Stephanie Speck
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A short circuit is an electrical fault that allows current to flow along an unintended path with low impedance. Learn how short circuits can cause damage, fire, arc, and overload protection, and see related concepts in electronics.
- Terminology
- Definition
- Purpose
- Causes
- Overview
- Risks
- Introduction
- Security
- Symptoms
The term short circuit is often used somewhat incorrectly to refer to any wiring problem in an electrical circuit. Officially, though, a short circuit refers to a specific condition in which electricity strays outside the established pathway of an electrical circuit.
As the name implies, a short circuit is a condition where electrical flow completes its circuit journey via a shorter distance than is present in the established wiring. By nature, electricity seeks to return to ground, and in a properly functioning circuit, this means that the current flows through the established wiring circuit, back to the servi...
The reason this happens is that these other materials offer a pathway of lesser resistance than is present in the copper wiring of a circuit. For example, in a light switch with faulty wiring or a loose wire connection, if the bare copper hot wire touches the metal electrical box or a metal faceplate on the switch, the current will leap toward what...
The term short circuit is most commonly used to refer to the situation in which a hot wire carrying current touches a neutral wire. When this happens, resistance lessens instantly and a large volume of current flows through an unexpected pathway. When this classic short circuit occurs, sparks sometimes fly, you may hear crackling, and sometimes smo...
A ground fault is a type of short circuit that occurs when the hot wire carrying current comes into contact with some grounded portion of the system, such as a bare copper ground wire, a grounded metal wall box, or a grounded portion of an appliance. As with the classic short circuit, a ground-fault causes resistance to instantly lessen, which allo...
Old or damaged insulation may allow neutral and hot wires to touch, which can cause a short circuit. Nail and screw punctures as well as age can cause wire casings or insulation to deteriorate and allow short circuits. Or, if animal pests such as mice, rats, or squirrels gnaw on circuit wiring, the inner wire conductors can be exposed to cause shor...
When an appliance is plugged into a wall outlet, its wiring effectively becomes an extension of the circuit, and any problems in the appliance wiring become circuit problems. Old or broken appliances can develop inner short circuits over time. Short circuits in appliances can occur in the plugs, in the power cords or inside the device itself. Its b...
Because both classic short circuits and ground faults pose a danger of shock and fire, your wiring system has various means of safeguarding against those dangers. Since the 1960s, virtually all new or updated wiring systems are protected by a main service panel that houses individual circuit breakers that control individual circuits in the home. Ol...
The most common sign of a short circuit is when a circuit breaker trips and causes the circuit to shut off. However, there are other conditions that can cause a circuit breaker to trip, such as power overloads, so it is important to determine why the breaker is tripping. If a circuit breaker continues to trip immediately after being reset, it is a ...
- 2 min
A short circuit is an unintended connection between two points in an electrical system that allows excessive current flow. Learn the causes, dangers, and prevention of short circuits, and how to identify and protect your electrical system from them.
Nov 11, 2017 · A short circuit is a connection between two parts of an electrical circuit that you don’t want to be there. It can cause electrocution, fire, or device failure. Learn how a short circuit works and why it is dangerous.
Learn the meaning of short circuit as a noun and a verb, with synonyms and related words. See how to use short circuit in sentences and phrases from the Cambridge English Corpus and the Hansard archive.
A military robot becomes self-aware and escapes after being struck by lightning. Watch the trailer, see the cast and crew, read user and critic reviews, and find out more about this 1986 family-friendly movie.
Oct 3, 2018 · Learn what short circuit is, why it is important, and how to calculate it for DC and AC circuits. Find out the role of symmetrical components, sequence currents, and protection devices in short circuit analysis.
