kilovoltpercentimeter

Kilovolt per centimeter (kV/cm) is a non-SI unit of electric field strength commonly used in electrical engineering to express the magnitude of the electric field between two points separated by a distance measured in centimeters. By definition, 1 kV/cm equals 1,000 volts per 0.01 meters, which is 100,000 volts per meter (1 × 10^5 V/m). Equivalently, 1 kV/cm equals 100 kV/m, and conversely 1 V/m equals 1e-5 kV/cm.

In practice, kV/cm is convenient for describing dielectric strength and insulation performance. Dielectric breakdown in dry air at sea level is about 3 MV/m, which is roughly 30 kV/cm. Materials vary widely; insulation tolerances are often specified in kV/cm, especially in high-voltage equipment, cables, and gas-insulated systems.

Measurement and standards: Field strength can be measured with specialized probes or test rigs, and values can be converted to SI units (V/m) for broader comparison. While the formal SI unit is V/m, kV/cm remains widely understood and used in many engineering contexts.

See also: Electric field, Dielectric strength, Insulation coordination.