Withstand voltage

In electrical and electronic devices, even in insulated sections, if the applied voltage increases, a phenomenon called dielectric breakdown can occur, allowing current to flow. When dielectric breakdown happens, current flows through the high-resistance insulator, which can cause malfunctions or fires due to heat generation. Dielectric strength refers to the maximum voltage that can be withstood without causing dielectric breakdown. Typically, it is expressed as the voltage level an insulated component can endure when a specified voltage waveform is applied for a specified time between two defined points of the device. The higher this voltage, the better the insulation performance.