In today’s world, electricity is one of the most used forms of energy for everyday uses, so what happens if a circuit is overloaded? Without electricity, one cannot use their laptop, blow dryer, charge their phone, watch TV, or anything else that requires an electrical plug-in.
Luckily, there are signs that a circuit is being overloaded before the circuit is completely overloaded, and an overloaded circuit can be fixed.
What Is A Circuit?
First off, what even is a circuit? One needs to know what a circuit is before one can worry about an overloaded circuit.
A circuit consists of the wiring, the circuit breaker, and all the devices that are connected to the breaker. The circuit breaker is an electrical switch that protects electrical circuits from overloading.
Each device connected to the breaker uses a certain amount of electricity which adds to the total load of the circuit. The circuit has a maximum load that it can handle smoothly with all the devices added together.
What Is A Circuit Overload?
When the amount of electricity that is attempting to be used exceeds the circuit’s maximum load it can handle, then a circuit overload ensues.
When an overload occurs, a circuit breaker will trip and open up the electrical circuit, which causes the power to stop flowing through the wiring. If the circuit breaker does not trip, then the overload could damage the wiring.
With the power continuing to flow through damaged wiring, an electrical fire could occur. If the system is older, then the circuit overload could cause a fuse to be blown rather than a circuit breaker being tripped open.
It is not uncommon to overload a circuit, and anyone can do it.
Signs That A Circuit Is Overloaded
There are signs that a circuit is being overloaded, which you should watch for.
The most obvious sign that a circuit is overloaded is when the power is shut off to that circuit because the circuit breaker was tripped. If the circuit breaker is not tripped, then it is very important to notice other signs of an overload so that you can prevent an electrical fire.
If you are wanting to ensure that you have a good working circuit breaker that will trip when dangerous electric arcs ensue, look into an AFCI Breaker.
Other signs of a circuit overload include:
- Lights that are dimmer than usual or not consistently staying at one brightness level
- Buzzing outlets or switches
- Warm outlets or switches
- A burning smell
- If appliances are not running at their expected pace, for example if they are slower or even faster than usual
How To Fix An Overloaded Circuit
If you know that your circuit is overloaded, if you are able to, immediately shift the devices that were plugged into the overloaded circuit to a different general-purpose circuit.
To move a device to a different circuit, try not to use an extension cord as they are for short-term use.
Once the overloaded circuit has no devices connected to it, flip the circuit breaker back on or replace the fuse and turn everything back on.
This could be all that was needed for the circuit to be fixed, but it may not be a long-term solution.
Mapping Circuits
You will need to locate the outlets on another general-purpose circuit and find a convenient way to reach them.
General-purpose circuits are connected all throughout the household, so you will need to trace a circuit and map out the circuits yourself.
First, begin with the labels on the main panel. They are likely too vague to help you pinpoint general-purpose outlets, but they should give you some idea of where the circuits run.
Turn off the breaker at the main panel, or unscrew the fuse if it’s an older system, and go through your house testing outlets, flipping light switches, and plugging in a test light to open receptacles.
Once the circuit is mapped up, add up the existing electrical loads on them. If the total load exceeds the circuit’s rate, then there is an overload.
What Usually Causes Circuit Breakers to Trip?
There are many reasons for a breaker trip. The most common culprit comes from plugging too many items into one breaker. If, for example, you have one with 13 outlets, and you max it out by using every one of them, you’re bound to encounter trouble. This happens the most when a breaker has to support several high-energy appliances like vacuum cleaners, space heaters, and other electronic components.
Appliances that Use the Most Electricity
Of course, sometimes the biggest electricity hogs are your largest appliances, which include:
- Air Conditioners
- Water Heaters
- Televisions
- Microwaves
- Dryers
- Ovens
- Lighting
- Washing Machines
If you suspect one or more of these are overwhelming a particular breaker, then it might help to have one of us visit your home for a safety inspection. There, we can determine if there is too much plugged into a single location.
What Happens when a Breaker Trips?
When a breaker in your home trips, it means that the current flowing into it has exceeded its capacity. If this happens, then the breaker will “trip” or turn everything off, stopping the flow of electrical current to that portion of your home. This is a safety feature, but if it happens more than it should, it can become quite annoying.
Common Causes of Breaker Tripping
There are more than a few things that can result in your breakers to trip; however, here are the five common reasons this may be happening.
- Excessive use of appliances. Every breaker in your home is designed to provide a set amount of electric current. This is measured in amps. If the amps are exceeded, then the breaker is going to trip. This often happens if you buy a new TV and attempt to power it by a circuit that is already at capacity.
- Appliances that require a large amount of electricity. There are some appliances, such as hair dryers, microwaves, portable heaters and vacuums that require a large amount of power. You should always operate these on a dedicated circuit to avoid issues.
- Damaged or worn out breakers. Some situations of frequently tripped breakers have to do with the breakers in question being worn out. Just like any other tool or appliance, your breakers have a set shelf life and will eventually stop working. If and when this happens, you may notice they begin to trip at random times, or that they may stop operating completely. You can call an electrician to replace the circuit breaker in question, which will fix the issue completely.
- Lightning strikes or storms. While this isn’t the most common cause of a tripped circuit breaker, storms can cause some issues. It is a good idea to consider whole-house surge protection to help prevent this. With this in place, you can also protect your high-cost, vital home appliances.
- Bad or improper wiring. If a wire starts to become worn, or if it is damaged, it will open up the home and the circuits to short circuiting. This will result in circuit tripping, and it is quite dangerous. As a result, you need to have your home’s wiring inspected regularly to ensure no issues are present.
You can’t be too careful when it comes to the electrical components in your home. If you think there is a problem and are unsure of how to handle it, you should call the professionals for assistance.
What Are Arc Fault Circuit Breakers?
Electricity flows through the wires of our homes. We already know this is never just as easy as that. There are surges of power, power breaks, or outages, and they all disrupt the flow of electricity.
When the energy arcs, it means it peaks in a place where it didn’t intend to. This arcing area gets extremely hot and this can start a fire with any particles that happen to be around it.
However, arcing can happen anywhere in the wiring and is not always as intense as some others. Low-level arcs can be just as dangerous and not always detected by other types of overcurrent protective devices.
The whole purpose of arc fault circuit breakers is to detect all the electrical arcs, even the small ones. Small ones are just as dangerous and just as deadly as the larger ones and can lead to destroyed property, house fires, and even death.
Arc Fault Detectors
The sole purpose of an arc fault detector is to protect the circuit in a way that will reduce its chances of causing a serious electrical fire. The arc fault detectors are made to find different arcs of electricity.
Arcs can occur for many reasons. Power surges, damage to wires, or any other part of the entire electrical system. Some arcs happen quite naturally, like from the motor in your furnace or other appliances, or even turning on a light.
Normal arcs are fine, but others are very dangerous. The arc fault circuit breakers are designed to monitor both. They will detect all arcs and determine if they are normal or dangerous.
Benefits of Arc Fault Circuit Breakers
It is a smart investment in your home to have arc fault circuit breakers installed. Where other types of safety measures are in place, like GFCIs protect against electrical shock, the arc fault breakers protect your home from electrical fires.
They are suited for any 15A or 20A branch circuit, so you can have them installed in every room. You don’t need to wait for your state to require them, just get them for your own safety and peace of mind.
The traditional circuit breakers aren’t designed to detect and react to an arc fault as quickly in order to avoid dangerous conditions. An arc fault circuit breaker can go beyond detecting short circuits and overloads by analyzing the unique characteristics of an event to determine whether it is potentially hazardous.
There are over 100 electrical fries across the nation every day. Many of these can be avoided by having the right protection in place. Why risk a potential hazard when you can do something to protect your home and your family?
More on Electrical Safety
Since this topic touches on many safety matters, we thought it would be prudent to review one of our recent posts on electrical safety tips. Follow these guidelines for better safety and performance.
- Unplug the appliance you aren’t using.
This is both a safety issue and a key contributor to energy consumption. If there are kitchen appliances that you seldom use (i.e., blenders, toasters, and can openers), keep them unplugged. - Never run cords under carpets or doors.
It’s dangerous to run cords under doors and carpets, and we see it all the time in both residential and commercial settings. If you break a cord and expose the wiring, it could become a fire hazard. - Keep water away from electrical equipment.
Here’s another huge factor for managing your kitchen or bathroom space. You should only use waterproof electrical equipment in these areas. Despite all today’s modern safety measures, there are still hundreds of people who experience shock or electrocution from mixing water and electricity.
Use proper wattage for light bulbs.
Avoid high-wattage bulbs in the wrong locations. Older incandescent bulbs get hot quickly and could present a fire hazard.
Afraid Your Circuit Is Overloaded But Still Not Sure?
If you are in the Overland Park or Kansas City Metro area and need help with repairing, replacing, upgrading, or installing anything electrical in your home, Kansas City Fusion Electric is happy to help you.
We are passionate about helping those in electrical need, especially those whose circuit is overloaded since it can be dangerous; contact Kansas City Fusion Electric now!
