High Voltage Low Current vs Low Voltage High Current

[Atomic_Sheep]

Hello!

What's the difference between a high voltage and a low current and a low voltage and a high current?

If a component has a voltage rating of say 10V, is it possible to pump 500v through it with a really low current?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Your question makes no sense - EXACTLY what component are you talking about, and why would you want to do this?.

There's no generic answer.

 

[dr pepper]

I'm with nige on that one too.
Generally speaking overcurrent for a very short time sometimes can be tolerated as it takes time for a device to heat up, however overvoltage can break down dieelectric barriers or cause a flashover which is instant, it depends to every extent on the component.

 

[ikalogic]

I'll have to agree with Dr pepper!

most of the time, we can go beyond the current limit, provided it's for a very short time, and that the device/component have enough time to cool down.

On the other side, overvoltages are much more critical. if a component break at 15V, it most probably will break at 15.5V, and there is no way preventing this, even with the best cooling in the world.

Hope this helps

 

[crutschow]

What's the difference between a high voltage and a low current and a low voltage and a high current?

If a component has a voltage rating of say 10V, is it possible to pump 500v through it with a really low current?

Not sure what you mean by"difference" besides the obvious.

Voltage appears across a component, not through it. Current goes through a component.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

So, I've measured pA at 100 V and less. Do you consider that high or low? How about pA at 10 kV. A bit wierd, I know. The Zero Voltage Ammeter was a ground potential. How about 1.5 A at 15 kV?

Knowing how to use the instrumentation is important. Some instruments can be floated from ground a certain amount without problems.

I agree with everyone else. The voltage limit on semiconductor devices is more critical than current. What if we throw a "spark gap" or gas discharge tube or a neon lamp in the mix?