Why does an overloaded electric circuit catch fire?

Answer 1

An overloaded electric circuit does not catch fire. The overload protection of the circuit trips the circuit open before this condition could start. An electrical overload is the build up of heat over a certain period of time. This heat build up is not hot enough nor fast enough to ignite any surrounding combustible material. Once the current level in the conductor reaches the trip point of the over current device the circuit opens. This reduces any heat that was generated, which is well below the combustion point of any regular surrounding materials, there by avoiding any fire threat.

Answer 2

An overloaded electric circuit can catch fire because the excess current produces heat, which can ignite nearby insulation or materials. This can lead to a short circuit or an electrical arc that can cause a fire. It is important to avoid overloading circuits to prevent this risk.