Whenever working with electricity, it’s essential to stay safe. Even relatively small amounts of electricity can be pretty powerful. So, if you’re wondering how far can electricity arc, you need to find the answer before you try to build a circuit, work near electrical power sources, or work on a particular electrical project.
In nature, consider that electricity can arc incredibly far. Every time you see a bolt of lightning reach down from the sky, that is an example of arcing electricity. Lightning is quite powerful, making it also extremely dangerous. So, if you think arcing electricity isn’t hazardous, you’re mistaken.
In this article, we’ll explore arcing in general, as well as in some particular circumstances, including:
- Electrical arcing basics
- Common arcing situations
- Maximum arcing distance
- Examples of arcing
- Staying safe from arcing electricity
Keep reading to find out all the answers about this topic.
What is Electric Arcing and How It Works
When electricity arcs, an electrical current ‘jumps’ a space. That space, or gap, can be between two conductors or even within a circuit. Sometimes, electrical arcing is used as a classroom demonstration to show how electricity travels.
That sort of experiment sets up conditions where electrons intentionally move from one conductor (electrode) to another.
Other times, arcing is unintentional but quite dangerous. When you can see an electrical arc, that is called a flash. Arc flashes result from the electrical current heating up small particles in the air, like gas and dust.
These flashes can occur any time and anywhere when electricity is flowing.
Where We See Electrical Arcing
One common location for electrical arcing is with an electrical panel. Residential systems usually have a series of fuses, and if something goes wrong, electricity can jump the gaps between them or even to a metal tool nearby.
So, if your electrical panel’s cover is loose or its internal wiring bus is exposed, you should have it checked out by a professional immediately.
In commercial and industrial applications, with larger, more complicated panels and more powerful electric currents, the results of an unintentional arc can be lethal. Even in a home setting, there is enough line voltage entering the panel that an arc flash could kill someone.
Additionally, an arc can get incredibly hot, with temperatures measuring in multiple thousands of degrees.
That sort of heat has the ability to not only ignite particles in the air but to destroy a panel or even set fire to an entire building.
That’s why industrial or large commercial buildings often house their electrical panels in a safety cage. This setup keeps unauthorized people out of the restricted area near the panel.
Even when qualified electricians enter a cage, there is still a chance of an unintentional arc. Sometimes, workers will use specially rubberized and insulated tools and clothing to prevent accidental contact between the panel and anything that conduct electricity, like their hands!
Anytime an electrical panel is damaged, exposed to the elements, or contains faulty equipment, the odds of arcing increase.
So, carefully maintaining your equipment, keeping the panel secure and dry, and only allowing qualified workers to perform installations will help minimize the risk of arcs, injuries, and fire.
Arcing Examples
Lightning is probably the most well-known example of arcing. Electricity in a cloud above travels to either other clouds or to the ground. Lightning is immensely powerful, so it even has enough power to jumpstart Doc Brown’s Delorean.
But lightning is only one example of electrical arcing. There are other applications where arcing is used:
- Arc welding – electrified metal rods are pressed into contact with metal, melting it and allowing a bond to form when it cools
- Arc furnaces – another example where the heat of an arc melts metals, usually found in steel smelting plants and other industrial settings
- Plasma speakers – use expanding and contracting electrical arcs to reproduce sound
- Lighting – lightbulbs often use electrical arcs to create light
How Far Electcricity Arcs
In ordinary conditions, electricity can jump approximately one millimeter for every 3,000 volts of current. Ordinary means at sea level, in a relatively dry atmosphere.
That might seem like a lot of currents to jump just a short distance. But, when atmospheric and other conditions enhance the likelihood of an arc, things can change quickly.
For example, if there is a lot of humidity in the air, the distance an arc can jump will increase sharply. There are also ways to minimize the chances of an arc forming between two electrodes.
- For instance, if there is pyrex glass or a Teflon product in between two electrodes, the odds of an arc forming between them drops to almost nil. But, if you remove the barrier and sharpen the electrode’s surfaces, you can enhance the electrical field and make arc jumps more likely.
On a small circuit board, where tolerances are minute, there may be significant amounts of electricity running in small circuits in close proximity to others. But, as long as the voltage remains pretty low and the circuits are spaced out appropriately, there is little risk of an arc.
But if you introduce a lot of humidity, gas particles, or dust, all of a sudden, the risk of an arc increases tremendously since a circuit board is quite small.
Consider that spacing the next time you look up at a high-tension power line. If you look closely, you’ll see couplers and insulators holding the overhead wires rigidly in place so that there isn’t a risk of them moving closer to one another. This is done to prevent potentially damaging arcing between the individual wires.
Since there is so much energy traveling through them, the wires sit quite far apart from one another.
Staying Safe
Electrical arcing is potentially quite dangerous. Burns from a high-temperature arc can do severe damage. Also, remember that electrical impulses regulate our heartbeat, so a blast of electricity can disrupt or even stop the beating of our heart.
To stay safe, always assume that electricity is ready to travel. Never operate near an electrical power source without understanding the system. You should also make sure that you’re in dry conditions as much as possible and using the appropriate equipment for the job at hand.
You should also always shut off the electrical source completely before performing any maintenance or upgrades. When electricity jumps a gap, it can have disastrous consequences, so always use caution.
Sources:
- https://www.quora.com/How-far-can-high-voltage-electricity-jump-and-why
- https://www.ecmag.com/section/safety/know-your-arc-dc-arc-flash-calculations
- https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/128612/formula-for-electrical-arc-length
- https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/296897/can-a-high-voltage-line-kill-a-person-without-touching-it
- https://homex.com/ask/how-far-can-electricity-arc-from-power-lines
- https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/92bw8l/how_far_can_electricity_arc_reach/
- https://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2006-02/1139260936.Ph.r.html
- https://www.firetrace.com/fire-protection-blog/arcing-the-leading-cause-of-electrical-fires
- https://www.acelectricohio.com/what-is-electrical-arcing/
- https://www.infobloom.com/what-is-an-electric-arc.htm
