Experiment Wire dropped to ground Step voltage

Today we're going to be a little crazy...

I decided to conduct an experiment: to clearly demonstrate what step voltage is and how it changes with a change in step width.

At the end of the article, you can watch the video version of the experiment

But first, a little reference for those who do not understand what it is about: when a live wire falls to the ground, a dangerous current spread zone forms around it. At different points of this zone - a different value of the potential. And the farther these points are from each other, the higher this very potential. In other words, there is a voltage between points on the ground and it is higher, the greater the distance.

Once in such a zone, without even touching the wire, a person can be shocked. The recommendation here is simple: you need to go as far as possible. It is believed that the danger zone of electric shock does not extend beyond 20 meters. This is the distance you need to evacuate.

You just have to take very small steps. The smaller the step, the less tension between the legs.

This is the statement that we will now check with you.

And so... The experiment area and the observation point are separated by 15 meters.

In our experiment, 220 volts is used. and 15 meters is enough to feel safe.

The value of the data obtained depends on the voltage on the fallen wire, soil moisture, soil composition ... what exactly the wire fell on (maybe on dry grass or a tree, or maybe in a puddle ...).

It also matters what kind of shoes a person has. The best case is rubber, the worst case is barefoot.

Here is my vantage point. Here I will apply voltage to the fallen wire and record the readings of the voltmeter - what is the voltage between different points of the ground.

Using a white carrier, I apply voltage to a fallen wire, and a black one for measurements.

I make all connections with the transfer turned off. I connect one end of the aluminum wire to the outlet ...

... and the second stuck in the ground.

The first stage of the experiment is the exit with small, side steps. As current-collecting elements, we will use slate nails that we stick into the ground.

The distance between the points is about 10-15 cm.

Attention! Everyone is out of the danger zone! Let's turn it on!

Readings are taken on the red scale. Values ​​must be multiplied by 2 (because the switch is set to a limit of 60V, and the scale limit is 30V)

What do we see? About 5 volts!

Indeed… Within safe voltage range…

Now let's increase the step to 40cm.

I do all the switching, having previously disconnected the white carrier from the network. Want to live...

I'm leaving for the observation post and ... I turn it on!

Scale value… 11V. Multiply by 2 ... it turns out 22 V.

Indeed, the potential difference is growing!!! It's getting more dangerous!

Now, increase the step to 1 meter!!! The maximum step that the average person can take.

At this stage, the voltmeter showed 60 volts!!! Unfortunately, I don’t have this frame (I accidentally deleted it), but take my word for it, it happened!

Now imagine if a wire falls not from 220V, but from 10,000 V or 35 kV ....

The potential difference, even at a small incremental step, will be on the verge of critical values. A wide step can collide with hundreds and even thousands of volts.

Here is the promised Video version of the experiment:

I hope the information was useful for you!!!