Leakage (electronics)

A leakage current is an electric current flowing through a path which is not intended for conduction of current.

The leakage current, however, refers to the sum of the leakage currents and the current through intrinsic capacitances or suppression capacitors of devices with protective conductor (protection class I).

Leakage currents can occur when

• An insulator is not ideal, so it has a ( small ) electrical conductivity. For capacitors, the leakage current "residual current " means.
• The surface of the insulator causes a leakage current, particularly if contaminants and / or moisture on the surface are present (see also the tracking resistance ).
• Inside of semiconductors spontaneously free charge carriers arise which migrate by an applied electric voltage in the semiconductor crystal. This can eg be caused by increased temperature or radiation or reinforced