Electrical Short Circuit- The things you should know to avoid it.

 

What is electrical short circuit?

When two conductors connecting to power a circuit have a low resistance connection, this is known as a short circuit. As a result, the power supply would experience an excessive current flow and excess voltage streaming. An electrical short circuit will result from the electricity traveling down a "short" path.

What Kinds of Electrical Short Circuits Exist?

Types of Short Circuit.

There are two types of electrical short circuit.

    1. Normal short circuit

    2. Ground fault short circuit

Normal Short Circuit: 

When a hot wire carrying current slams into a neutral wire, this occurs. When it occurs, the resistance will instantly decrease and a significant amount of current will flow through an unexpected channel.

Ground Fault Short Circuit:

When a hot wire carrying current makes contact with a system component that is grounded, a ground fault short circuit occurs. A grounded appliance part, bare ground wire, or a grounded metal wall box are all examples of such type system components.

Fig: Typical Electrical Circuit

What Are the Primary Reasons for Electrical Short Circuits?

Causes of Short Circuit.

Wire insulation damage:

The insulation may allow the hot wires to touch the neutral if it is worn out or broken. Short circuits will result from this. The insulation can be damaged by the wire's age, nails, or screws, which might result in a short circuit. Pests may nibble through the insulation, exposing the wire conductors underneath.

Loose wire connection:

The live and neutral wires will be able to touch if there are any loose wire connections or attachments. Do not attempt to repair broken wire connections yourself; instead, call a technician right away.

Defect in appliance:

An appliance's wiring effectively becomes an extension of the circuit when it is plugged into a wall socket. As a result, any issues with the wiring of the appliance will result in circuit issues. Short circuits can happen inside the device, in the connectors, or in the electrical cords. Make sure all of the equipment have short circuit protection.

Water or Moisture:

Electrical wiring may short circuit if it comes into touch with water or another liquid. The reason for this is that since water conducts electricity, a current could pass through it and into the ground. This may harm the wiring and result in a fire.

Faulty Outlets, Switches or appliances:

It might be time to replace your outlets, switches, and lights if your lights are flickering or if you have to jiggle your plugs to keep them from tripping. In a short circuit, where electrical current deviates from its intended route, an old or defective electrical device can be the culprit.

Circuit Overload:

Overloaded circuits are another cause of a short circuit. This occurs when too many gadgets or appliances are hooked into one circuit, overloading the system with electrical current.

Screws on live wire:

A short circuit can happen if screws or nails pierce through walls and touch live electrical lines. This major risk has the potential to start fires and electrocute people.

Short circuits can happen inside the device, in the connectors, or in the electrical cords. Make sure all of the equipment have short-circuit protection.

What Are Some Ways to Avoid an Electrical Short Circuit?

Monitoring Outlets and appliances:

There is a network of wires running from outlet to outlet. A short circuit could occur if there are any damaged wires, unsecured box connections, or if the outlet is older than 15 to 25 years.

Look out for potential warning signs of malfunctioning outlets, such as:

1. Burn marks or a burning odor on the outflow

2. Spark discharges from the outlet

3. The outlet is making a buzzing noise.

Check the wiring and appliances in a similar manner. A short circuit may be brought on by damaged appliance wiring or appliance defects. Replace or repair such appliances, as necessary.

Using electricity during storms:

The enormous quantity of electricity that can result from a lightning strike's short circuit can be quite dangerous and inflict damage. Reduce your use of electricity during a storm to help avoid short circuits and lessen the impact of power surges.

Periodic inspection:

Get an electrical inspection performed at least once a year by calling a licensed specialist. They know how to rectify a short circuit, so they can spot problems before they become harmful and fix them.

Installing protective devices:

Circuit breaker- An electrical circuit breaker is a switching mechanism that stops an abnormal current flow. Any changes in the current flow are detected by an internal system of springs or compressed air. It will "break" the circuit open and stop the current flow.

Fuse- A fuse is a tool that protects against overcurrents. It has a strip or wire of metal that melts when a lot of electricity passes through it. The circuit is broken by this.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters(GFCI)- The amount of current flowing into and out of a circuit is compared by GFCI technology. The GFCI will turn off the electricity if there is a ground fault or an imbalance in the currents coming in and going out.

Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters(AFCI)- When it notices an electric arc in the circuit, an AFCI shuts off the electricity. It aids in reducing the risk of electrical fires.

How to fix short circuit?

Finding the fault location:

Finding the shorted point in your line should be one of your first priorities. The circuit breaker must be shut off in order to accomplish this. You can see the problematic wire once the breaker has been turned off.

Repair the faulty wire:

The wire can be repaired when you've found it. This can entail cutting the wire in two or installing a new wire. If you don't feel confident doing this, you might want to hire professional electrician to complete the task.

Placing conduit for high safety:

Conduit can be added to the area after the repair is finished. Future short circuit fault will be less likely as a result.

Finally, the power can now be turned back on in the area by turning the breaker back on.