Leakage current in electronics
Leakage current is the unwanted conductive current across insulating surfaces or dielectric materials. It increases with ionic contamination and moisture, creating parasitic paths that degrade performance or trigger protective circuits.
Measuring leakage current helps quantify functional risk. Design tolerances, safety margins, and conformal coatings all influence acceptable leakage levels. ZESTRON uses leakage testing to validate cleanliness and coating efficacy.
Understanding leakage current
Leakage includes:
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surface leakage across PCB insulating surfaces,
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bulk leakage through dielectrics,
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corona and partial discharge leakage at high voltages.
Small leakage changes can cause thresholds to be crossed in sensitive circuits. Regular monitoring during qualification and production helps catch process drift before failures reach customers.
Consequences of high leakage current
Impacts include:
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increased standby power consumption
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false triggering of safety circuits
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noise and signal integrity problems
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shortened component life due to arcing or heating
Mitigation includes cleaning, insulating barriers, and design changes to increase creepage distance. ZESTRON’s testing services quantify leakage and correlate it with residue levels.