fuktkontakt

Fuktkontakt, literally “moisture contact” in some Nordic technical contexts, is a term used to describe undesired electrical conduction that arises when moisture or humidity creates a conductive path between conductors, contacts, or insulating surfaces. It can lead to leakage currents, intermittent faults, degraded insulation resistance, corrosion, or even short circuits.

The phenomenon occurs through several mechanisms. Condensation on surfaces can form a thin film of water enriched with dissolved ions, enabling current to bridge small gaps. Capillary action in crevices, joints, or connectors can draw moisture into confined spaces. Deposits from salts, fingerprints, or industrial contaminants lower the resistance of insulating surfaces and promote electrolytic conduction. Corrosion products and reaction layers can themselves become conductive, especially under temperature and humidity cycling that repeatedly wets and dries the surfaces. Dissimilar metals may also undergo galvanic processes that accelerate deterioration of contact integrity.

Impact and typical contexts. Fuktkontakt is a concern in outdoor or humid environments and in devices with exposed connectors, relays, switches, PCBs, or automotive and industrial electronics. Symptoms include creeping leakage, reduced insulation resistance, contact chatter, intermittent signaling, or premature aging of assemblies.

Detection and mitigation. Testing under elevated humidity or condensation conditions, measuring contact resistance and insulation resistance, and accelerated corrosion tests help assess risk. Prevention focuses on sealing and gasketing, conformal coating or potting, robust enclosure IP ratings, careful material selection for corrosion resistance, clean manufacturing to remove ionic contaminants, and architectural design choices that minimize crevices and moisture traps.

See also: corrosion, humidity effects on electronics, electrical insulation resistance.