title: A model for characterizing residential ground current and magnetic field fluctuations.
abstract: The current through the residential grounding circuit is an important source for magnetic fields; field variations near the grounding circuit accurately track fluctuations in this ground current. In this paper, a model is presented which permits calculation of the range of these fluctuations. A discrete network model is used to simulate a local distribution system for a single street, and a statistical model to simulate unbalanced currents in the system. Simulations of three-house and ten-house networks show that random appliance operation leads to ground current fluctuations which can be quite large, on the order of 600%. This is consistent with measured fluctuations in an actual house.
authors.affiliation: Ontario Hydro Technologies, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sherar
mesh_terms: D004560:Electricity; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009864:Ontario