| |
|
|
|
|
Office: 937-383-0001
Fax: 937-383-0003
Hours:
7:30 - 4:30 (EST) |
Email us at:
info@rerc.org |
|
|
|
| Stray voltage is not just a dairy farm issue, it now includes swimming pools,
boat docks, hot tubs and campgrounds. This training covers the full aspects of stray voltage,
including common sources, voltage/current levels of concern as defined by different states,
measuring procedures and equipment, animal response to different SV levels, and how to solve the
problem. Examples and visuals are used, and emphasis can be placed on non-farm situations and
solutions if needed. Tips on developing company policies and procedures are included, as well as
stray voltage case studies from several states |
|
|
 |
Course expectations & teaching method |
|
Overview of packet/materials |
|
Role of the customer service rep vs. the professional stray voltage investigator |
|
|
Understanding current and voltage |
|
What stray voltage is (special case of neutral-to-earth voltage) |
|
What stray voltage is not (emf, ground currents, ley lines, etc.) |
|
What voltage/current measurements are important (animal contact points) |
|
The conditions for cows vs. pigs vs. chickens |
|
What voltage/current levels are important (what are the cows doing and what is pathway) |
|
|
Response of animals and humans to current |
|
Factors affecting sensitivity |
|
USDA Stray Voltage Handbook (what does it say vs. what people say it says) |
|
Animal behavior and response to other stimulus producing similar results |
|
Human response-demonstration with volunteers |
|
|
On-farm sources of stray voltage (faulty equipment/wiring, electric fences, etc.) for
(1) dairy, (2) swine, and (3) poultry |
|
Off-farm sources of stray voltage (faulty equipment, neutral voltage, etc.) |
|
Non-farm situations (swimming pools, water front docks, campground showers, appliances in home, sprinklers and irrigation, RV parks) |
|
Combinations of on- and off-farm sources |
|
Understanding the interactions between on-farm and off-farm systems |
|
|
Methods and procedures; surveys vs. investigations |
|
Instrumentation (voltmeters, ammeters, leads, resistors, recorders, etc.) |
|
Equipment advantage/disadvantages |
|
Flow charts and checklists |
|
Limits of investigative techniques--what you can and cannot expect |
|
The importance of keeping good records |
|
A few case studies |
|
|
NEC requirements in agricultural buildings |
|
NEC requirements regarding non-farm stray voltage |
|
|
Equipotential planes |
|
Equipment installation techniques |
|
Grounding in agricultural buildings vs. distribution lines (NEC vs. NESC) |
|
Commonly encountered NEC violations |
|
|
Identify and fix broken equipment/wiring |
|
Equipotential planes: new vs. retrofit |
|
3-wire vs. 4-wire service |
|
|
Neutral isolation methods |
|
Evaluating applications, limitations, codes, and standards |
|
Devices & saturable reactors |
|
|
What are the legal issues in typical stray voltage lawsuits (negligence, implied warranty) |
|
What are the potential losses, costs, and damages (utility vs. producer) |
|
Who gets to make the decisions (insurance company adjusters and/or attorneys) |
|
What can I do to avoid litigation |
|
|
What are the PUC or PSC rules I have to operate under |
|
The company's policy: what every employee/layperson should know |
|
What the in-depth investigator should know and the tools they need |
|
Complaint procedures: response time, how long to test and monitor |
|
Communication/education programs |
|
Accepting the producer's concerns |
|
Possible consumer responses |
|
Documentation/record-keeping |
|
How does your organization measure up |
|
|
| |
|
|
