Causes of Short circuit and overloading?
What Is a Short Circuit? A short circuit occurs when part of a wire carrying current touches another wire or part of the circuit and gives the electricity a path of less resistance. For example, if a wire with faulty insulation becomes exposed and touches a metal light switch, current can flow along the light and result in a shock.
In simple terms, a short circuit gives electricity the path of least resistance between two conductive points. Less distance between the two points means less resistance, which means your short circuit will produce more heat and result in burns and fires.
Causes Shorts can stem from a variety of problems. Here’s a look at the most common short-circuit culprits in your home:
- Faulty Insulation: Old or damaged insulation allows neutral and live wires to touch, which can cause a short circuit. Nail and screw punctures as well as age can cause wire casings or insulation to deteriorate and allow short circuits.
- Loose Connections: Attachments can loosen, sometimes allowing neutral and live wires to touch. Fixing faulty wire connections is difficult and sometimes requires working with live wires.
- Household pests: Animals like mice, rats and squirrels sometime chew on wires. This can cause neutral and live wires to cross and result in a short.
- Appliances: Old or broken appliances can develop shorts over time. Short circuits in appliances can occur in the plugs, in the power cords or inside the device. It’s best to have a technician look at shorts in larger appliances like ovens and dishwashers.
Overloading Circuits can become overloaded when too many electrical devices are plugged into the electrical system. Circuits are designed to handle a specific amount of electricity for household appliances, such as your refrigerator or air conditioner.
However, when too much burden is placed on your home’s circuits, they can blow out. A common example is the neighbor who plugs in too many outdoor Christmas lights to their home’s electrical system and ends up with no power.
When a circuit is overloaded, the power will shut off. This is a protective measure done by overcurrent protective devices (usually circuit breakers or fuses located at your home’s main panel) when the electrical wiring exceeds its capacity. For this reason, you don’t have to worry about your house burning down because of an overloaded circuit.
A short circuit occurs when part of a wire carrying current touches another wire or part of the circuit and gives the electricity a path of less resistance. For example, if a wire with faulty insulation becomes exposed and touches a metal light switch, current can flow along the light and result in a shock.
In simple terms, a short circuit gives electricity the path of least resistance between two conductive points. Less distance between the two points means less resistance, which means your short circuit will produce more heat and result in burns and fires.
CausesShorts can stem from a variety of problems. Here’s a look at the most common short-circuit culprits in your home:
- Faulty Insulation: Old or damaged insulation allows neutral and live wires to touch, which can cause a short circuit. Nail and screw punctures as well as age can cause wire casings or insulation to deteriorate and allow short circuits.
- Loose Connections: Attachments can loosen, sometimes allowing neutral and live wires to touch. Fixing faulty wire connections is difficult and sometimes requires working with live wires.
- Household pests: Animals like mice, rats and squirrels sometime chew on wires. This can cause neutral and live wires to cross and result in a short.
- Appliances: Old or broken appliances can develop shorts over time. Short circuits in appliances can occur in the plugs, in the power cords or inside the device. It’s best to have a technician look at shorts in larger appliances like ovens and dishwashers.
Overloading
Circuits can become overloaded when too many electrical devices are plugged into the electrical system. Circuits are designed to handle a specific amount of electricity for household appliances, such as your refrigerator or air conditioner.
However, when too much burden is placed on your home’s circuits, they can blow out. A common example is the neighbor who plugs in too many outdoor Christmas lights to their home’s electrical system and ends up with no power.
When a circuit is overloaded, the power will shut off. This is a protective measure done by overcurrent protective devices (usually circuit breakers or fuses located at your home’s main panel) when the electrical wiring exceeds its capacity. For this reason, you don’t have to worry about your house burning down because of an overloaded circuit.
