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A high-resistance connection (HRC) is a hazard that results from loose or poor connections in traditional electrical accessories and switchgear which can cause heat to develop, capable of starting a fire. [1] Glowing connections occur when relatively high current exists in a relatively large resistance object. Heat comes from power dissipation ...
A ground fault (earth fault) is any failure that allows unintended connection of power circuit conductors with the earth. [citation needed] Such faults can cause objectionable circulating currents, or may energize the housings of equipment at a dangerous voltage. Some special power distribution systems may be designed to tolerate a single ...
A simple solution is to add electrical impedance to the circuit. This limits the rate at which current can increase, which limits the level the fault current can rise to before the breaker is opened. However, this also limits the ability of the circuit to satisfy rapidly changing demand, so the addition or removal of large loads causes unstable ...
A resistor removed from a high voltage tube circuit shows damage from voltaic arcing on the resistive metal oxide layer. Resistors can fail open or short, alongside their value changing under environmental conditions and outside performance limits. Examples of resistor failures include: Manufacturing defects causing intermittent problems.
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.
Circuit-breakers can be placed at portions of a circuit in series to the path of current it will affect. If more current than expected goes through the circuit-breaker, the circuit breaker "opens" the circuit and stops all current. A fuse is a common type of circuit breaker that involves direct effect of Joule-overheating.
Bad contacts are the cause of failure or poor performance in a wide variety of electrical devices. For example, corroded jumper cable clamps can frustrate attempts to start a vehicle that has a low battery. Dirty or corroded contacts on a fuse or its holder can give the false impression that the fuse is blown.
Two types of wiring protection are standard thermal breakers and arc fault circuit breakers. Thermal breakers require an overload condition long enough that a heating element in the breaker trips the breaker off. In contrast, arc fault circuit breakers use magnetic or other means to detect increases in current draw much more quickly.