Causes and solutions

The three main causes of electrical network overload are:

• Excessive load on the specified power supply branch.
• The use of electrical appliances whose real power exceeds the nominal value due to breakdown of the electrical filling.
• Untimely replacement of wires due to their physical deterioration.

Excess

The first can be attributed to the situation when problems begin when connecting several devices to the same port. If you do not pay attention to them, the consequences will be very sad (at least as in the photo below).

So, we give a specific example: we have a socket for two sockets and we want to connect a washing machine and a microwave oven to it at the same time. In total, it consumes, for example, 3.5 kilowatts. We turn on both devices, there is a click in the corridor – the light went out. Circuit breakers tripped. We come to him and read – 10 amps. This means that this machine cuts the load above this limit, and in terms of power (we multiply the amperes by the standard network voltage of 220 V) this is 2.2 kilowatts.

Here you can already make a fatal mistake – replace the device with another one, with a maximum of 16 amperes and above. Plugging two powerful devices back into a power outlet, we smell the unpleasant smell of burning electrical wires (this may be the cause of a fire, which is the cause of a fatal error). We turn it off, look at the outlet, it also says 10A. And again we run to the hardware store for a new 16A socket, more resistant to overload. It will definitely handle 3500 watts of power.

But once it was in place, the situation didn’t get any better — we were still choking on the plastic amber. How is that? Already the device and the socket have been changed. Now leads the wire. It is true that he does not let us down, but rather us. The wire is also an element of electrical current, and during construction it is laid, like a machine with a socket, with the load calculated on the current strength of 10 amperes.

To replace the wire, you have to be tight – this is already very laborious work, consisting in dismantling the wall decoration in the places where it is placed. Therefore, we are forced to admit with pain in our hearts – the devices will have to be operated separately, and the money for more powerful electrical equipment has been wasted.

True, not in vain. We will still buy a strong wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm² and draw it from the shield with a new machine through cable channels with a new 16 A socket. This is just an appearance that will be hopelessly spoiled.

The moral is that in order to provide protection against overpower, you need to ensure that absolutely all of its elements are not subject to loads higher than their nominal value in a given area.

For this, even at the construction or repair stage, it is necessary to carefully plan how many electrical appliances will be used, how they will be located, and how much energy they will consume.

Choose according to freely available tables the necessary electrical equipment, and take it with a margin. For example, we will have enough wire 3 x 2.5 mm2, we will overpay and take 3 x 4 mm2, a more powerful outlet and choose the appropriate device – and then there will be no problems with the wiring for several decades – it will be very difficult to load This electrical network.

We also recommend studying information on how to divide wires into groups, which is an equally effective method of protection against excess power in the apartment and house.

Malfunction in electrical appliances

We will understand what it is and what it threatens. In fact, this is a special case of overload of the electrical network, only here everything is nominally based on science, but in reality the power of the device is exceeded. This can happen for a number of reasons; Its inclusion makes no sense. There is only one defense against the situation – a circuit breaker whether difavtomat (combining the functions of the machine and the RCD). If all equal to you knocks the cork in the shield – the device must be repaired or replaced.

Replace the wires in time

Everything is clear here too. This is how the problem arises – old wires in places of contact, bends and movements gradually collapse and wear out. In these areas, the cross-section of the living part decreases sharply, and with it the production becomes lower. Especially for sealed aluminum in all old apartments. To provide protection against fire, electric shock, short circuit and, of course, overload of pipes, it is sometimes necessary to repair the wiring. On how to replace wiring in an apartment, we detailed in a separate article.

Conclusion

Thanks to the article, the reader found out how to protect yourself from electrical overloads. But in the end, there is another sure way to protect – seek the help of an experienced electrician and periodically check for faults in the network, even if it is relatively new.

So we examined the main causes of overload of the electricity network, the consequences of this phenomenon, as well as methods of protection at home. We hope the information is useful and interesting for you!