An arc is more than just a plasma discharge. An arc is when the current density is quite high and the gas goes from "abnormal glow discharge" into the arc region.
Dave Cuthbert From: John Woodgate [mailto:j...@jmwa.demon.co.uk] Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 1:33 PM To: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject: Re: Arcing & Sparking I read in !emc-pstc that Peter L. Tarver <peter.tar...@sanmina-sci.com> wrote (in <nebbkemlgllmjofmopleoehhelaa.peter.tar...@sanmina-sci.com>) about 'Arcing & Sparking' on Mon, 22 Sep 2003: >I have always related arcing to having end-points: having at least two >electrodes and involving electrical conduction. > >Arc \Arc\ ([aum]rk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Arcked} ([aum]rkt); p. pr. & >vb. n. {Arcking}.] (Elec.) To form a voltaic arc, as an electrical >current in a broken or disconnected circuit. > > > >Sparking, I have always related to high temperature ejecta which may or >may not be related to electrical conduction. > >Spark \Spark\, v. i. (Elec.) To produce, or give off, sparks, as a >dynamo at the commutator when revolving under the collecting brushes. > >Spark \Spark\, n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. >Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. sprag["e]ti, Gr. ? a bursting with a >noise, Skr. sph?rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. {Speak}.] 1. A small >particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in >combustion. Yes. An arc that persists is a 'sustained arc'. It needs a control mechanism to sustain it. When the spark speaks, the arc harks.(;-) -- Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to http://www.isce.org.uk PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL! This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Dave Heald: emc_p...@symbol.com For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org Archive is being moved, we will announce when it is back on-line. All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Dave Heald: emc_p...@symbol.com For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org Archive is being moved, we will announce when it is back on-line. All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
