Doodlebug Pump -- WHAT IS STRAY CURRENT?

Stray current is an opportunistic current that seeks all low-impedance paths to ground rather than using the ground path provided by the Power Company. The result is that stray current will use any available conductive path to a ground path. this path can consist of devices or equipment (water heaters, air conditioning units, pump, piping, valves, decorative covers, garbage disposals, etc.

The post problematic conductive path starts through an item made of metal is in contact with a conductive fluid(see conductive fluids)that in turn is in contact with another item made of metal that has an electrical potential closer to ground than the originating metal item. When stray current uses this type of path, it will become a destructive and costly problem.