Have you ever plugged in one holiday light too many? If you have, chances are that the lights suddenly switched off, which is a classic indicator of a circuit overload. That shutdown was triggered by the circuit breaker in your home’s service panel. As reliable as these breakers are, however, it’s better to manage your electricity usage and prevent overloads altogether.
Not sure how circuit overloads happen? Read on to learn more about this phenomenon, how to recognize it, and the best ways to prevent it!
What Is an Overloaded Circuit?
A circuit overload occurs when the demand of a circuit exceeds its capacity, which is measured in amps. Think of your home’s electrical system as a series of roadways, where each road is a circuit that can only handle so much traffic at one time. Once the amount of traffic (or electric current) going through it exceeds its capacity, it will cause the breaker to flip.
If there were no breaker in the system (or it doesn’t trip fast enough), overloaded wiring may overheat, melting the wire insulation and causing a fire. Alternatively, any household appliances plugged into the circuit may suffer electrical damage.
Signs of Overloaded Circuits
As mentioned, the most obvious sign of a circuit overload is the breaker flipping and shutting off the power. However, there are some other signs that may go ignored:
- Buzzing switches or outlets
- Lights dimming when you turn on more appliances
- Burning smells from switches or outlets
- Switch or outlet covers that are warm to the touch
- Appliances and power tools that don’t get enough power
Some of these signs, such as buzzing sounds and burning smells, can also indicate other wiring issues. If they still occur after you’ve taken steps to prevent circuit overloads (see below), have a professional electrician take a look at them.
How to Prevent Circuit Overloads
The best way to stay ahead of electrical issues is to take a circuit-by-circuit method to prevent overloads. First, head to the electric box and find the breaker switch that corresponds to the troublesome circuit. It will usually be rated for 15 or 20 amps, which is the most it can safely deliver. Add up the amperage of all devices on the circuit and keep it under the circuit’s capacity.
For appliances that use a lot of energy, such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators, you may want to take a different approach. Some of these appliances will naturally consume most of their circuit’s amperage, so it may be better to give them their own dedicated circuit.
