Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

Register Log in
  • Congratulations TugboatEng on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Arc Length

Status
Not open for further replies.
jbmg

jbmg

Mechanical
Joined
Aug 13, 2008
Messages
2
Location
CA
I am wondering what the mathematical formula is to calculate the length of an electric arc length in air. I can't seem to find this formula anywhere on the web. Any suggestions??
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Not sure what you are looking for - the dielectric strength of air, or the maximum possible arc length?

For dry air, you can assume about 10 kV per inch for dielectric strength, but once an arc is established, it can be much longer than that.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
What dpc said. 480 volts won't jump ANY appreciable gap, but after an arc is established, all bets are off as to how long the path will be and where it ends up.

old field guy
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

charz
  • Question Question
Arc Resistant Switchgear
Replies
1
Views
8K
dpc
dpc
K
  • Locked
  • Question Question
Arc Flash Analysis SKM
Replies
0
Views
1K
Kanu_01
K
NickParker
  • Locked
  • Question Question
Arc detection relay Vs UFES (Ultra fast earthing switch)
Replies
8
Views
5K
bacon4life
bacon4life
TCTC1
  • Locked
  • Question Question
Arc-Resitant Switchgear
Replies
2
Views
510
che12345
che12345
Dvhez
  • Locked
  • Question Question
Why isn't the immediate upstream breaker tripping in my 400V Arc Flash simulation?
Replies
2
Views
847
dpc
dpc

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top