I went along the BPA trail in Federal Way WA yesterday. Short trip, but fun weaving back and forth, up and down along the high tension wire corridor. But, as I approached the high grounds and could hear the buzz from the wires, I got a tingle every time I touched the brake levers. Is this common for all bikes? Or for electric bikes? Or does my bike have a ground fault?
Shocking Experience
- Thread starter Bob RN
- Start date
Tars Tarkas
Well-Known Member
I don't know but there is a lot of electricity in the air around those wires. A non-contact voltage tester pen will light up like crazy if you hold it on as you ride under the wires.
I really don't know about the health implications but I can't imagine they are good. Just to look at the space, it seems like a bike trail along the path of high-tension wires might be a good thing, but I'm not so sure.
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TT
I really don't know about the health implications but I can't imagine they are good. Just to look at the space, it seems like a bike trail along the path of high-tension wires might be a good thing, but I'm not so sure.
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Johny Rocket
Active Member
- Region
- USA
There is no ground fault. The tingle you feel is static electricity generated by the high voltage lines. The slight difference in electrical potential between your body vs the bike allows for a static charge to move across the conductor that is your metal brake lever.
I suspect that it was an unusually low humidity environment/ day and would not be something that always happens.
I suspect that it was an unusually low humidity environment/ day and would not be something that always happens.
Tars Tarkas
Well-Known Member
From the US Environmental Protection Agency's website:
There are two general kinds of electromagnetic radiation: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is powerful enough to knock electrons out of their orbit around an atom. This process is called ionization and can be damaging to a body’s cells. Non-ionizing radiation has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around and cause them to vibrate, which makes the atom heat up, but not enough to remove the electrons from the atoms.
The waves from power lines and electrical devices have a much lower frequency than other types of EMR, such as microwaves, radio waves or gamma rays. However, a low frequency wave does not necessarily mean that it is low energy; a charging cable for a phone produces a low frequency, low energy electromagnetic field, while a high-tension power line can create a much higher energy electromagnetic field that is still low in frequency.
EMR associated with power lines is a type of low frequency non-ionizing radiation. Electric fields are produced by electric charges, and magnetic fields are produced by the flow of electrical current through wires or electrical devices. Because of this, low frequency EMR is found in close proximity to electrical sources such as power lines. As current moves through a power line, it creates a magnetic field called an electromagnetic field. The strength of the EMF is proportional to the amount of electrical current passing through the power line and decreases as you move farther away. Because of this property, the exposure to an electromagnetic field you would receive from a power line decreases with distance.
About Electric and Magnetic Fields from Power Lines
Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together through space. An example of electromagnetic radiation is visible light. Electromagnetic radiation can range from low to high frequency, which is measured in hertz, and can range from low to high energy, which is measured in electron volts. Wavelength, another term associated with electromagnetic radiation, is the distance from the peak of one wave to the next.There are two general kinds of electromagnetic radiation: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is powerful enough to knock electrons out of their orbit around an atom. This process is called ionization and can be damaging to a body’s cells. Non-ionizing radiation has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around and cause them to vibrate, which makes the atom heat up, but not enough to remove the electrons from the atoms.
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
Electromagnetic fields associated with electricity are a type of low frequency, non-ionizing radiation, and they can come from both natural and man-made sources. For example, lightning during a thunderstorm creates electromagnetic radiation because it creates a current between the sky and the ground. Surrounding that current is an electromagnetic field. One example is the Earth's magnetic field. We are always in the Earth’s magnetic field, which is generated at the Earth’s core. This magnetic field makes compasses work and is also used by pigeons and fish to navigate. The image below shows the range of frequencies for different forms of electromagnetic radiation found in the electromagnetic spectrum.The waves from power lines and electrical devices have a much lower frequency than other types of EMR, such as microwaves, radio waves or gamma rays. However, a low frequency wave does not necessarily mean that it is low energy; a charging cable for a phone produces a low frequency, low energy electromagnetic field, while a high-tension power line can create a much higher energy electromagnetic field that is still low in frequency.
EMR associated with power lines is a type of low frequency non-ionizing radiation. Electric fields are produced by electric charges, and magnetic fields are produced by the flow of electrical current through wires or electrical devices. Because of this, low frequency EMR is found in close proximity to electrical sources such as power lines. As current moves through a power line, it creates a magnetic field called an electromagnetic field. The strength of the EMF is proportional to the amount of electrical current passing through the power line and decreases as you move farther away. Because of this property, the exposure to an electromagnetic field you would receive from a power line decreases with distance.
What You Can Do
If you are concerned about possible health risks from electric and magnetic fields, you can:- Increase the distance between yourself and the source. The greater the distance between you and the source of EMF, the lower your exposure.
- Limit the time spent around the source. The less time you spend near EMF, the lower your exposure.
The first time I pulled my sailboat out of the river, I didn't pay attention (actually wouldn't have realized it would be an issue) and stopped under high power lines to drop the mast. Still big distance between mast head and lines, got more than a tingle; almost sent me off the boat 7' to the ground. Always looked up after that!
Neverlost99
Member
Had a friend loose a son to that
Read the other day that you can generally tell the voltage of the line by counting the number of insulator disks. Each disk is good for 19,000 volts. And no, you won't get sick from living near power lines. Like the previous commenter said, it's non-ionizing, so no cell damage.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
well unless your tinfoil helmet is too thick.
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