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Electricity is designed to complete a circuit. For example, it comes into your house by way of the hot wire. Then it goes through the electrical box and through the fuse system. Finally it goes through a light bulb or some other electrical devise. Then it goes back through the neutral wire. It wants to get back to the neutral wire without doing any work. In a way, electricity acts like a river. A little stream leaves the river to run your lightbulb. However, every now and then, there is a short circuit. The circuit leading to the light bulb develops a short circuit. In that case, a lot more electricity than should tries to go through the little wire that led to the light bulb. It wants to get to the neutral wire. It is like a river overflowing through a little stream and creating a flood. It can burn out the little wire and set the house on fire. The flood runs into a culvert which holds back the flood. The short circuit blows a fuse or throws a circuit breaker and the house does not burn down. Every now and then the main fuse box blows out and a house burns down. Every now and then a wire falls down outside and people walk close to it. The ground is full of electricity and the people are killed. So a short circuit happens when electricity completes a circuit without doing any work. It is dangerious when a fuse does not blow.

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How can short circuit damage devices?

A short circuit can damage devices by allowing an excessive current to flow through the circuit, which can generate heat and potentially cause components to overheat or burn out. This can lead to damage to the device's components or even start a fire.


What device can break an electric circuit?

There are 2 different types of these devices: circuit breakers (which can be reset after the problem is fixed) and fuses (which must be replaced after the problem is fixed).


What devices shutdown immediately if a short circuit occurs?

A circuit breaker shuts down and can be reset. (A fuse does not "shutdown", it fails, or blows, or breaks and cannot be reused.) "Immediately" usually has a small delay and nothing is instantaneous.


What are 2 protective devices used to open a circuit?

The GSR plug is the newest device to perform this function. It becomes a mini circuit breaker for the circuit and is critical for high risk areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.The basic circuit breaker is another device. It opens the circuit when the amperage exceeds the rating of the breaker. It is a device that can be reset.The electrical fuse is the eldest of the devices. The disadvantage is that it must be replaced when the circuit is opened by overload.Circuit breakers and their cheap alternative, fuses, are used to disconnect the power if an excessive current flows.


How does short circuit occur?

A short circuit occurs when a low-resistance path is created between two points in a circuit, causing excessive current flow. This can happen due to a wire touching another wire, a conductor coming into contact with metal objects, or a component failure. When a short circuit occurs, it can potentially lead to overheating, damage to components, and even fire.

Related Questions

What effect does adding devices have on the resistance of the series circuit?

Many circuits have safety devices such as fuse. A fuse contains a substance that melts if it gets hot. if a short circuit happens, the heat causes the fuse to melt. The circuit is broken. because the current stops ,no damage is done.


What is the effect of transformer impedance on short circuit current?

Short circuit current will increase a lot.


Can inserting a resistor in a circuit have an effect similar to an short circuit?

It creates an extra load to the circuit if placed parallel to other circuits. this load approaches the equivalent of a short circuit as the resistance value placed there reduces.


How can short circuit damage devices?

A short circuit can damage devices by allowing an excessive current to flow through the circuit, which can generate heat and potentially cause components to overheat or burn out. This can lead to damage to the device's components or even start a fire.


Fuses increase or decrease the voltage of a current electrcity?

Fuses have absolutely no effect whatsoever on the voltage applied to a circuit. Fuses are simply overcurrent protection devices, intended to disconnect the circuit in the event of a sustained overload current or a short-circuit fault current.


What are the devices contain in a circuit breaker?

The devices contained in a circuit breaker consist of a bi metal strip for over load protection and a small wrap of wire in the form of a coil for magnetic short circuit trip.


What is the effect on the current when a short circuit occurs?

The current increases.


What could be causing the circuit trip in my electrical system?

The circuit trip in your electrical system could be caused by an overload of electrical devices on the circuit, a short circuit, or a ground fault.


Why is the circuit breaker tripping?

The circuit breaker is tripping because there is an overload of electrical current flowing through the circuit, which can be caused by too many devices plugged in or a short circuit.


Short note on parity generator and checker?

devices and simulate the circuit using the VHDL codes.


How does a short circuit breaker work to prevent electrical fires and protect the circuit from damage?

A short circuit breaker works by detecting abnormal levels of electrical current in a circuit. When it senses a short circuit or overload, it quickly interrupts the flow of electricity to prevent overheating and potential fires. This helps protect the circuit and connected devices from damage.


What is the purpose of a circuit breaker in an electrical system, and how does it help to protect the circuit from overloads and short circuits?

A circuit breaker is a safety device that automatically cuts off the flow of electricity in a circuit when it detects an overload or a short circuit. This helps to protect the circuit and prevent damage to electrical devices or fires.