Why Don't Birds Get Shocked on Power Lines?

A bird with both feet on one wire has very little voltage between its feet, so very little current flows through its body. A body that bridges points at different voltages can carry dangerous current. The diagram uses one US distribution example: approximately 12.47kV between phases and 7.2kV RMS from a phase to ground. Distribution voltages vary. Birds can also be electrocuted by bridging phases or a live conductor and grounded hardware. Stay away from power lines: high voltage can arc through air. If a line is down, keep your distance and report it to the utility or emergency services. #Electricity #Engineering #ElectricalSafety #Shorts