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Voltage Quality

Radio, Television and Cordless Phone Interference
Interference occurs when a high frequency signal distorts the incoming signal to the cable or antenna input of televisions, radios or cordless telephones. Often a television screen will become “snowy” and a radio or cordless phone will develop static in a home with interference issues.

Interference Causes

Almost anything that uses electricity can generate interference. The following is a list of some of the most common causes:

• Power tools or lighting systems used in the home or by a neighbor
• Appliances with small electric motors such as blenders, mixers, saws and blow dryers
• Other electric items that often cause interference include fluorescent lights, door bell transformers, fish tank pumps, water bed heaters and heat pads
• Loose or overloaded electrical connections in your home or a neighbor's home
• Lightning
• Occurrences in the utility system such as loose connections and damaged or aging equipment

Interference Solutions

• Turn on the appliance with the interference issue
• Flip the various circuit breakers off, one by one
• When the interference disappears, you have found the circuit that is causing the interference
• Next turn the circuit back on and locate everything on the suspect circuit
• Individually turn each item off until you find the culprit
• If this does not identify the cause, the cause may be interference from a neighbor, the utility company components or your home's wiring. Contact your electric utility company or a qualified electrician.

What is stray voltage?
Stray voltage is the non-technical term for “neutral-to-earth” voltage. It occurs frequently in barns, as a result of poor or deteriorating wiring, faulty equipment or improper grounding. It is usually low-level voltage (typically less than 10 volts) that humans can't even detect, but it can be harmful to livestock because of their heightened sensitivity. Stray voltage causes electrical current to flow through an animal when it simultaneously touches two surfaces with different voltages.

Stray voltage doesn't kill livestock, but it can give mild shocks that often lead to abnormal behavior and poor performance. If you can detect shocks when coming into contact with water pipes or equipment in your barn, you should call a qualified electrical contractor immediately to make sure that wiring meets the minimum requirements.

Improper grounding is a safety problem?
Proper use of grounding wires on electrical equipment is required in all buildings. However, this is a common oversight on many farms. Improper grounding is not only a cause of stray voltage, but it is also a safety hazard. If you suspect that you have a grounding problem, have a licensed electrician inspect the wiring on your farm to determine if it meets all requirements for livestock buildings.

Preventing stray voltage
Work with a licensed electrician to make sure that all livestock buildings and milking centers are wired according to the special requirements given in the National Electric Code (Article 547). Have the wiring properly inspected. In new milking parlors, installation of an equipotential plane is highly recommended.

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