Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 31 - Public Utilities Commission
Rule 31.61.01 - RULES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF STRAY CURRENT OR VOLTAGE (STRAY VOLTAGE RULES)
TESTING AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES
Section 31.61.01.073 - TEST 1 - COW CONTACT TEST
Current through August 31, 2023
01. Purpose. This test is to determine the location(s), if any, where stray current or voltage exceeds the PAL and to identify the location(s) at which the cow contact voltage will be recorded in the forty-eight (48) hour test. (4-6-23)
02. Selection of Cow Contact Points. The selection of cow contact points to be tested shall include a sufficient number of locations reasonably likely to demonstrate the presence of stray voltage or current, if any. (4-6-23)
03. Conducting the Test. The voltage across the shunt resistor or current through the shunt resistor shall be measured between cow contact points as shown in Figure 1. The source resistance shall be calculated during analysis for all cow contact points. (4-6-23)
04. Recording the Data. The person conducting this test shall record the location of, and measured values at, each test point. At each cow contact location, an open circuit voltage reading (Voc) and a voltage with five hundred (500) ohm nominal shunt resistor placed across the input to the meter (Vshunt) shall be taken. These readings shall be taken with ten (10) seconds or less time between each reading. Alternatively, a current measurement (Ishunt) may be taken in place of the voltage reading (Vshunt) . Data for these test points shall be recorded on the form in Appendix 1. (4-6-23)
05. Source Resistance Calculation. The source resistance (Rsource) shall be calculated for each cow contact location measured and the value recorded in Appendix 1. The following formulas shall be used to calculate source resistance.
(4-6-23)