Originally published at: https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/what-causes-high-leakage-current-in-pcbs-how-to-prevent-it/
High-leakage current in PCBs is caused by moisture absorption and inadequate creepage and clearance distances. You can prevent it by maintaining sufficient spacing and selecting a laminate with a CTI greater than 400 V. Leakage current can distort signals, increase board temperature, and reduce insulation resistance, leading to failures such as corrosion, dendritic growth, or dielectric breakdown. PCB designers and layout engineers should understand the sources of leakage currents and learn the mitigation techniques to design a reliable circuit. Highlights: Consequences of high-leakage current include voltage errors, reduced insulation resistance, and safety hazards. Use materials with low moisture absorption (0.02…