Breakdown voltage*

Breakdown voltage is the minimum voltage that causes electrical breakdown of an insulating material or dielectric gap, when electric field stress becomes higher than dielectric strength and converts the material to a conductive state. It depends on geometry of electrodes, distance between them, and dielectric properties of the medium.

Breakdown voltage is important for analysis of cable insulation, bushings, connectors, insulators, electrode gaps.

In QuickField, breakdown voltage can be estimated using Electrostatics or AC Conduction.

References

Wikipedia: Electrical breakdown
Wikipedia: Dielectric strength

QuickField examples

Cable termination
33 kV cable termination
Transformer bushing electric stress

^* We do not guarantee that articles in the section "Glossary" are full and exact, and may be used as a reference of any kind. In fact - they are not! These are just informal hints, letting the students and amateurs better understand what is the specific term about. Experts should not read it at all! However, we will appreciate all expert recommendations about improving and extending our glossary.