A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Fabruary 1,1986
BY MARTHA J. GEHRINGER
BUFFALO SPRINGS - Stray
voltage, what is it and where does
it come from? These questions
mystify many farmers whose
herds suffer from stray voltage.
One thing they are certain of is the
effect it has on their herd.
J. Calvin Zimmerman, a dairy
farmer from Buffalo Springs,
Lebanon County, became an ex
pert on stray voltage the hard way,
through first hand experience of
the problem.
Zimmerman and his wife,
Thelma, ventured into fanning on
their own in 1978. Things began to
unravel in 1982, just as they were in
the process of expanding the herd.
This was to be the beginning of
three years that would push them
to the wall with problems resulting
from stray voltage, and the
frustation of futile attempts to
correct it.
The origins can be traced to
when the power company replaced
a transformer on the farm with a
larger one. This was done to solve
another problem at the time where
they were constantly blowing
fuses.
The hook-up required by this
transformer was different than the
one required by the previous
transformer and resulted in a
reading of 14 volts of stray voltage.
At this level sparks could be
generated by touching a cow or the
bulk tank. A bulb could also be
lighted by touching it to the neutral
wire and the ground wire.
There was no question at this
point that be had a stray voltage
problem. In addition to this ob
vious sign, Zimmerman was ex
periencing other symptoms. His
somatic cell count had doubled, the
cows were refusing to enter the
parlor, and they were lapping at
the water.
Zimmerman contacted the
power company several times in
an attempt to work with them to
Stray voltage , one farmer’s success story
as much as possible on stray
voltage, hoping to solve his
dilemma. Through earnest reading
he learned about a computer which
Penn-State had developed that was
capable of recording the level of
stray voltage on the farm.
This was attached to the water
bowls on the farm in May 1983 and
recorded the levels of stray voltage
the cows were experiencing.
Richard Adams, a nutritionist at
Penn State, paid a visit to the
farm, in conjunction with the
computer, to verify that the
feeding program was iiitact and
not contributing to the problem.
The resulting graphs gave them
their first picture of the intensity of
the problem.
The next step was the purchase
of a new product on the market, a
voltage filter. This was installed in
April 1964 and briefly solved the
problem. Initially it dropped the
voltage to 0.5 volts, but became
ineffective when DC current
clogged it. The filter, it turned out,
was specifically built to handle
only the standard AC current.
The DC current came from the
gas company which uses it on their
pipeline to retard corrosion of the
pipes. After explaining the
situation to the gas company, they
agreed to reduce the amount of
current in use on the pipeline
crossing Zimmerman’s field. This
did not, however, eliminate the DC
stray voltage.
Simultaneously with the addition
of the voltage filter, the power
company doubled the amount of
current on the line. The doubling
actually served to reduce the
voltage to a level of six volts.
The next phase was the addition
of a Ronk blocker. This solution
resulted in the same fate as the
voltage filter due to its inability to
block the DC current.
The fifth product to be tried was
an AC-DC blocker. This worked
effectively to reduce the level to a
This is the path stray voltage takes to the substation. It is amplified via an un
derground cable that is attached to underground ground pins known as the grid field. So
long stray voltage!
After this data was analyzed, the
next step was to install a network
of reference ground pins around
the farm that attract the voltage to
a compensating amplifier unit.
This unit is also connected to the
farm’s service entrance neutral
bar.
Using these two sources, the
amplifier, the brain of the system
determines bow much voltage
must be drawn away from the cow
area and sent to the third piece of
the system, a remote grounding
field.
This field was established at the
minimum of 300 feet from the cow
area to prevent a possible return of
the voltage. Four copper-clad
pound rods were placed at regular
intervals in line through the field to
provide the current with a path to
return to the substation.
These ground rods were driven
own to the bedrock to provide the
PStest conductivity to the
fcmd. These rods are connected
■hs amplifier with 600 feet of
system, installed by the
dealer, Madison Silos,
ata, contains a total of 35
id rods that have the ef
reness of 35,000 rods in
ier system.
unerman has had the system
Stray voltage , a brief overview
ie signs are usually there but
problem isn’t always easily
Bentifiable or pinned down. It
fesn’t necessarily occur con
nuously. Even if cows are
lowing symptoms, it doesn’t
lean they can be attributed to it.
r, no symptoms need be present
r it to exist. What is it?
The answer is stray voltage.
Die classic reported symptoms
dude: a hesitation to enter
Iking parlors or an uneasiness
lie being milked; lapping
ter; breeding problems; high
natic cell count; reduced mUk
Auction; uneven milk-out;
reased cases of mastitis, hoof
•blems and other related health
tblems.
ptray voltage is defined by the
nerican Society of Agricultural
hgineers as the neutral-to-earth
tential. In a standard electrical
stribution system, the current
ust complete a circuit to function
id does this by returning to its
lurce.
hiring this process voltages
r elop in the neutral wires and
iross parallel grounding paths to
irth. This voltage in a normal
'stem can range from a fraction
: a volt to several volts, with the
issibility of increase occurring
hen motors are started or a
notion of moisture conditions.
J. Calvin Zimmerman, right discusses his new( system with
Steve Magey, sales, service representative of Madison "Silos.
operational for almost two months vet hills and cow replacement
and already he is witnessing a costs escalated.
rebounding of his rolling herd Now Zimmerman y is looking to
average, as well as a return of his ~ rebuild his herd with renewed
somatic cell count to more normal confidence and optimism. He
levels.
Stray voltage was an extremely
costly problem for Zimmerman. In
addition to paying for solutions
which didn’t perform properly, he
realized a loss of income from
decreased milk production, and his
dairy cows at very low intensities,
due to low body resistance and
direct contact with the metal
structures and the earth or wet
concrete. Humans however have a
higher tolerance and will not be
affected by levels that affects
cows.
Individual cows are affected at
different levels of stray voltage.
Research indicates that amounts
less than 0.5 volts will have a
minimal or no affect to dairy cows,
while amounts in excess of 24 volts
for any duration could be fatal.
Milk prices meeting
HONESDALE A Management
Seminar for Dairy Producers will
be held Friday, Feb. 21, from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Grace
Episcopal Church Hall, Honesdale.
The theme will be “Coping With
Lower Milk Prices.” In recent
years the price of milk has been
falling and many dairymen face
financial difficulties.
Speakers will be Larry Jenkins,
farm management specialist;
Jack Kirkland, dairy marketing
specialist; and Joe Hlubik, diary
management specialist, all from
expressed his confidence in the
system by stating, “I’ve stopped
looking for alternatives. It is
working 100 percent and has
reduced the voltage level to
practically zero.”
Stray voltage could result trom
on- or off-farm sources. Improper
wiring, shorting in electrical
systems, faulty electrical equip
ment, faulty grounding, or voltage
drops on the farm’s neutral wire
could all result in stray voltage.
If stray voltage is suspectH, a
qualified electrician should be call
in to inspect the system. Con
sultation with a veterinarian and
the power supplier is also
recommended. Action should be
taken based on their recom
mendations.
the Pennsylvania State University.
Topics will include the following:
U.S. and World Situation, Feed and
Market Situation, 1985 Farm Bill
and All Herd Buyout, What’s New
in Dairy Technology, and
Management Survival Strategies.
A light lunch will be served for
$2. Reservations are requested. To
sign up or to secure more in
formation call the Wayne County
Extension Service, Court House,
Honesdale 243-5970. All interested
persons are welcome.