In this tutorial Dave explains what a PCB spark gap is and how it can be a useful zero cost addition to your PCB layout to help prevent ESD damage.
He shows how to easily design them into your board and calculate the approximate voltage rating.
And of course has some fun applying 5kV to some gaps to show how them at work.
Plugpack teardown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EMAggN5H-w
Support the EEVblog through Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/eevblog
Forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-678-what-is-a-pcb-spark-gap/'>http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-678-what-is-a-pcb-spark-gap/
EEVblog Main Web Site: http://www.eevblog.com
The 2nd EEVblog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/EEVblog2
EEVblog Amazon Store (Dave gets a cut):
http://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20
Donations:
http://www.eevblog.com/donations/
Projects:
http://www.eevblog.com/projects/
Electronics Info Wiki:
http://www.eevblog.com/wiki/
He shows how to easily design them into your board and calculate the approximate voltage rating.
And of course has some fun applying 5kV to some gaps to show how them at work.
Plugpack teardown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EMAggN5H-w
Support the EEVblog through Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/eevblog
Forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-678-what-is-a-pcb-spark-gap/'>http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-678-what-is-a-pcb-spark-gap/
EEVblog Main Web Site: http://www.eevblog.com
The 2nd EEVblog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/EEVblog2
EEVblog Amazon Store (Dave gets a cut):
http://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20
Donations:
http://www.eevblog.com/donations/
Projects:
http://www.eevblog.com/projects/
Electronics Info Wiki:
http://www.eevblog.com/wiki/
Done.
Thy does that pad look like a hammer and sickle
Just watched EEVblog 1424 – Fluke 23 Multimeter Repair. Dave made a great video. But please tell me, who is this young bloke in this video? (Ya sound very young here Dave. lol )
Over voltage is applied to the circuit pass on spark gap between ground get protection of the circuit board components !..
I fixed regular analog TV's which had PCB spark gaps, typically near the flyback.They appeared to be for short circuit protection safety not ESD protection.
Just up from the gap is a bad solder connection.
An input design tutorial would be awesome 👏
Not an expert but sparks on the pcb definitely seems a little dodgy
If the tinned surface of the spark gap oxidizes because of humid air, does it still work as intended?
I know this is an old video but on the medical plugpack board it looks like the spark gap is there to protect against HV from the unpopulated Y cap (C21) that bridges the primary and secondary
lovely demonstration & explanation. thank you for posting. take care & stay safe.
nice details
Yeah not the best way. These are common on CRT monitors and TVs. plasma TVs, Computer SMPSs too. For more effective discharge medium, gas based discharge tubes and even long neon lamps are used. Thanks a lot for this video !
Put it in a clean room and it won't spark under any circumstances. Put it in a freezer and it won't stop sparking.
When I design a board with these I normally place a small grounded box over the spark gap to prevent noise propagating from it causing issues.
This might work for very cheap commercial electronics when reliability doesn't either harm someone or cause a critical shutdown in an industrial setting. Since my background is military and aerospace, I get OCD with this type of bailing-wire and bubble-gum fixes.
There are FAR better ways to prevent damage from over-voltage. Try doing this with an extremely high-current power supply input and the low impedance of the primary will absorb the energy passing it along and not the spark gap.
Having worked in the military and aerospace industry as an electronic engineer, I am amazed at what "commercial elections" can get away with. I guess if your life doesn't depend on it and the circuit failing sells more product. I guess…….
Where are you from? I like your funny voice 🙂
Excellent Video!, thanks
Im iraqi too
Why would there be a spark gap between the primary and the secondary of the transformer?
@EEVblog I have a few questions about the material of the first PCB you showed in this video. I am studying Electrical Engineering and we need to build high voltage circuits that aren't suitable for breadboards. I have seen this type of board in power supplies we have at the university. So my question is: is this a normal FR4 laminate like they sell on DigiKey and other vendors with a light yellow soldermask with black silkscreen on it or is this another kind of material?
Being in the field for some 30 years, it's refreshing to learn something new. Great video.