[ Index ]
Flashover, or side flash, is defined as the event when electrical current jumps across two points or two surfaces having different voltages.
- Flashover can begin, or reverberate, from either of the two points at different times.
- Flashover attempts to balance out the voltages at the two points.
- Electrons are trying to pool evenly.
- Intended flashover is a planned event.
- It is designed to complete a circuit.
- It can solve a specific problem.
- It can be dangerous if not safely and deliberately controlled or mitigated.
- Unintended flashover is an unplanned event.
- It is the electrical event least understood by consumers.
- It is usually not expected.
- It is almost always not wanted.
- It can be a traumatic and traumatizing event.
- It can cause unintented or unpredictable operation of equipment.
- It is the most dangerous and poses the most risk.
- Flashover commonly crosses a boundary of insulating material such as air or wood.
- Insulating skin and conductive interior bodies of animals and persons are extremely vulnerable to flashover and its life-threatening effects.
- Flashover manifests itelf as:
- flash of light
- arcing
- sparking
- crackling, buzzing, or humming sounds
- high heat
- strong odor
- visible damage such as burns, breaks, or blackened material
- Examples include lightning, electrical shock, short circuit, and ground fault.
- Uncontrolled and unmitigated flashovers represent the most dangerous threat to life, equipment, and facilities.
- damage
- death
- destruction
- electrical shock
- fire
- injury
- property loss
- unintended and unpredictable equipment operation
Flashover frankly does not care whether anyone intended to bond together the two points in question.
It will, however, respond to mitigative and preventative bonding by pooling voltages as far and wide as allowed across the range of points and surfaces that available conductors connect.
In turn, the more surface area that is available means that multiple currents and voltages can be expected to pool across the conductive surface and that they may attempt to flash over to other nearby surfaces having a different voltage.
Summary
Electrical current jumping across two points having different voltages is flashover. It is dangerous if not safely and deliberately controlled or mitigated.
A flash of light, arcing, sparking, crackling, buzzing, or humming sounds, high heat, a strong odor, and visible damage may accompany flashover.
Flashover can be controlled, mitigated, or even eliminated with ISBP and PEP.
