This article was posted 04/29/2010 and is most likely outdated.

Toronto Dogs - Stray Voltage Continues
 

 

Topic - Stray Voltage
Subject - Toronto Dogs - Stray Voltage Continues

April 29, 2010
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Sorry, Toronto dogs: Stray voltage problems won't go away

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Posted: January 07, 2010, 6:30 AM by Rob Roberts

This enormous five-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Schroeder (he weighs close to 50 kilograms) was being walked on a Toronto street when he stepped on a small asphalt patch on the sidewalk and was shocked. This lucky dog lived to tell the tale!

After two dogs died from stray voltage last winter, Toronto Hydro last February did a month-long blitz with all its employees, and discovered 1,600 instances of contact voltage which they repaired. Toronto Hydro says that, despite its efforts (it has spent $14.4-million tracking and fixing stray voltage) this problem will continue to plague the city -- and threaten the dogs.

The main culprit are small “handwell covers” that house the wiring of street lights, a network that Toronto Hydro in 2005 took over from the City of Toronto. Toronto Hydro uses fibreglass for its new covers. Going forward, Hydro has contracted Power Survey Co., of New Jersey, which has three trucks permanently sweeping Toronto, searching for stray voltage.

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Comments
  • To all theoretical and practical electrical engineers,

    What I sent to Mike Holt’s Forum is a very important question that needs to be answered immediately. Anyone who touches the metal street light pole or traffic pole with stray voltage will get an electric shock. This problem needs to be solved. Remember, all people in the United States including electrical engineers are waiting for an answer.

    Existing lamppost has no grounding rod, but has four anchor rods encased in cement. Adding a grounding rod is not possible in New York City because of all the underground infrastructure. If it was possible though, doesn’t this just add a second potential?

    Would isolation transformer help if neutral was not connected to pole in any way? 88% of the stray voltage poles are from failed and unbalanced neutrals. If not how is this application different from the use in hospital or staging application of isolation transformers?

    You haven’t given an answer to my question. Your answer is not clear and to the point.

    My Question Your Answer My Comments A. Stray voltage What do you mean stray voltage? Stray voltage on metal street light pole or traffic pole 1. Grounding and bonding Follow the Code Not a practical answer 2. Isolation transformer, it doesn’t help, why? Isolation transformer won’t solve an energized pole hazard You didn’t provide the answer “why” (see attached drawing) 3. Bracket with luminaire on wood pole should be grounded You didn’t answer See attached drawing B. Size of fuse for street light luminaire(s) Fuse are optional (recommended) Not a practical answer C. Size of wire for street light luminaire(s)

    100-watt luminaire, 150-watt luminaire, 250-watt luminaire (120-volt); Not a practical answer

    What I need is a concrete answer! Please don’t inform me to search the rest of the Internet for answer.

    Yakov Shmayevich

    Yakov Shmayevich

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