Appliance Safety: How to Avoid Short Circuits
Posted by admin | Appliances, General Home | Posted on July 18th, 2009
The simplest definition of a short circuit, free from all the electrical technicalities, is the occurrence of a surge of excessive current in one part of the electrical network due to the abnormal downfall of current in another part. The effects of a short circuit can either be as minute as no effect at all to as grave as total destruction of the electrical network, explosion of a transformer, and even fire. One of the major causes of a short circuit is the overloading of the electrical network by plugging and using many electrical appliances in one area of the house at the same time. Since too much electricity is demanded in that active area of the house, other parts of the house tend to lose their allocated electrical supply. When the electrical network gets overloaded, the system begins to act abnormally, fluctuating from one part to another part causing a short circuit.
To prevent short circuit from happening in your home, consider the balance in using electrical appliances. Make sure that appliances that require high amount of electricity are not plugged in a single source. For example, a desktop computer and a refrigerator should not be plugged in one outlet when used. Try to distribute the electrical load all over the house as much as possible.
Turn off appliances that are not in use since appliances that are turned on for a very long period of time tend to overheat which may cause short circuit. Aside from that, appliances that are left open for a long time and are definitely hot are proven to dissipate more electricity in the environment rather than using it to perform its functions.
Lastly, perform proper maintenance of the electrical network in your home. Replace broken switches, outlets and circuit breakers before they malfunction and cause short circuit. It is also suggested to install and make use of a circuit breaker to automatically cut the electricity supply in the house when an unfortunate event in the electrical system such as a short circuit occurs.