Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

flashover
Definitions:

electric discharge around insulator: an unintended electric arc around or over the surface of an insulator

What does that mean and what is the effect?

Thanks

[Hayde]

Hi,
This is a strange question. Why do you need this one

I have never heard flashover before actually. But by the definition you gave:

An insulator stops electicity from going through (for example rubber is a natural insulator). A flashover (I guess) means the electricity went past the insulator. The effect will be bad because the insulator was there to stop the electicity (for some reason) and now the electricity went past it.

[pugachevV]

In high tension electrical transmission lines a flashover can occur if something is placed too close to them.
The current can jump several feet if the voltage is high enough.
That's why you don't fly kites near transmission lines.