated by hidden controls and transformers, the model will run Taylor- Way CHISEL PLOW with TRASH EATER ATTACHMENT Check These Soil Conserving and Trash-Eating Features • 20" Coulters, spaced 9" apart and crease penetration Weights not mounted on 1-118” Square Axles furnished, use standard tractor rips through sod and stalks to make weights. chiseling easier • Trash-Eater Tool Bar mounts for • Flexible Bearing Hangers lets ward of front tool bar on Chisel Plow Coulters glide over rocks and allowing all shanks to be used on underground obstructions Triple- true 12" spacing Seated Regreasable Ball Bearings • Coulters easily adjusted up or down, are mounted in heavy Pillow Blocks. Lets you adjust for both soil con • Weight Holders shipped as Stand- d| t'ons and shank sizes Insert ard Equipment Use weights in ratchet into holes in Flexible Bear rough and hard conditions to in- ,n 8 Hanger, remove pm and ratchet up or down as desired ★ SAVES TIME * MAKES MONEY ★ FLEXIBILITY * Use as a complete Trash-Eater or as Chisel Plow when only a Chisel Plow is needed. li*L HEISEY FARM EQUIPMENT, INC. LONG TERM LEASING AVAILABLE THROUGH: • Leyland & Same Tractors • Taylorway-Dunham • New Idea • GT Dryers • Landoll • Dion RD 1, Box 2294, Jonestown, PA 17038 Phone 717-865-4526 Located '/? Mile South of Fredericksburg Off Rt 343 in Shirksville Business Hours 7AM toSPM Daily Sat till Noon Evenings by Appt on 120 volts which will simulate /,200 volts on the primary oi hi»;i line The secondary line, which feeds the taim, will operate at b 5 and J 25 volts simulating 240 and 120 volts A thin strand ot nichroine wire series as the neutral wire This high resistance material allows the researchers to simulate five miles of electical line into such a short length, said McCui dy The educational model is ex pected to make its debut on June 17 at the Farm and Home Center in in front of a seminar ot dairy service people and elec ti cians. McCurdy explained that an all out educational effort will help clear up a lot ot misunderstandings and" finger-pointing ” ‘ We’ve got some answers, but we need to make a concentrated effort in education,” he remarked When McCurdy isn’t wearing his teaching cap, the ag engineer frequently can be found trouble shooting tor stray voltage in the field ' I’ll get six calls a day,” he noted McCurdy pointed out that not ail the phone calls are trom farmers. Service people and electricians also seek his advice Alter arriving on a stray voltage suspected tarm, McCurdy will lake a pielimmary leading with a portable volt meter He explained a reading taken between the milk tank and the dram usually provides a representative sample ot the tarm system. It the reading jumps higher than one volt, McCurdy then drives a separate ground 25 to 50 teet away Sales, Service and Parts education goes mobile troin the milking centei From the giound, he runs an insulated wire to anyplace he wants to lake a reading We go in and touch everything the cow touches,” he explained The Extension engmeei also ex periments with ditterent load levels on the system 11 voltage leadings continue at a high level Penn State Extension agriculture engineer be disassembled and transported by car to Joe McCurdy points out a small metal cylinder meetings and seminars. McCurdy will unveil which will serve as a dummy transformer. A the model at a meeting in Lancaster, next real transformer is hidden from view. The month. stray voltage model, an educational tool, can J FINANCING AVAILABLE * V f '"i ’ W* ' „ ,’ s , v " r L Ml Maybe it's time you switched fertilizer tanks Switch to a Calumet Liquid Manure Spreader Compared to today’s and tomorrow's sky-high fertilizer prices, manure is lust too valuable to waste A hundred cow dairy herd, for example, can save thousands of dollars every year in fertilizer costs Take full advantage of this liquid gold with a Calumet liquid manure spreader teamed with a 4 shank soil miector Iniectmgcan help retain four times the nitrogen that’s usually lost with surface spreading in addition to reducing odor and run off problems gsS- F. ERNEST SNOOK vv> RD3 - Box 84, Mifflinburg, Pa. 17844 - Phone: 717-966-2736 alter the hot wire is pulled with the neutral still intact, then McCuidy said he is tairly sure the problem is coming in oft the system With the help ol a small crew hom the electric company, Mc- Curdy has the wire between the primary and secondary neutral disconnected This isolates the whole farm v* * Calumet spreaders, in capacities from 1625 to 4500 gallons, are engineered for efficiency and longevity Heavy duty steel alloy tanks are coated with epoxy to resist corrosion Double reinforced A frames and support skids add strength for heavy loads All Calumet liquid spreaders are backed by a 12 month warranty from the system,” he said At that point, McCurdy said the (> tarmer has three options on how to solve the problem The first, and the easy way, said McCmdy, is to ask the power company to leave the wire disconnected However, the easy way is also the most controversial and lethal, -USED EQUIPMENT— 12' Better Bilt Auger Pump 10’ Badger Pump 1500 Badger Spreader Tank 2250 Calumet Spreader 3250 Calumet Spreader 10 Ton N.l. Manure Spreader 287 Hawk Bilt (Turn to Page DISJ 4 * Make the best use of the fertilizer produced on yourfarm with a Calumet liquid spreader and soil injector Call for information on the value of manure— and some good reasons why you should switch fertilizer tanks Look For The Right One!
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