There was a time when people ate their dinner just before the sun set. At night, people rely on earthen lamps, studying & working under them. Battery torches were used for a movement at nights.
Battery powered Radios were the mode of news teleportation. Local news were circulated through people gathering under the trees. In houses, Children learns maximum from their seniors of the family.
‘Woods ‘& ‘forest ‘materials are the energy sources for sand made natural burner. Those were the days, Bullock or cycle were the mode of transportation.
But now days everything just changed due to the development. Even nights were converted into a work places making the world sleepless.
Electricity has changed everything. Earthen lamps just disappears & replaced by LED. Radios get vanished. Mobile phones & TVs have become the source of news distribution.
People are eating their dinner at mid night under the led lights. Seniors & children are working on their individual gadgets or phones. The interaction between the child & parents get reduced.
Induction plates have become source of food preparation. Bullock or cart are replaced by E-vehicles powered by Batteries.
Due to the extreme development in the field of electrical, Electricity has become the most basic need today. Electricity is a sign of progress. However, it can also be a sign of disaster if not used in an appropriate way!
This post specially designed for most common electrical faults in homes. Further, it elaborates the technique to fix & prevent it.
Most common electrical faults in homes & how to fix (or detect) them
Every single electrical fault is dangerous which should be prevented. There are multiple steps & actions which prevents the happening of these electrical faults.
Next, most common electrical faults are been discussed along with their respective reasons, corrective actions & preventive actions !
Flickering lights
Flickering lights are one of the most common Electrical faults in homes. Most of the cases, Reason is faulty lights. But there are some other reasons that are responsible for flickering lights such as loose wiring & voltage fluctuation.
Loose connection : ‘Loose connection is one; in which terminal is not tightened up to the required torque. ‘
Due to loose connection, conductivity disturbs. Continuous connection & disconnection happening creates transient across the circuit. Loose connection also creates spark in between the contacts Which results in flickering. Over the time, contact get burnt & melted. Situation get more worsen When phenomenon results in short circuit & fire !
Voltage fluctuation : Faulty line or Extra loading or improper load distribution creates voltage fluctuation across the circuit. Which results; bulb flickers.
Corrective action
First of all, flickering should be checked by replacing the bulb. Whether it is bulb faulty or distribution line is faulty.
If distribution line is faulty call certified technician than Check the total distribution line. Check the voltage, starting from bulbs terminals and switch board and at last main distribution board.
Preventive action for lights flickering
Total distribution should be commenced by well qualified & certified technicians.
Burnt wire
There are multiple reasons of burnt wire, such as;
- Overload
- Short circuit
- loose connection
- high voltage
- Improper distribution
Overload : In Electrical, Overload represents the phenomenon; Where excess current flows more than the rated capacity of the entity. Entity such as machine, wire or cable. Overload is a slow occurring phenomenon in which wire burns slowly & takes time. Overload produces slow burn.
Short circuit : Short circuit is rapid phenomenon where current flows much higher than the rated capacity of the setup. A short circuit occurs when the insulation of a machine element becomes damaged. This damage allows the phase or positive to connect directly to neutral or earth. Short circuit also happens due to wrong connection. Short circuit burns the wire rapidly.
Loose connection : Loose connection is crime in Electrical ! Loose connection creates sparking. Due to continuous spark, wire & terminal get burnt. Loose connection is one of the major reason of burnt wire.
High voltage Higher than standard voltage : Machines & devices are designed according to voltage standard. Its insulation is designed according to voltage standard. High voltage higher than standard voltage damages the insulation of the machine. Due to damaged wire’s insulation short circuit get happened & Wire starts burning.
Improper distribution : The insulation of a wire links to voltage. Its conductor thickness and material type, All are linked to its current-carrying capacity. Due to wrong wire size, unbalanced load distribution, higher current flows through the cables more than its capacity. Which results wire starts burning. The Mcb selection is also an important part of distribution. It should be arranged according to the load. It should not be much higher nor be lower. It must be balanced!
Corrective or first step for burnt wire
First of all, Burnt wire connected load should be disconnected by shifting the Mcb to trip position. Hire the qualified person to find out the cause of burnt wire such as faulty load, loose connection, imperfect distribution.
Preventive actions for Burnt wire
- By arranging the right distribution system, Faults like overloads, short circuit & improper distribution can be eliminated.
- Electrical work should be commenced by a technical personal only. Only than wrong & loose wiring type crime can be eliminated.
- Voltage stabilizer & surge arrester should be connected in distribution systems to prevent high voltage appearance in system.
- Every machines has name plate which contains the safe working limits. Machine should be operated according to the limits. For example – Let suppose, An electrical connection is required for 2 Ton AC unit having the rated voltage 230V AC. The rated current will be approx. 10 amps. For that load, A stabilizer of minimum 3.6 KVA must be connected with 2.5 mm sq. copper cable. Mcb rating should be C16 DP(double pole).
frequent MCB tripping
Mcb stands for ‘Miniature circuit breaker‘. Mcb are specially designed to trip the circuit in overload & short circuit conditions. Mcb are lower current rated circuit breakers available up to 100 Amps .
Mcb tripping is not a fault. Rather it is a prevention of fault or indication toward some faults such as ‘overload‘ & ‘short circuit‘. Apart from that there are more reasons of Mcb tripping such as :
Corrective action for frequent Mcb tripping
A technical personal should be hired in this scenario.
First of all, Circuit connected with tripped Mcb should be thoroughly checked. Trace out the connections, terminals & finally the load of tripped circuit. Gather the information type of load, its rating, condition of the load whether it is in condition of running. Mechanically sound or not ? Condition of the wire or cable. Any burning sign or smell ?
Whatever the thing is faulty ; whether it is load, wiring, circuit breaker & switching element; should be eliminated.
Preventive action for frequent Mcb tripping
Shock or tingling sensation
Some people have wrong misconception about a tingling sensation from domestic 230V AC supply. They can think that single phase voltage up to 230V AC is not dangerous.
We get a tingling sensation for two reasons. Either the voltage is low. Or only a limited current flows through our body such as current doesn’t get a complete path for proper flow.
“For further explanation, We should know the mechanism of current flow which is responsible for shock.”
Only single potential node can not do anything. Load only works when rated current flow through it. Current only flows when required potential difference in applied across the load.
Potential difference : It is the difference of potential on two nodes. The resultant potential from the potential difference is the pressure, which is responsible for the current flow.
For current flow, there should be 2 nodes with potential difference. Only then current can flow. That’s the reason birds sitting on high tension lines do not get electrocuted. There is only a single node of higher potential. On the bird, There is no second node for current return or drain.
‘One more phenomenon of current flow is discussed through a GIF below :’
Current does not flow when two ends are placed at an equal level. Alternatively, we can say when there is a single level, no current flows. When one end falls below, a potential difference is created, two ends get created which carry some difference in between. Which results current starts flowing.
Ever wonder, Bird sitting on high tension cable not get electrocuted. While we, While standing on this earth get electrocuted, Why ??
The answer is- Because this earth act link a sink & provide a path for current flow. Due to this earth, even we are in contact with single potential node, phenomenon of potential difference get created. Current flow through our body from higher potential node to lowest potential node. as described in an image below :
Adverse effect of current levels on human body is shared below which published on Irish health & safety authority website.
We can conclude that when current flows through the body at less than 5mA, we get a harmless tingling sensation. The level of electrocution depends on multiple factors. These factors include the current intensity, time of current flow, and the current path which body part it flows!
Next time, We should thank God, If only get a tingling sensation !
Reasons of Electrical shock & tingling sensation
- Electrical loads insulation get weak or damaged
- Faulty Electrical load
- Weak or absence of Earthing
- Wrong connection
- Wet switches oṙ wet body
Preventive action for shock & tingling sensation
Earthing: Earthing is type of “sink node” or “potentially zero node”. Earthingis been created by digging the conductor deep down under the earth with minimum depth of 10 feet. Additive been poured around the buried conductor to minimize the earthing resistance which makes the Earthing better.
The chances of induction or insulation damage is always. The metallic body of electrical appliance always remains at a risk of potential Which can be eliminated through Earthing. In which Earthingis connected to the metallic body of Electrical load.
RCCB :
In a table of shock physiological effects above, We have seen current more than 5 mA is dangerous. But in our house or working areas, We have seen minimum Mcb rating of 1 Amp. That means normal circuit breaker can not safe us from electrocution.
Current rating of Mcb defines the maximum current up to that Mcb do not trips. For example, C32 Amps Mcb continuously work up to 32 Amps without getting trip..
From the protection of current leakages & safety from induced potential, RCCB are developed.
RCCB stands for “Residual current circuit breaker“. RCCB are specially designed circuit breaker Which trips in circumstances of current leakage. For example- 2 pole RCCB connected on phase-neutral supply. RCCB do not trip until same current flows in phase line & neutral line.
Electrical mats : Electrical mat provides insulation beneath the feet. We should always try to insulate the feet before operating the electrical switch.
Dry body : While operating the electrical switch, Our body should be dry. Because wet body lower the overall resistance of the body Which further increases the risk of electrocution.
Well insulated & dry footwear
Well organized & dry place for electrical loads
Voltage fluctuation or Dim voltage
Electrical machines are designed for particular voltage range. At that range, Machines provides optimum output at maximum efficiency. Machine should be operated in between that range.
But due to Improper distribution & loose wiring, Voltage fluctuate across the distribution line.
Improper distribution concludes:
- Excessive load across the circuit & transformer working under the overload condition.
- When Distribution circuit is star configured transformer. But neutral is not properly earthed.
- Uneven distribution across all the three phases Which results one the line get overloaded & voltage drops.
Rapid Action or corrective action
All the important loads should be switched off. Hire, qualified person to monitor the range of the voltage fluctuation. Find out the reason of voltage fluctuation !
Preventive action
- Voltage stabilizer with appropriate voltage range
- Voltage monitoring device
Neutral break
Neural is a type of sink node, a type of return path, Ideally its potential is ‘zero‘. The node Neural originates from transformer’s winding.
In single phase distribution system, line current flows through the load from phase to neutral. Neutral originates from the mid point of ‘star winding connection’.
A gif below shows the winding configuration. In star winding configuration, 3 coils are arranged. Each coil’s terminal is connected together and a junction is made. That mid point wok as ‘Neutral node‘.
Neural break is dangerous phenomenon which can damage the total distribution system in along with total loads. This happens when neutral get break in 3 phase distribution system. Which results 2 phases appear across the loads Which results load get damaged.
Neural breaks phenomenon is described through 2 single line diagram below :
A normal 3 phase distribution circuit is shown below. In which star configured transformer output is connected across the loads. Load 1 is connected across the Red phase & neutral. Load 2 is connected across the yellow phase & neutral. Load 3 is connected across the blue phase & neutral. We can say neutral is common.
An abnormal 3 phase distribution circuit is shown below. The neutral breaks across load 2 & load 3. As a result, a 2 phase supply appears across load 2 & load 3. Loads can get damaged.
Correction action for neutral break
Circuit breaker should be shifted in off position. A technician should be called promptly.
Preventive action for neutral break
- Voltage stabilizer with tripping facility in Neural break scenario
- Voltage monitoring device
- Well organized distribution system
SUMMARY
- The post discusses the evolution of electricity and its impact on daily life. It emphasizes the shift from traditional practices to modern electrical dependency.
- It highlights common electrical faults in households. Issues include flickering lights, burnt wires, and frequent Mcb tripping. Neutral break and electrical shocks are also covered, along with their causes and preventive measures.
- The text stresses the importance of hiring qualified professionals for electrical work to avoid hazards like overloads and short circuits.
- It also explains the concept of earthing and the use of RCCBs to protect against electrical shocks.
- The necessity of proper voltage management and safe wiring practices for effective electrical system operation.