Leakage Current

A leakage current is an electric current that flows through a path not intended for this purpose. The differentiation from the leakage current is that the leakage current is the sum of the leakage currents and the current through the capacitors or interference suppression capacitors of devices with protective conductor (protection class I). Leakage currents can occur if - an insulator is not ideal and therefore has a low electrical conductivity - the surface of an insulator carries a leakage current (e.g. impurities and/or moisture) - free charge carriers spontaneously form inside semiconductors (e.g. due to increased temperature or radiation) Back