INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Member Login

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips now!

Talk With Other Members
Be Notified Of Responses
To Your Posts
Keyword Search
One-Click Access To Your
Favorite Forums
Automated Signatures
On Your Posts
Best Of All, It's Free!

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Donate Today!

Do you enjoy these
technical forums?

Donate Today! Click Here

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Eng-Tips Posting Policies

Jobs from Indeed

jobs by

Link To This Forum!

Home > Forums > Electrical / Electronic Engineers > Activities > Electric power & transmission & distribution Forum

Arc Length

Read More Threads Like This One

jbmg (Mechanical)

13 Aug 08 14:52

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??

dpc (Electrical)

13 Aug 08 15:46

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.

oldfieldguy (Electrical)

13 Aug 08 21:51

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

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!

Back To Forum

Back To Electric power & transmission & distribution