UK Power Networks

Why do birds sit on wires and not get killed?

Electric current always wants to find a way to get to the ground but, because birds aren't touching the ground or anything that's in contact with the ground, the electric current won't flow through them
How many volts are there in a bolt of lightning?

About 1,000,000,000 volts!
How can some people get struck by lightning but not be killed?

It is not necessarily the voltage that will kill you, it's the electric current (the continuous flow of electricity).
What is static electricity?

What we commonly call 'static electricity' is a build up of electric charge that can't go anywhere, as it is not connected to an electric circuit or some other means where it can flow to form an electric current. Static electricity is the build up of the charge that can cause high voltages to be created.
What voltage is static electricity?

Between 20,000 and 30,000 volts.
What's the highest voltage I can touch without being electrocuted?

You can't say how few volts will kill because inside your body is a special sort of electric current that activates your heart and other muscles. It also makes your nerves work. Any extra electric charge put into one's body can upset that balance and cause a heart attack. There have been incidents of a child dying as a result of touching a battery with their tongue - don't take risks, treat electricity with respect.
Where does electric current come from?

Electric current is generated in power stations that burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), nuclear power stations, wind turbines, hydro-electric power stations, solar panels and biomass.
Why do some substations have roofs on them and others don't?

There are many reasons. The location (rural, housing estate) and type of equipment within the substation.
What should I do in a thunderstorm?

"If thunder roars, go indoors" - because no place outside is safe when lightning is in the area.
Why does electric current want to get to the ground?

It's just the nature of electric current to move from an area of higher voltage to an area of lower voltage, if it is given a path to travel there. The ground is the lowest-voltage area, so, if you give electric current a path to the ground, it will take it, no questions asked! When electricity goes into the ground, the Earth absorbs its energy.
Why didn't Benjamin Franklin get electrocuted when he flew a kite in an electrical storm?

Benjamin Franklin's famous key did give off an electric spark. But lucky for Franklin, the kite was just drawing small electrical charges from the air. If the kite had actually been struck by lightning, Franklin would have been killed!
Can you put a plastic or wooden knife into a toaster?

No, unless it is turned off at the mains.
Can you get electrocuted if you touch metal during a lightning storm?

No, unless a lightening bolt strikes the metal you are touching.
How many volts would kill someone?

The nerves and muscles in your body rely on very very low levels of electricity to work. Even small amounts of extra electricity can upset the careful balance and could cause a heart attack. There have been reports of a child dying as a result of putting a battery on the tongue! Do not take risks, treat electricity with respect.
If pylons are made of metal and metal conducts, why does the electricity not travel from the power line to the pylon?

Insulators made out of porcelain, glass or resin support the power lines and keep them apart from the metal structure. Insulators do not conduct electric current.
Why does the electricity not jump from the substation transformer to the metal substation fence?

Careful calculations are made to ensure the fences around substations are placed at a safe distance from the live electricity inside. Never poke sticks or anything else through the substation fence.

Did you know?

Save energy - Use energy efficient light bulbs and, when you are leaving a room empty, remember to turn the lights off.
All electrical appliances are rated in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) ( One kilowatt is the same as 1,000 watts). You can use the ratings to compare how much electricity they use.
Electricity used at home is metered in 'units' or kilowatt hours (kWh). Each unit is the same as 1,000 watts of electricity used for 1 hour. 1 unit = 1kWh.
Save energy - Finished playing on your games console or other equipment? Remember to switch off!
Michael Faraday (1791-1867) is one of the most famous people involved in the discovery and harnessing of electromagnetic force.
In August 1887 the London Electric Supply Corporation commissioned Ferranti to build the first power station. Today our electricity supply is still based on the system that Ferranti designed.
What is a volt? And why is it called a volt? The volt measures electromotive force. It was named after the Italian inventor Alessandro Volta (1745-1827)
In the 1780s, Alessandro Volta invented the first battery - all because of Luigi Galvani's experiments with dead frogs.
Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931 is one of the most successful inventors ever, applying for over 1,300 patents by 1910, mainly to do with electrical or mechanical development.
High voltage electricity is carried across the country by pylons and 'stepped down' for domestic use at substations. The National Grid supplies electricity all over the country.
In 15 minutes, the sun radiates as much energy onto Earth as all the people on the planet during an entire year. Just imagine if we could channel the sun's energy effectively!
The first turbine engines were designed by Charles Parson (1854-1931). Today turbine engines used to generate electricity are still based on his designs.
What is a watt? Why is it called a watt? It's a unit measuring electric power, named after James Watt (1736-1819).
Electric shock victims often can't let go of the thing that is passing the electric current into their body. That's because the electricity makes their muscles contract.
In 1831 Michael Faraday demonstrated electromagnetic force at the the Royal Institution in London, a famous centre for scientific education and research.
Save energy - Don't forget to switch your TV and computer off when you have finished using them.
Save energy - Make sure the dishwasher and washing machine are full before you turn them on and use the lower temperature settings.
Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was the first person to create a way of generating a constant current of electricity. His invention led to the power stations we know today.
Today we still use words that Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) introduced: battery, conductor, positive and negative charge, electric shock and electrician.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) developed the first lightning conductor after flying a kite in a thunderstorm. A spectacular but very dangerous experiment!
Fossil fuels won't go on for ever - gas could run out in 40 years.
Save energy - Boil just enough water for the number of hot drinks you want to make - that way you won't waste energy.
In 1800 Alessandro Volta built the world's first battery from discs of copper and zinc sandwiched between cardboard moistened with a salty water.
An electric eel can produce powerful electric shocks: up to 500 volts and one ampere of current (in other words, 500 watts).
At Deptford in 1891, electrical engineer Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti (1864-1930) designed and built the first power station and supply network. His basic system is still used around the world.
The Italian inventor Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) is best known for his work on electric current.
Fossil fuels won't go on for ever - oil could run out in 30 years.
Modern power stations and steam turbines use the same engineering principles that James Watt (1736-1819) applied when he invented the steam engine.
In 1771 Luigi Galvani used electricity to make a dead frog's leg jump!
The ampere is named after André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836). He discovered many of the mathematical principles of electromagnetism.
Fossil fuels won't go on for ever - coal could run out in 250 years.

Frequently asked questions

DANGER!

Did you know?