This Isn't Your Father's Stray Voltage Anymore (Suggested Terminology to Better Define Today's Problems)

The formerly undefined term "stray voltage" was generally accepted as referring to the low neutral-to-earth voltages found on customer equipment, especially on isolated farms and in residential kitchens, bathrooms and on outside faucets. Today, "stray voltage" is being used to refer to any situation where the public is receiving shocks, no matter the cause or voltage level. This usage of the term by the uninformed popular press, which has been reinforced by the lack of clarification by industry spokespeople, has led to an escalation of unfounded fear by the public. This paper suggests that different, more descriptive terms be used to clarify the various manifestations of elevated voltages appearing in unexpected places