Electricity flows in a circuit. A short circuit or short circuit occurs when the energy flow moves outside the intended flow. Whatever the cause of this annoyance, you must address it immediately. Otherwise, it can be dangerous for you and your appliance or equipment and electric breaker. Can also cause fire. Some of the causes of electrical short circuit are as follows.
1. Broken Circuit Wire Insulation
If the insulation is damaged or old, this could cause the hot wires to come into contact with the neutral, causing a short circuit. Aged wire, nails or screws can damage the insulation. There is also a risk that pests can eat away at the insulation and expose the wire conductors.
2. Loose Cable Connection
If there is a loose power cord connection, this will allow the current-carrying wire and neutral to come into contact. If you see a faulty cable connection, don’t try to fix it yourself. It would be better to contact a professional immediately.
3. Damaged Equipment Cable Condition
If you plug the appliance into a wall power outlet, the wire will become an extension of the circuit. Therefore, if there is a problem in the wiring of the tool, then of course it will be a circuit problem. A short circuit can occur in the power cord, plug, or inside the appliance. Be sure to get short circuit protection for all electronic equipment in your home.
Types of Electric Short Circuit
The following are the different types of electrical shorts that can happen to you.
1. Normal Short Circuit
This can happen when the current-carrying electrical wire comes into contact with the neutral wire. When this happens, resistance drops instantly and large amounts of current flow through unexpected paths.
2. Ground Fault Short circuit
This will occur when the current-carrying wires come into contact with grounded parts of the system. This could be an embedded metal wall box, bare ground wires, or an embedded piece of equipment.
Always Pay Attention to Your Outlets & Equipment
Each outlet has a network of wires connected to it. If any of the cables are damaged, the connections are loose or if the outlet is more than 15-25 years old, this can cause a short circuit. Watch for signs that may indicate a faulty outlet, which include:
Burn marks at outlets or smell of burnt wires
Sparks coming out of the socket
Buzzing sound from the power outlet