High voltage
From HvWiki
Also abbreviated HV.
The IEEE defines high voltage as voltages above 1000V. See Electrical safety
What is considered high voltage is dependent on the device and situation.
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<45V
Below this voltage, most jurisdictions allow the use of bare conductors. Future vehicle electrical systems are going up to 42V nominal. You would have to work really hard or be unlucky to die from 45V.<1000V
Wiring must be insulated. 115V AC will kill you just as thoroughly as 230V AC, if you get current flow across your heart. As this voltage tends not to jump through even thin clothing, working with one hand in your pocket will usually protect you from lethal contact. It tends not to jump through cracks or pinholes in insulation, so insulation should keep you safe.>1000V
This will jump through clothes and insulation defects, so one hand working or insulation won't save you. Stay clear.>10 000V
Corona is now a problemWhen a voltage is great enough in a localised area, it can ionise air and jump across the gap between 2 conductors, with visible output in the form of a spark. The voltage required to jump any given gap is related to the distance, air pressure/temperature/composition, and electrode geometry. A rule of thumb is 1.1kV will jump 1mm on a perfect sphere to a perfect sphere (radius??) (link to Paschen curve?) See article on Spark gaps for further discussion.
Air rarely changes temperature, until a spark is formed with the creation of ozone as a by product. Heating of the air and the ions make the formation of sparks easier. This leaves geometry and voltage - the more rounded and smoother the electrodes, the more voltage is required to break down the air between, as with sharper, pointy or rough surfaced electrodes demanding much less voltage.
