Short circuits have always been the weakest element of electrical systems. The occurrence of such a phenomenon leads to the deterioration of the systems and, if it is not managed in the right way, can have far more serious consequences, such as a fire.
Before talking about how to avoid a short circuit in an electrical system, let’s try to better define what a short circuit is and how it shows itself.
If we want to define a short circuit in technical terms, we can say that it is a phenomenon where the neutral wire and the phase wire accidentally come into contact, leading to a passage of strong current inside the electrical system and causing its malfunction. Usually, short circuits occur in old buildings, where electrical systems are so worn out that they no longer work as effectively as when they were designed. Unfortunately, statistics confirm that short circuits are one of the most serious accidents that can occur in a house (not to mention more complex environments) and one of the main causes of domestic accidental death. But how do we prevent and avoid a short circuit? And what are the behaviours to keep inside a house to avoid such a phenomenon? Let’s have a closer look in the following paragraphs!
Tips for preventing a short circuit
As experts in home automation and electricity say, having an electrical system that complies with standards is a necessary condition, but not sufficient to live in a safe home. The reason for this is very simple: although the installation is compliant with the Law 60/90 on the regulation of electrical installations, we must take into consideration that the wires and sockets of the system can deteriorate over the years. Therefore, our first advice is to do periodic maintenance.
Moreover, if you notice that some cables are worn or filaments are open, it is advisable to replace them as soon as possible, as a further deterioration of the cable can increase the risk of short circuits. Of course, we suggest relying on experienced and qualified electricians.
Another advice to avoid fires and explosions caused by short circuits, is to avoid overloading your electrical sockets, thus avoiding the use of adaptors or multiple plugs. Powering multiple devices through a single socket, can cause the overheating of the conductors and cause a short circuit. It is therefore important to respect the limits of the electricity consumption written on the socket (which are usually around 1500 Watts).
Moreover, the industry experts recommend installing power strips rather than adaptors or multiple plugs.
Advice for household appliances
Another useful advice to avoid a short circuit in your own house is to use your appliances with due caution and to periodically make them controlled by an expert technician in the field.
When cleaning an appliance, it is absolutely necessary to remove the plug from the socket beforehand to prevent, for instance, that the liquid you used to clean it, for example, reaches the socket and causes a short circuit. It may seem useless to say it, but too many people still do not take basic safety measures for these cleaning jobs.
If you want to buy a new appliance, before buying it, it is advisable to check that it guarantees a high degree of energy efficiency, safety, and quality. In this regard, it should be remembered that the products sold on the market must have the CE mark, i.e. the guarantee of compliance with the requirements and regulations in force in the territory of the European Union.
A further suggestion, however obvious it may be, is not to leave the electrical equipment on the passageways and not to place electrical sockets or wires too close to curtains, blankets or carpets.