When a gas is exposed to a voltage that exceeds its capacity to block, electrical arcs may form. An arc arises when the voltage is sufficient to ionize the air between the conductors. The air becomes a good electrical conductor when ions are introduced. Air ionization creates a current that heats and illuminates the atmosphere. This heat forces the ionized air to rise, generating a current in the shape of an arch. This is why the phenomenon is called an arch current. An arc flash can produce temperatures of up to 20,000 degrees Celsius. 

When a gas is exposed to a voltage that is higher than the voltage it can block, electrical arcs form. The arc begins to develop when the voltage is high enough to ionize the space between the conductors. When gas is ionized, it becomes a fantastic conductor, enabling the current to flow and producing an "arc flash" of arched-shaped current. An arc fault is an unexpected electrical discharge.