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An electrical load is an electrical component or portion of a circuit that consumes (active) electric power, [1] [2] such as electrical appliances and lights inside the home. The term may also refer to the power consumed by a circuit. This is opposed to a power supply source, such as a battery or generator, which provides power. [2]
In an electric power system, overcurrent or excess current is a situation where a larger than intended electric current exists through a conductor, leading to excessive generation of heat, and the risk of fire or damage to equipment.
Tree limbs cause a short circuit, triggering an electrical arc during a storm. A short circuit (sometimes abbreviated to short or s/c) is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance. This results in an excessive current flowing through the circuit.
Current limiting is the practice of imposing a limit on the current that may be delivered to a load to protect the circuit generating or transmitting the current from harmful effects due to a short-circuit or overload. The term "current limiting" is also used to define a type of overcurrent protective device.
The branch of physics that studies electrical charges and electrical currents. electrolyte A liquid or solid medium that carries electric current in the form of ions. electromagnet A magnet that generates a magnetic field from an electric current. electromagnetic compatibility The control of unwanted electromagnetic interference ...
Inrush current, input surge current, or switch-on surge is the maximal instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on. Alternating-current electric motors and transformers may draw several times their normal full-load current when first energized, for a few cycles of the input waveform.
Electric motors need overcurrent protection to prevent damage from over-loading the motor, or to protect against short circuits in connecting cables or internal faults in the motor windings. [25] The overload sensing devices are a form of heat operated relay where a coil heats a bimetallic strip , or where a solder pot melts, to operate ...
A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by current in excess of that which the equipment can safely carry (overcurrent). Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent fire .