U v
STRAY VOLTAGE
What Is It?
Stray voltage is the electrical
current that is sometimes present
on “grounded” metal equipment
around hum buildings. It’s also
called transient voltage, tingle vol
tage. and neutral-to-earth voltage.
If, for example, a strong enough
voltage is present on a nipple
waterer, electricity will pass
through a hog to the floor when he
stops by for a drink of water. And
provided the current flow is high
enough, the hog may reduce his
water intake or be just plain
irritable.
How Do We
Measure Stray Voltage?
With a voltmeter, of course, but
not any one will do. First, the vol
tmeter must be able to separate
direct current and alternating cur
rent. Because of low levels of elec
trolysis that might occur around
manure and metal, some direct
current may be present in the
building. This is of little consequ
ence but the meter must be able to
block it or it will provide a false
high reading.
A simple test recently demon
strated to me by Dr. Steve Spencer
is to measure die voltage on a dry
cell while the voltmeter is set for
alternating current If the voltme
ter is blocking the direct current
the reading will be 0.
Second, a 500-1000 ohm resis
tor (sometimes called a banana
plug) must be connected in parallel
to leads on the voltmeter. This
resistance approximates that of the
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BUILDING SYSTEMS
Pork Prose
by
Kenneth B. Kephart
Penn State Extension Swine Specialist
bog, so that whatever voltage you
measure, will also approximate the
voltage sensed by the hog.
Finally, to be sure that your
measurements are consistent,
always measure the voltage
between the equipment (waterer,
feeder, etc.) and a ground rod dri
ven away from the building.
Where Does
Stray Voltage
Come From?
Shorts in electrical equipment
unbalanced 120-voH loads on a
240-volt service, improper
grounding of equipment and dirt
or corrosion around electrical con
nections are just a few sources.
Occasionally, the voltage enters
through the neutral lead from the
power company itself, but more
often the problem starts some
where on the farm.
What Arc The
Effects On
Hog Production?
Studies show that hogs can
sense a current flow of about .23
milliamps. Assuming the hog has a
resistance of 1000 ohms, that
translates to only .2S volts. When
the voltage reaches a high enough
level, hogs reduce their drinking
time. Still higher voltages will
reduce water and feed intake.
Rigs often appear agitated or
restless during periods of high
stray voltage. Stray voltage may
occur only when certain equip
ment or fans are operating, so it
isn’t constant And it may fluctuate
with the electrical demand exper
ienced by power plant.
The critical question is how
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much voto g e can .i hog[tolerate usc , qualified ckctric ian to
before it begins to affccthis bcha- often power company is
vi °r and cost you money? more than willtag to help
As the shown in Table 1. it Some that have been
depends on the study: documented:
In most studies, problems didn’t
start untfl the potential exceeded 2
volts. But the Stetson study did
document unusual behavior in lac
tadng sows at a level of only .5
volts.
How Do You
Correct Stray Voltage?
Correcting the problem is gener
ally easy. Finding he source is the
challenge.
RUTGERS, NJ. T. Richard
Battaglia of Haromonton recently
received the Distinguished Ser
vice Award from the Pesticide
Association of New Jersey. He
was recognized for his outstand
ing service to the agricultural
chemical industry.
Battaglia and his wife, Virginia,
are owners of Ham mon ton Pack
age Sales Co. They distribute and
sell fruit and vegetable specialty
containers and agricultural chemi
cals in southern New Jersey. He
has been an active member of the
Pesticide Association of New
Jersey for more than 20 years and
was recognized for his service to
that association, the agrichemical
industry, and the agricultural
community.
As a former fruit grower, Batta
glia has been active in the peach
industry for a long time. He is for
mer president of the Nadonal
Peach Council, where he received
the “President’s Award” for his
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State
Table 1. Effect* of stray voltage on hog production
RESEARCHER VOLTAGE
Gustafson 3 V
Stetson ,5 V
Kaune
Gillespie
.275 V
(not measured)
Wright
Robert
Battaglia Receives Distinguished
EFFECT
Drinking time reduced
Agitation and reduced water consumption
in sows
Disruption in watering behavior
Reduced water consumption & appetite
until ground corrected
Water consumption reduced 25%
Drinking time reduced
3.7 V
5 V
■ Installation of improved
ground rods
• Replacement of connections
on main wiring
* Installation of a neutral isolat
ing switch (isolates stray voltage
originating from power company
on neutral wire)
■ Replacement of fruity motors,
switches or other electrical devices
• Correction of unbalanced
loads in circuit panel
efforts as both an officer and
director from New Jersey. He is
also a past president and longtime
director of the New Jersey Peach
Promotion Council and the Cam
den County Board of Agriculture.
He is a past recipient of the Out
indir Y F 'r - Award.
T. Richard Battaglia, left,
tion of New Jereey’a Distinguished Service Award from
Rocco DlGerolamo. association treasurer.
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• Bonding and grounding of
crates, penning, and other
equipment
1. Stray voltage is electrical cur
rent that may pass from waterers or
equipment through the hog when it
contacts the equipment If the
potential is high enough, hogs will
irink and eat less, and may show
agitation. Watch for these signs,
and contact an electrician or your
county agent if you suspect a
problem.
2.Stray voltage usually origi
nates from poor grounds, faulty
equipment, or unbalanced
120-volt loads on a 240-volt ser
vice. Finding the source of the
stray voltage is sometimes diffi
cult but once the source is identi
fied, it’s normally easy to correct
3. Most studies show that hogs
are not adversely affected until the
potential reaches 2 volts. But if
you have a problem, take actions
whenever practical to reduce the
reading to less than .S volts.
Service Award
Battaglia is a past member of
the State Farmers Home Admi
nistration and has received its ser
vice award. The Battaglias are
lifelong residents of Hammontpn,
where they have raised two child
ren, Richard Battaglia and Virgi-
Loadley.
Summary