Ledningsström

Ledningsström, also known as leakage current, is an unintended flow of electrical current through a normally insulating material or component. This phenomenon can occur in a variety of electrical and electronic devices and systems. The primary cause of ledningsström is the imperfection of insulating materials, which are never perfectly non-conductive. Over time, these materials can degrade due to factors like moisture, temperature fluctuations, contamination, or physical damage, leading to a reduction in their resistance.

Common sources of ledningsström include the insulation of wires and cables, the dielectric layers in capacitors, and the semiconductor junctions in transistors. In power systems, ledningsström can flow through the insulation of high-voltage equipment to the earth, contributing to energy loss. In consumer electronics, it can lead to safety hazards if the current becomes significant enough to pose a shock risk.

The magnitude of ledningsström is typically very small, often measured in microamperes or milliamperes, but it can have important implications. In sensitive electronic circuits, even small leakage currents can interfere with signal integrity or cause malfunctions. For safety regulations, particularly in medical devices and appliances, there are strict limits on the maximum permissible ledningsström to protect users from electric shock. Measuring and managing ledningsström is therefore an important aspect of electrical safety and product design.