Ferranti effect

noun

An increase in voltage occurring at the receiving end of a long transmission line, above the voltage at the sending end. This occurs when the line is energized, but there is a very light load or the load is disconnected. The capacitive line charging current produces a voltage drop across the line inductance that is in-phase with the sending end voltages considering the line resistance as negligible.

“The Ferranti effect is much more pronounced in underground cables, even in short lengths, because of their high capacitance.”

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Meanings

nounFerranti effect (plural Ferranti effects)

plural Ferranti effects

  1. An increase in voltage occurring at the receiving end of a long transmission line, above the voltage at the sending end. This occurs when the line is energized, but there is a very light load or the load is disconnected. The capacitive line charging current produces a voltage drop across the line inductance that is in-phase with the sending end voltages considering the line resistance as negligible.

    The Ferranti effect is much more pronounced in underground cables, even in short lengths, because of their high capacitance.

Origin

First observed during the installation of underground cables in Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti's 10,000 volt distribution system in 1887.

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Cite this entry
APA

Ferranti effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ferranti%20effect

MLA

“Ferranti effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ferranti%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ferranti effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ferranti%20effect.

Source: Ferranti effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.