disruptive discharge

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. the sudden, large increase in current through an insulating medium resulting from complete failure of the medium under electrostatic stress.

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disruptive discharge British  

noun

1. a sudden large increase in current through an insulating medium resulting from failure of the medium to withstand an applied electric field

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disruptive discharge

With the disruptive discharge coil they glow intensely merely by holding them in the hand and connecting the body to the terminal of the coil.

From The inventions, researches and writings of Nikola Tesla With special reference to his work in polyphase currents and high potential lighting by Martin, Thomas Commerford

This was the first disruptive discharge coil constructed by him.

From The inventions, researches and writings of Nikola Tesla With special reference to his work in polyphase currents and high potential lighting by Martin, Thomas Commerford

The brush is the next form of disruptive discharge which I shall consider.

From Experimental Researches in Electricity, Volume 1 by Faraday, Michael

When the condensers are charged to a certain potential, the air, or insulating space, gives way and a disruptive discharge occurs.

From The inventions, researches and writings of Nikola Tesla With special reference to his work in polyphase currents and high potential lighting by Martin, Thomas Commerford

It follows, therefore, that the number of equipotential surfaces per unit length can represent this limit, or rather the stress which leads to disruptive discharge.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 288, July 9, 1881 by Various