TINGLE VOLTAGE

What is it and How Does it Impact Business, Particularly Agriculture?

On September 20, 2016, the local Tri County Chapter of the OEL (Ontario Electrical League) met at The Polish Hall in Brantford to hear Dr. Magda Havas, an Environmental Scientist from Trent University, speak on the subject of Tingle Voltage. Sharing the speaker’s podium with Dr. Havas were Peter Stern, Princeton-area dairy farmer and local advocate for action, Lorne Lantz of Lantz Control Systems (Wellesley, ON) and Malcolm Brown, Technical Advisor Western Region, ESA (Electrical Safety Authority).

Dr. Magda Havas is a respected authority on the subject of Tingle Voltage, also known as ground current pollution, and stray voltage. Ground current pollution comes from electricity flowing through the ground, electricity that can be measured. Tests on farms have shown that two poles connected by an electrical wire will conduct electricity that will measure 60 hertz on a scope meter, even when the power to the farm is turned off. Where current is going back into the ground, it can be measured, and while usually measurable in low voltages, volts as high as 2 to 6.5 have been measured. The greater the current, the more serious the problems for livestock and humans. In agricultural areas, the ground current pollution can impact animals on the farm; for example, milk production and the health of cows are impacted detrimentally. Examples of ground current pollution exist in cities and suburban areas, also impacting people and pets.

Why is Ground Current a Problem Today?

One key reason ground current is a serious problem, according to Dr. Havas, is that much of our electrical distribution infrastructure is antiquated. When electrical wires are updated, some of the utilities that distribute our electricity are taking a short-cut to save money and are connecting the neutral wires to ground and using the ground to return the unbalanced current to the source. What this means is that electricity is flowing through the earth.

• When an animal is in contact with the earth, the electricity can flow through its body. The greater the current, the greater the flow through the animal. The levels are so high in some parts of Ontario that they are adversely affecting animals.

• Animals won’t drink as much because they get a shock when their mouth or tongue touches the water. They feel tingle current flowing through their body and they need to break the circuit (by lifting a foot) to temporarily reduce the flow. In a barn with a serious ground current problem, the animals are twitching, flicking their tails, and lifting their feet as though they were dancing. The “dance” is one of agitation and not of joy. These affected animals can suffer painful health problems, produce less milk, and are at risk for miscarriages and even possible death.

• In some cases, ground current comes from an on-farm source that farmers can remediate. But often, it is due to ground current from the utility’s distribution system, something that only the utility can remediate. Government involvement to address this problem is the best option.

TINGLE VOLTAGE

So What Does this Mean and Where Does this Leave Us?

Fixing the problem means treating ground current pollution in the same way that pollution from dumping sewage, or toxic waste is handled. Government and the utility distributors need to work together to correct the problem. By the way, ground current occurs in cities as well. It comes into your home via the plumbing and other grounded metallic objects. It has been linked to childhood leukemia and may contribute to other cancers. (Wertheimer, Nancy, David Savitz, Ed Leeper. 1995. “Childhood Cancer in Relation to Indicators of Magnetic Fields from Ground Current Sources.” Bioelectromagnetics. 16:86-96). So living in a city doesn’t mean you avoid ground current pollution.

How Can You Help?

One key reason ground current is a serious problem, according to Dr. Havas, is that much of our electrical distribution infrastructure is antiquated. When electrical wires are updated, some of the utilities that distribute our electricity are taking a short-cut to save money and are connecting the neutral wires to ground and using the ground to return the unbalanced current to the source. What this means is that electricity is flowing through the earth.

• Your local MPP

• Rick Nicholls, who introduced Bill 161

• Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

• Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

• Your local OSPCA

• Farm associations like the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario

• Other Provincial and Federal Agricultural Organizations

Learn as much as you can about ground current pollution and share the information with others. For additional information, visit Dr. Havas’ website where you will find a selection of interesting articles, research papers and videos.

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HEATING SEASON IS COMING

Don’t Leave Things to the Last Minute!

The beautiful Fall weather won’t last forever, and heating season will be here before you know it.

As the cool weather approaches, check your furnace motors, heating pumps, and direct-drive blowers.

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GILBERT-MCEACHERN AROUND TOWN

Annual BBQ and Trade Show

We were pleased to host our BBQ and Trade Show on May 18th, catered by Strodes and featuring live music by local music personality, Steven Ryan. Many of our great suppliers participated, including:

Savory Electric and Gilbert-McEachern Electric Ltd. were pleased to offer a new bike as a draw item and the winner was Al Proctor!

Jewel Radio Ads on Local Radio

Have you heard us on our local 92.1 FM radio station? We are proud of our involvement with The Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation and recent ads have featured that relationship.