8 ways to prevent short circuit.
Electricity has made our lives easier. We need electricity 24/7 to perform day to day activities. We don’t even realize how much our lives have become dependent on electricity until we have to face a power cut. The reasons for blackout can be any, but the most common reason is a short circuit. If you are facing it frequently and want to learn how to prevent short circuit then this is the right post for you.
What do you mean by short circuit?
In layman’s language, a short circuit is an electrical circuit in which different wires come in contact and an accidental path of low resistance occurs. A short circuit is very dangerous and can lead to fire hazards and damage to electrical appliances. Due to improper wiring or low quality wiring, the insulation breaks and a short circuit occurs. A short circuit doesn’t always cause when two wires come in contact, other reasons include wires coming in contact with a conductive material like water or other metal.
How to fix a short circuit?
In modern homes, we have circuit breakers that trip during short circuits. When the circuit breaker trips frequently, you need to spot the short circuit and fix it. As mentioned above short circuits occur when the insulation is damaged. To fix the problem, you need to repair the burnt or damaged insulation on your wires. Locating an exposed shorted wire is very easy, although cutting the burnt wire and replacing it is a challenging task. You will need a variety of tools and skills to safely repair the damage. It is ideal to call a professional to fix short circuits correctly.
How to avoid short circuits?
In order to understand how to prevent a short circuit, it is very important to understand the underlying causes. When you are aware of the possible reasons, you become responsible and try to avoid such situations.
- Fuses: Fuses or circuit breakers are the best friend to prevent short circuits. A circuit trips during an overload or low electrical resistance and protects the lines from getting shorted. Thus, preventing internal short circuits is easier if you install fuses.
- Exposed wiring: According to experts, insulation defect is the most common reason for short circuits. Make sure the wires at your property don’t have older or faulty insulation. Invest in quality insulating materials like PVC, PE and Nylon. These are the best choices to protect wires from getting exposed and causing short circuits.
- Rats: Make sure your house is secure from rats and house pests. These pests can chew the wires and leave the ends exposed to cause short circuits.
- Faulty appliance: Check the plugs of all your appliances carefully. If the plugs are loose, old or brittle, the chances of short circuits are higher, get these faulty plugs changed immediately. Also, make sure that all appliances are switched off when not in use. Don’t even leave the tiny pilot light on for any of the devices. It is a red light that you see on an appliance during the stand-by mode, this tiny light also consumes electricity and can cause short circuits.
- Multi plug outlets: Lack of electrical planning results in a shortage of power points in a room, as a result, we all tend to use those power outlets that allow inserting multiple plug switches at the same time. Outlet overload can be a reason for short circuits, always keep the overload in mind when using more than one plug in the same outlet.
- Hidden cables: For aesthetic reasons, most of us tend to hide the wires and cables of our appliances under carpets. If it’s a high-traffic area, it’s highly likely that the cables wear over time and cause a short circuit. Be careful when dealing with wires and check them regularly for any sign of wear and tear.
- Moisture and heat: These two are the best friends of short circuits. If you want to protect your expensive appliances from short circuits, make sure that the cables are always away from heat sources and safely tucked in a dry place.
- Maintenance: Yearly inspection and maintenance are crucial to ensure the good health of the electrical circuits in your home. Any worn-out wire, faulty outlet, loose cable or things like that can be checked by a professional during a yearly inspection to reduce the risk of short circuit.
Final words
Most short circuits happen due to unsafe usage of electronic appliances. Make sure to unplug the appliance when not in use to reduce the risk of short circuits. Make an informed decision when investing in fuses, wires, switches, and outlets. Plan carefully and use only the best quality products to protect your expensive appliances and your property from fire hazards.