Have to throw my 2 cents in.
This “phantom voltage” and “phantom current” also I’ve heard it called “residual current” although can be innocuous in some cases but in other cases it can be very real and very deadly.
The voltage detector probe (“tic tracer” is one brand) mentioned in a previous post may indicates a voltage present on a conductor or cable assembly that is not connected to anything if that cable assembly is running along side energized conductors . In a 120v application the capacitive coupling places a very small voltage on the cable assembly which is not connected and as pointed out in other posts this very small voltage will be “swamped” if loaded by an analog meter, wiggy or other load. On the other hand if this same cable assembly or conductor is running alongside of some higher voltage cable for some significant length then the voltage now induced on the disconnected cable / wire can be significant enough to injure or kill. As scott35 pointed out due to XL and XC . Primarily capacitive coupling (I wouldn’t call or characterize it as “static induction”).
Real world example: I have had some qualified persons suggest that the voltage measured from the phase leg to ground of an ungrounded delta system is a “phantom voltage” and that they further believe that since the system is an ungrounded system (not connected to surrounding / earth via grounding electrode) that touching the phase leg (with that “phantom voltage” will not have any adverse effects since the ungrounded system is not grounded (connected to surrounding / earth) and there is no path back to the voltage source for current to flow. WRONG !! The capacitive coupling of all the motor windings and conductors running through the facility along side conduits (which are connected to surroundings / earth) as well as the transformer itself will create a capacitor effect (conductors separated by a dielectric / insulator) and will pass current. Anyone touching that phase leg in that ungrounded delta system will be touching an energized conductor WITH a REAL VOLTAGE on it and be electrocuted. Phantom Voltage my A*# !
Another real world accident I had the misfortune to investigate: Electrical workers (alleged qualified persons) replacing a feeder which was 13.8kv as I recall. Before they cut the cable a worker in the vault measured the current and said there was about 2 amps on the feeder circuit to which the foreman replied “That’s Just RESIDUAL CURRENT, go ahead and cut the wire”! Guess what happened –major arc flash. Thank goodness the worker did not loose his life but sustained injuries. HELLO! 2 amps at 13.8kv is equal to 27.6 kva that’s REAL POWER ! RESIDUAL CURRENT my A*# !
Voltage is voltage and current is current! Voltage is real and current is real! Voltage is the pressure that will cause current to flow if a path is provided and current at as low as about 30ma / .03 amps will electrocute a human adult,
Please Please gentlemen as professionals, lets stop perpetuating these misleading and inaccurate terms, at least for the benefit of the new folks were training and teaching in this profession.
Thank you for your indulgence and be safe out there !
OSHA Professor - Grizzy
