One of the most common and dangerous electrical issues in a residential or commercial area is the overloading of the electric circuit. In case of the absence of the breaker in the circuit, the circuit wires might overheat and melt during overloading, which might result in fire. As overloaded electrical circuits are one of the primary reasons for fire hazards, it has become essential to be familiar with the warning indications and understand how to organize the power consumption in your residence.
What Is An Electric Circuit And How It Works
Electric circuits contain various parts, such as wiring, fuse or breaker, and various devices and appliances attached to them like. The usage of power by the appliances that are connected to the circuit will raise the circuit’s overall load. When a device is operating, it utilizes a specific amount of power, and an emergency electrician can help in fixing circuit overloading and other electrical wiring issues.
All the operating gadgets will increase the circuit’s load as they use electricity. Circuits can only handle a specific quantity of power. When there are several items operating on a single circuit, overloading occurs as the usage of electricity exceeds the amount that the circuit can deal with. The load ratings of circuits vary, which is why specific circuits can handle more power usage.
7 Typical Signs Of Circuit Overload And Quick Solutions
Below we have listed the most common signs that indicate the overloading of electric circuits, along with the solutions to fix them.
- Dull, Flickering, Or Dimming Lights
If you see that the lighting fixtures start to dim, flicker, or blink, there is a high chance that this is the result of an overloaded circuit. In many cases, the lighting fixtures might not be receiving sufficient power when the electricity usage is high by other appliances in your house. Thus, it is best to reach out to a licensed electrician to know what exactly is happening.
- Warm or Discolored Wall Plates
The wall plates or covers of the power portal protect the outlets and are made to resist heat and shield people from the electrical cables that are present inside. The warning signs of the overloaded circuit include outlet cover discoloration and warm outlet covers.
- Burning Odor
One of the easily noticeable signs of overloading of electric circuits is a burning odor from the wall switches or receptacles. It is important to know that burning odors or burnt marks on the switches or power outlet covers can also arise due to other severe electrical wiring problems.
- Buzzing or Hissing Sounds
When the devices or any lighting fixtures are running at the moment, and if you hear any buzzing, sizzling, or clicking noises from the appliances, it might be due to an overloaded circuit. To be sure, it is better to plug the device that is making sounds into another portal. If you no longer hear any noise, it means that the previous circuit was overloaded.
- Mild Shock from Appliances
While plugging the devices into the power outlet, if you feel slight electric shocks, it can be considered a sign of overloading. In the case of overloaded circuits, there is a high chance that you might experience tingling sensations or shocks from receptacles, switches, or devices.
- Appliances Are Operating Sluggish
Another underrated sign of overloading of the electric circuit is the slow operation of appliances. Due to the overloaded circuit, the electronics, kitchen appliances, and other power tools may not work as powerfully as they used to operate before.
- Tripped Circuit Breakers
If the power in a power or specific area of the room goes out frequently, it can be a sign of an overloaded circuit. It is better to confirm that you have not connected an excessive number of gadgets or extension cords to a single power outlet. In the case of ancient residences, this can happen due to blown fuses.
How To Fix Electrical Overload In Five Steps?
Circuit breakers normally help in dodging fire hazards, particularly in the case of overloading. However, the best bet is to take necessary precautions to avoid overloads. Make sure to go through the below-listed 5 steps that will help you resolve electric overloading:
- Check the circuit breaker box to find the switch that was switched off.
- Remove all the items that are connected to that circuit.
- Switch off the lighting fixtures.
- Re-engage the switch of the circuit.
- Now, put the devices into the power outlets.
How To Deter Electric Circuit Overloading?
One should be familiar with the amperage of the breakers in order to deter a circuit overload. According to the Electrical Code’s safety criteria, a circuit can be loaded up to 80% of its total amperage rating. Knowing how much power various types of devices use will help you deter the overloading of the circuit.
Check which outlets are attached to the exact circuit, and do not plug devices that consume 1,000 watts or more into a single outlet or circuit. You should avoid plugging two or more heat-producing devices into an outlet at once. Make sure to check the kitchen’s devices and ensure that they are not consuming power from the same outlet.
Check if there are any exposed wires or insulation breaks on the cables of the devices that are attached to the power outlets. The real wire is created kitchenwith copper, and it is located on the inside, while the insulator is on the outside. Make sure that the insulator is intact and that no cord is revealing.
Avoid connecting too many appliances to multi-outlet converters or extension cables. All large devices that consume more power should be plugged into a power socket. Extension cables must not be used as permanent wires because they are only intended for temporary use.
Bottom Line
In case you have come across these overload signs, it is best to solve them quickly in order to reduce the damage. It is recommended to contact reliable electricians so that they can fix the problem before it gets heavily dangerous. Skilled electricians can easily figure out the electrical systems’ problems and solve them as soon as possible. By preventing the overloading of the electric circuits, it is possible to deter wires from heating and melting, so there will be no fire.
