Which option does not tend to increase leakage current?

Which option does not tend to increase leakage current?

• A. Power strips
• B. Shorter power cord
• C. Battery backups
• D. Parallel placement of wires

Answer: (B)

Leakage current is the small amount of current that can flow through insulation or along surfaces to ground. It tends to increase when there are longer conductor paths, more surface area of insulation exposed, or wires run closely together. A shorter power cord reduces the length of the conductor and the exposed insulation area, which lowers the potential leakage path and capacitive coupling along that cord, so it does not tend to increase leakage current. In contrast, using power strips adds more conductors and outlets, providing more leakage paths; battery backups bring in charging and filtering circuitry that can introduce additional leakage paths; and placing wires in parallel increases capacitive coupling between them, raising leakage current. Therefore, a shorter power cord is the option that does not tend to increase leakage current.

Leakage current is the small amount of current that can flow through insulation or along surfaces to ground. It tends to increase when there are longer conductor paths, more surface area of insulation exposed, or wires run closely together. A shorter power cord reduces the length of the conductor and the exposed insulation area, which lowers the potential leakage path and capacitive coupling along that cord, so it does not tend to increase leakage current. In contrast, using power strips adds more conductors and outlets, providing more leakage paths; battery backups bring in charging and filtering circuitry that can introduce additional leakage paths; and placing wires in parallel increases capacitive coupling between them, raising leakage current. Therefore, a shorter power cord is the option that does not tend to increase leakage current.