Corrosion Technical

Stray  Current Interference

Definitions by NACE International
Stray Current: Current through paths other than the intended circuit.
Electrical Interference: Any electrical disturbance on a metallic structure in contact with an electrolyte caused by stray current(s).
Taken together we get Stray Current Interference.

Disclaimer: This text is adapted from a discussion in on LinkedIn. The information is offered as is, without any guarantee of it accuracy or applicability to a particular situation or facility. The information must not be relied upon for any design or testing or decision making. Testing cathodic protection systems and AC equipment must always be performed by persons trained in electrical safety and other topics.

Corrosion of metal water pipes and other buried facilities can be caused by stray current interference. Susceptible pipe materials: ductile iron pipe (DIP), cast iron pipe (CIP), concrete pipe with steel linings (PCCP) and welded metal pipe.

When the conditions are suitable for stray current interference and mitigation factors are not employed then yes, you can have accelerated corrosion problems. Stray current is also a bugaboo that people point to when they find corrosion. Verification is fairly easily determined by a trained CP expert.

Stray current caused by direct current (DC); cathodic protection (CP) systems and traction power transit systems: Stray on other buried utilities and structures should be considered as a part of the design and operation of CP systems and traction power transit systems. Designs features to minimize the risk of stray current interference include carefully selecting anode bed location, rerouting one or both pipelines, and installing additional CP test stations at strategic and crossing points. For traction power systems, the track-to-earth resistance should be maintained above a set minimum. A typical acceptable uniformly distributed track-to-earth resistance is 500 ohms per 1,000 feet of track (two rails). Additional CP on the buried utilities near the tracks can also reduce the risk of corrosion.

AC induced corrosion: High voltage overhead transmission wires can induce AC voltage onto buried structures and elevated VAC is a risk factor for AC corrosion. Apparently buried AC lines in utility tunnels and ducts are less of a problem. Anyways...

Evaluation and mitigation of AC induced corrosion by high voltage overhead transmission wires requires more specialized design and testing. Many papers and standards on the topic are published by NACE International. Pipeline AC voltage must be kept below 15 VAC to prevent touch shock hazard and sometimes this requires professional technical design and testing. AC induced corrosion phenomenon is strongly correlated with lower soil resistivity along with increased pipeline AC voltage. Papers I have reviewed indicate that AC induced corrosion can occur when conditions are right and the pipe AC potential is below 15 VAC, so....

You asked how common is stray current interference. I think stray current is occurring somewhere on a pipe somewhere at all times.

 Cathodic Protection for Cars

I don't believe these devices are effective, and I'm an expert in corrosion control. Before purchasing an electronic corrosion control sytem for your automobile read what corrosion control experts have published.

PUBLISHED REFERENCES

A primer on Electronic Corrosion Protection for cars at the website of NACE International -The Corrosion Society (Formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers).

"Cars and Cathodic Protection: Watch out for fraudulent gadgets!" by Harry Webster, Materials Performance, June 2001, p. 8.  (Materials Performance is a journal published by NACE International)

Robert Baboian, State of the Art in Automobile Cathodic Protection, Proceedings of the 5th Automotive Corrosion and Prevention Conference, P-250, SAE International, Warrendale, PA, USA, August 1991  (SAE International was formerly called The Society of Automotive Engineers)  Paper no. 912270

Robert Baboian, Cathodic Protection of Automobiles-Does it Work?, Materials Performance, Vol. 26, No. 7, 1987

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC)
In 1996, the FTC fined David McCready and ordered him to pay $200,000 in consumer redress and stop marketing and selling his“Rust Evader”. Dave McCready was also ordered to no longer sell products with warranties with conditions (conditioning warranty coverage or Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. 2302(c),) requiring customers to purchase factory authorized maintenance service before honoring warranty claims. The FTC issued a press release and the final judgment.
 
CAR TALK RADIO PROGRAM
If you don't believe me, consider what the folks at Car Talk on PBS, have to say about this type of product.
      
BRAND NAMES
As of October 2011, various electronic devices purporting to provide corrosion control for cars are marketed under these trademarked names.
Rusterminator
RustStop®
Couplertec
ELECTRO-SHIELD™ PATENTED RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITOR
CounterAct Electronic Rust Protection System Rust Evader® system
Neo Rust Evader

CANADIAN TIRE

I am disappointed to report that Canadian Tire sells the CounterAct System Product # 47-7905-6 for $299.99 plus installation at an extra cost.   The five year warranty applies only to cars that started out free of rust, is a shorter warranty term than most auto body warranties and requires documented annual checkups at the location where the unit was installed.  I bet that Canadian Tire calculates that they will never have to pay out a warranty claim.  The testimonials at Canadian Tire appear to be from people that take very good care of their cars, so how much of the car durability can be attributed to fake CP systems.  I think none, and I am an expert in corrosion control.

TECHNICAL EXPLANATIONS and SCIENTIFIC Mumbo Gumbo

• Electrostatic corrosion control technology

• Cathodic Protection (Used in the earliest marketing literature, but dropped)

• Electronic Rust Control Rustproofing

• Capacitive Coupling

These scientific words are often used to answer the "How does it work?"questions.  I believe the terms are made up nonsense.  If the terms are real, they are misused or are used out of proper context.

TESTIMONIALS
The testimonials on the websites, product reviews and in car discussion forums can be explained by two simple and reasonable arguments.

1. The people that buy these devices are also people that clean and maintain their cars more than the general population.

2. Car manufacturers have improved the paint application process over the years, so many cars from 1992 and newer have less rust than old cars that we remember from earlier periods.

Another thing to consider is these devices are not standard factory equipment on automobiles.  It is likely because the auto manufacturers employ experts to estimate warranty claims for body rust and the costs of corrosion control in the design and manufacture.  The car companies have determined that the devices are not effective at reducing those warranty claims and reducing corrosion and their costs.  Car companies don't install these devices because CP for cars is not effective.  Your local car dealership will take your money, but they are not experts in corrosion control, so why give them money for corrosion control.

 Dealer installed Body-Gard® Electronic Corrosion Control Module
I examined a system installed in an acquaintance's Ford F250



This guy is a carpenter and needs a reliable truck for his work.  He went to the Ford dealer for an F250 pick-up truck.



The Ford dealer in Ontario offered a dealer add-on for the Sym-Tech Body-Gard® Electronic Corrosion Control Module.

The hardware consists of a 4-inch by 2 -inch module in a head sink enclosure.  A red wire connects the unit to the vehicle battery positive terminal. The red wire includes an in-line glass fuse.
A blue wire connects the module to an adhesive pad placed below the windshield on the passenger side.





At the Sym-Tech website, I was unable to find warranty information or technical claims as to what the system actually does.

The website includes a video that shows current flowing across the car including along the plastic bumper of a 4-dour compact car.  Sym-Tech has a slick website but at $500 a pop you can get a website and a contract Chinese manufacturer to fabricate these units for less than $20 per unit.

Sym-Tech includes a linkedin profile for the company.  It appears to me that they don't employ technical corrosion control people.  The President and COO is named Brad and he is an accountant with a extensive marketing experience.
The job descriptions of former Sym-tech employees are

Marketing Specialist
Regional Manager
Senior VP Finance, Warranty & Operations
Manager of Dealer Support Team & CRM
Accounting Assistant
These titles do not include jobs of corrosion control expert.

I see no difference between this system and systems sold under other brand names.