Origins of stray voltages[edit]

Coupled voltages[edit]

The very small capacitance between overhead lines and a fluorescent lamp tube (in the foreground of the
photo) provides enough current to cause the lamp to glow.

Ungrounded metal objects close to electric field sources such as neon signs or conductors
carrying alternating currents can have measurable voltage levels caused by capacitive coupling.
Since voltages detected by high-impedance instruments disappear or become greatly reduced
when a low impedance is substituted, the effect is sometimes called phantom voltage (or ghost
voltage).[6] The term is often used by electricians, and might be seen, for example, when
measuring the voltage at a lighting fixture after removing the bulb. It's not unusual to measure
phantom voltages of 5090 volts when testing the wiring of ordinary 120 V circuits with a highimpedance instrument. While the voltage produced may read almost to the full supply voltage,
the capacitance or mutual inductance between the wires of building wiring systems is typically
quite low and incapable of supplying significant amounts of current.[7]
However, in overhead transmission work on or near high-voltage lines, safety rules require
connecting a conductor to earth ground during maintenance, since induced voltages and
currents on a conductor may be sufficient to cause electrocution or serious injury.

Capacitive leakage through insulation[edit]

Alternating current is different from direct current in that the current can flow through what would
ordinarily seem to be a physical barrier. In a series circuit, a capacitor blocks direct current but
passes alternating current.
In power transmission systems, one side of the circuit, known as the neutral, is grounded to
dissipate static electricity and to reduce hazardous voltages caused by insulation failure and

other electrical faults. It is possible to get a shock by only touching the hot wire, due to the
person's body being capacitively coupled to the ground upon which the person stands, even if
the person is standing on an insulated surface.

Induced voltages[edit]
Classical electromagnetic induction can occur when long conductors form an open grounded
loop under and parallel to transmission or distribution lines. In these cases, current is induced in
the loop when a person makes contact with it and ground. Since this involves real current flow, it
is potentially hazardous. This type of induced current occurs most often on long fences and
distribution lines built under high-power transmission lines.[8][9]

Degraded insulation on power conductors[edit]

Stray voltage may be caused by damaged or degraded insulation. Failing insulation is essentially
a high impedance fault which will allow current to flow through any available path to ground, a
condition which can cause shocks or fires if left unmitigated. This leakage can occur when there
is damage caused by physical, thermal, or chemical stresses to insulation on power lines,
especially but not limited to underground or underwater cables. Examples of this damage are
swollen or cracked insulation from overheating, abrasions caused by digging or ground seizing,
and corrosion damage from salt or oil exposure. Electrical leakage can also occur due to
moisture, salt, dust, and dirt buildup on open air insulators in overhead power distribution. If the
leakage in these cases is severe enough, it can lead to a pole fire.

Leakage from single-wire earth return[edit]

The term "stray voltage" is used for the gradient (rate of change with respect to distance)
of electrical potential in the surface of the soil, associated with single-wire earth returnelectricity
distribution systems used in some rural locations. This gradient is low at points far away from the
earth return connections, but increases near the ground rods where the metallic circuit enters the
earth.