Do you often find yourself sitting in a room that suddenly turns dark? Or, perhaps your television switches off, as well as everything else around it? When these events happen, it's usually because a circuit breaker is tripping. If your breakers trip regularly, you'll need to identify why. 

You're Overloading Them

Circuit breakers act as safety devices. They take on a certain amount of electricity to prevent fires and other adverse events. When you place too much strain on them, they trip as it's their job to do so. For example, if your breaker can hold 20 amps of current and you're running enough devices to generate 30 amps at once, it will trip. An easy fix for this scenario is for you to run fewer devices at once. Or, you can try running one of those devices in another room so you can spread the ampage load. However, this is also a sign that your current breakers aren't modern enough to handle your lifestyle. As such, it's worth asking an electrician if they can perform upgrades that modernise your home's electrics.

Faulty Wiring

Faulty wiring can result in short circuits. When a short circuit occurs, your breaker will trip to reduce the risk of fire. Usually, this is because the faulty wiring has caused two types of wire to come into contact with one another. When those wires come into contact with each other, they'll generate enough electricity to force the circuit to trip. Faulty wiring may be the cause if circuits are tripping in multiple rooms or you're not running too many devices. If you're noticing burning smells or discolouration around electrical points, contact an emergency electrician. They can assess whether your faulty wiring needs an urgent response.

A Bad Circuit

Sometimes overloading devices and faulty wiring aren't to blame. Circuits can degrade over time, particularly if they undergo a lot of stress. Take a look at the circuit and look for visual cues such as scorch marks or discolouration. You may also notice that the circuit is emitting heat, which isn't normal. Another sign is that it trips despite you resetting it and not overloading it. You might also notice a burning smell coming from the electrical box that houses it. Don't try to replace a bad circuit yourself, as it may be more dangerous than you're assuming. Instead, ask an electrician to examine it and they'll replace it safely. While they're there, they should also assess the other circuits in your electrical box.

To learn more, contact a company like Shane Hill Electrical Pty Ltd.

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