What is the term for blocked current or a bypass of an intended conducting path?

The term for blocked current or a bypass of an intended conducting path is "fault." In electrical systems, a fault occurs when there is an unintended path for current to flow, which can happen due to insulation failure, short circuits, or equipment malfunctions. This situation causes the current to deviate from its intended path, leading to disruptions in the system and potentially hazardous conditions. Understanding faults is crucial for utility arborists, as they must be aware of how trees and vegetation can impact electrical infrastructure, leading to such faults.

While other terms like "short circuit" and "leakage" describe specific scenarios of current diversion, they do not encompass the broader concept of a fault. A short circuit specifically refers to a low-resistance connection between two conductors, resulting in excess current, while leakage refers to the undesired flow of current from its intended path but does not necessarily indicate a total bypass of the conducting path. Therefore, "fault" is the most accurate term for an overall condition of unintended current flow.