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Stray current analysis

Conference Paper · January 2011

DOI: 10.1109/ESW.2011.6164732

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 STRAY CURRENT ANALYSIS
Copyright Material IEEE
Paper No. ESW2011-28
Peter E. Sutherland, Ph.D., PE,
Fellow, IEEE
GE Energy Services
180 Rotterdam Industrial Park
Schenectady, NY 12306
USA
Peter.Sutherland@ieee.org
Abstract - Stray currents, sometimes called “objectionable
currents” are part of the same phenomenon called “stray
voltage.” Stray currents can cause electric shocks to humans
in swimming pools. Stray voltages caused by the
multigrounded neutral system can have severe effects on both
humans and farm animals. These can cause injuries to
humans and farm animals in a similar manner to step and
touch potentials in substations, only in the home and farm
environment. Accidents to humans typically result from shock
hazards at swimming pools, bath tubs, basements, and other
wet locations. This paper will begin with a discussion of the
typical electric utility distribution system for homes and farms
in the US, and the domestic wiring system that it feeds. The
flow of currents for both unbalanced loads and ground faults
will be estimated. The level of hazard for various
configurations will be calculated. Finally, methods of
remediation will be explored.
Index terms – Stray current, stray voltage, multigrounded
neutral.
I. INTRODUCTION
Stray currents, sometimes called “objectionable currents”
are part of the same phenomenon called “stray voltage.”
Electric shocks to humans are documented in EPRI Technical
Brief on swimming pools [1]. A detailed description of stray
voltages caused by the multigrounded neutral system and
their effects on both humans and farm animals is found in the
USDA handbook [2]. These can cause injuries to humans
and farm animals in a similar manner to step and touch
potentials in substations, only in the home and farm
environment. Accidents to humans typically result from shock
hazards at swimming pools, bathtubs, basements, and other
wet locations. These have led to the development of the
Ground Fault Current Interrupter (GFCI). Accidents to farm
animals are typically from cows receiving shocks in barns
from contact with metal objects, especially during milking.
Low levels of electrical current, not large enough to cause
painful shocks, may cause reduced milk production. This
paper will begin with a discussion of the typical electric utility
distribution system for homes and farms in the US, and the
domestic wiring system that it feeds. The flow of currents for
both unbalanced loads and ground faults will be estimated,
along with the voltages that are associated with the currents.
The level of hazard for various configurations will be
calculated. Finally, methods of remediation will be explored.
1
II. THREE PHASE MULTIGROUNDED NEUTRAL
DISTRIBUTION LINE
The utility multigrounded neutral system, widely used in
the US, is intended to share load current between earth and a
conductor. The phase conductors are mounted on insulators
on the top of the poles. The single-phase version is similar,
except for having only one phase conductor on the poles.
The neutral conductor is mounted on insulators on the side of
the pole. Approximately every ¼ of a mile (0.4 km), a ground
is applied. The ground consists of a grounding rod with the
ground resistance of 25 Ohms or less. This is connected to
the neutral conductor by means of a wire running up the pole.
The neutral conductor is thus used as both the neutral
conductor and the system-grounding conductor.
The analysis used here is based upon the method of
Kersting [3].
The safety concerns with this system are:
• The step and touch voltages which may develop due
to excessive ground currents
• Overvoltages on the system neutral conductor that
may pose a hazard to utility workers.
III. SECONDARY SYSTEMS: 120/240V SINGLE
PHASE
The majority of domestic services are fed with the familiar
center-tapped 120/240 Volt single-phase transformer. [4]
Electrical safety in the home revolves around two major
issues, electrical shock from contact with energized
conductors and electrical fires due to short circuits. Here, we
will examine the electrical shock hazards. The voltage from a
conductor, whether it is Hot or Neutral to ground, will produce
a current flow through the human body, which then can cause
the sensation of shock, injury or death. In order to minimize
hazards in the home, limitations are placed on voltage
magnitude, current magnitude and duration of exposure. The
voltage magnitude is limited by means of grounding, the
current magnitude by the series impedance of the system and
the human body resistance, and the duration by the time to
trip of the protective device, normally a ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI).
The shock hazard is caused by the ground loop between the
ground at the pole and the ground at the service entrance,
as shown in Figure 1. By touching the grounded neutral, a
person places themselves in parallel with the grounding
resistance, through which current may be flowing, and a
voltage drop present. This results in stray current flowing system. It prevents a ground fault in the low voltage system
through the human body. from tripping medium voltage protection systems, improving
protective device coordination.

Utility Service
Service Premises
Transformer Entrance Loads
Entrance Wiring
120/240V Conductors
I1 Z11
Zp1
VT1g VS1g VL1g

Utility Z1n
Source Z12 ZL1
VTng In
Znn Zpn
VSng VLng
ZSource ZL12

Z2n
ZL2
VSource
I2
VT2g Z22 Zp2
VS2g VL2g

Rng

Utility
Ground

Figure 1 Equivalent circuit of domestic service with

premises wiring and load. Figure 3 Equivalent circuit of method 2

Removing the ground loop can be done by two methods:

IV. CONCLUSIONS
1. Removing the ground at the secondary of the utility
These methods do not eliminate the ground loops
transformer, by removing the bond between the
inherent in the multigrounded utility distribution system.
secondary neutral and primary ground. The equivalent
However, they do make the system much safer in the user’s
circuit is shown in Figure 2. In either example
premises, by eliminating the most important ground loop,
considered, the unbalanced circuit or the line to neutral
which has the greatest impact on the people using electric
fault, no current will flow from neutral to ground, and no
power. What is important regarding the multigrounded
stray current would flow through a human touching the
system involving grounding the neutral on utility poles is to
neutral.
avoid making contact with the vertical ground wires on the
Utility Service
Entrance
Service Premises
Loads
poles. The best practice in this area is to insulate the ground
Transformer Entrance Wiring
120/240V Conductors wire, preventing human contact with the conductor.
I1 Z11
Zp1
VT1g VS1g VL1g

Utility Z1n
Source
VTng In
Znn
ZSource
Z2n
VSource
VT2g
I2
Z22
Rng
Utility
Ground
Figure 2 Equivalent circuit of method 1.
2. Removing the premises ground, leaving all grounding in
the utility system. The equivalent circuit is shown in
Figure 3. In either example considered, the unbalanced
circuit or the line to neutral fault, no current will flow from
neutral to ground, and no stray current would flow
through a human touching the neutral.
The first method is preferable because it requires making the
fewest changes to the system, and retains the premises
ground, which is considered to provide an extra margin of
safety, and cannot be removed easily in existing systems.
The household wiring system becomes similar to an industrial
power system, with a separately derived ground at the
secondary of the distribution transformer. The grounding
system is constructed in two isolated zones, one for the
medium voltage distribution and one for the low voltage
distribution. This prevents, for example, current from a
medium voltage ground fault flowing into a low voltage
V. REFERENCES
Z12 ZL1
VSng
Zpn [1] EPRI Technical Brief “Pool shocking –fun in the sun can
VLng
ZL12
be a shocking event” June 2000
[2] USDA Agricultural Handbook 696, “Effects of electrical
ZL2
VS2g
Zp2
VL2g
voltage/current on farm animals,” 1991
[3] Kersting, W.H., “The Computation of Neutral and Dirt
Currents and Power Losses,” 2003 IEEE PES
Rng Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exhibition,
Premises Vol. 3, 7-12 Sept. 2003, pp. 978-983.
Ground
[4] Kersting, W.H., “Center-Tapped Transformer and 120-
/240-V Secondary Models,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., Vol.
45, No. 2, Mar./Apr. 2009, pp. 575-581
VI. VITA
Peter E. Sutherland received the Ph.D. degree in Electric
Power Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy,
NY.
In 1987, he joined General Electric Company, Schenectady,
NY, and held a variety of positions, becoming a Senior
Engineer in the GE Power Systems Energy Consulting
Department. He is currently a Lead Consultant with GE
Energy Services in Schenectady NY. Author of numerous
technical papers, he is active in the IEEE Industry Applications
Society, and in the IEEE Schenectady Section. Dr. Sutherland
is a Registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania, Maine
New York and New Jersey.

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