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What's "creep" ?

C

Chris Carlen

Jan 1, 1970
0
Greetings:

I have heard the term "creep" a lot, and wonder what it means, usually
coming from women.

:-D

Just kidding.

Seriously, in the context of electronics, I think it has something to do
with slow dielectric breakdown over time. But I'm guessing.

Please educate.


Thanks.
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
Chris said:
Greetings:

I have heard the term "creep" a lot, and wonder what it means, usually
coming from women.

:-D

Just kidding.

Seriously, in the context of electronics, I think it has something to do
with slow dielectric breakdown over time. But I'm guessing.

Please educate.

Thanks.
--
_____________________
Christopher R. Carlen
[email protected]
Suse 8.1 Linux 2.4.19

It refers to conduction over the surface of an insulator. It is much
easier for charge to migrate over an insulating surface (under some
conditions, especially high humidity) than it is for it to pass
through the insulator. Often used in terms of creep distance for high
voltage rating. The creep distance between two points on an insulator
can be increased by making the surface undulate. The breakdown
directly between two points is referred to as a strike, so the direct
arc distance (through air, rather than along the surface undulations)
is the strike distance. Many times, the creep distance between two
conductors on a circuit board is not big enough, even though the
strike distance is. In those cases, the creep distance is often made
larger by routing a slot between the two conductors. You see this a
lot in direct line voltage switching power supplies and on monitor
boards that produce the high voltages for the CRT.
 
T

The real Andy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Chris Carlen said:
Greetings:

I have heard the term "creep" a lot, and wonder what it means, usually
coming from women.

:-D

Just kidding.

Seriously, in the context of electronics, I think it has something to do
with slow dielectric breakdown over time. But I'm guessing.

Please educate.

If I can remember my materials class from uni correctly, creep is where the
atoms of one particular metal diffuse into the metal its bonded to over a
period of time. I believe principle was used by the medievil people used to
make alloyed swords back in the day. BTW, I could be very wrong, and the
more i think about the more i think i am wrong....Anyhow, if I am right,
heat accelerates the process too!!
 
A

Active8

Jan 1, 1970
0
Creepage distance is the shortest distance over the surface of a
dielectric that an arc would have to travel. For example, on a barrier
type terminal strip it would have to go up one side of the divider and
down the other. For example, a safety agency may require 8mm (0.315")
minimum creepage distance under certain conditions.

"Creep" is also a term used in metallurgy to describe a slow change is
size under stress, usually at high temperatures.

i think i once heard the term used to refer to molded plastic shrinkage,
also. like maybe shrinkback of a plastic chip package from the pins
which would allow the envionment in and the smoke out.

mike c.
 

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