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If the circuit is properly protected by the right size breaker the most that will happen is the breaker will trip. If the wire is not protected by the proper size breaker, the insulation on the wire could heat up, melt, short the conductors which could possibly create a fire.

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14y ago
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14y ago

If the circuit is properly protected nothing should happen to the circuit. The overload device will sense the overload and shut the circuit down. If there is no overload protection, what usually happens is the weakest component of the circuit will be destroyed rendering the circuit inoperative.

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12y ago

Circuit overloads cause excessive heat to be generated in the circuit somewhere. Even small overloads can cause serious reliability problems as only a small increase in operating temperature dramatically decreases the life of electronic components. Sever overloads, if they are not immediately stopped, usually end with the circuit being destroyed and might start a fire. For this reason every circuit should be protected by a fuse that is appropriate for the circuit and blown fuses should never be replaced with larger fuses or other objects.

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10y ago

The excessive current drawn by the load of the circuit is what causes overloads. Applying more load to a circuit will increase the amperage drawn in the circuit. This overload of the circuit will stop when the overload protection limit is reached. At that point the protection will open the circuit and shut off the supply voltage to the circuit.

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8y ago

If the circuit has overload protection the circuit will trip off line. If the circuit has no overload protection, there is a chance that the circuit will burn a component out and the device the circuit is in will be destroyed.

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10y ago

The circuit will overheat and might catch fire.

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14y ago

A fuse will blow.

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Q: What happens if a circuit overloads?
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Which device provides short circuit protection?

A fuse protects a circuit from short circuiting. Also a breaker is used for this same purpose with the additional advantage of protecting the circuit from overloads also.


Is a circuit breaker better than a glass fuse?

Each device has its own special use. Glass fuses can protect circuit at very low amperages. They are usually used to protect printed circuit boards and control panel circuits. Breakers protect circuits from short circuits and overloads. These devices are used in service distribution panels to protect the wires that feed the loads. Circuit breakers can be from 15 amps up into the thousands of amps.


How does a circuit breaker operate?

A circuit breaker can be magnetic; the higher the current is the stronger the magnetic field will be, if the magnetic field gets strong enough it will pull open the circuit. A circuit breaker can also be thermal; as current travels through the circuit heat is generated (higher current = more heat), in the breaker there is two different kinds of metal bonded together, each will expand and contract at different rates, since they are bonded together they will bend and trip the circuit open. A circuit breaker can be a combination of magnetic and thermal.


What happens when water and electricity go together?

short circuit


When installing a circuit breaker do you size the breaker to correct wire size or the device its controlling?

When installing a circuit breaker, you size the breaker based on the wire size. The breaker should be matched to the ampacity of the wire to ensure proper protection against overloads and short circuits. The device being controlled by the breaker is not a determining factor in sizing the breaker.

Related questions

How does a circuit breaker help to protect against short circuits and circuit overloads?

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What device helps provent eletrical fires associated with overloads and short circuits?

circuit breaker


Which device provides short circuit protection?

A fuse protects a circuit from short circuiting. Also a breaker is used for this same purpose with the additional advantage of protecting the circuit from overloads also.


What causes electrical overloads?

Electrical overloads are caused by the load amperage increasing above what it should normally be. On a motor load this could be a request for the motor to do more work than the motor is capable of, working outside of its HP rating. In a house circuit an overload is created by plugging more devices into the circuit than the circuit breaker can handle. Again the load current will be higher than the circuit will allow and the circuit will open by the tripping of the breaker.


What protects circuits from current overloads?

Electrical circuits are protected by: 1) Fuses 2) Circuit Breakers and/or 3) Fusable links


What would cause a circuit breaker heating element to trip off?

There are two conditions that would cause a breaker to trip off. One is an overload of the circuit and the other is a short circuit on the circuit. The heating element within the breaker is what monitors for circuit overloads.


What is Merlin gerin braker?

Merlin Gerin is a brand of circuit breaker. This type of unit is used in homes and office buildings as a way to protect electric circuit from causing damage due to short circuits or overloads.


How does a fuse help protect against fire?

It regulates the amperage to prevent electrical overloads. If a surge occurs which is too great for the fuse to handle, it blows out, and interrupts the circuit.


What do fuses and circuit breakers protect circuits from?

They protect the downstream components from spikes in the eletrical system.CommentFuses and circuit breakers do not protect against 'spikes', which are near-instantaneous voltage increases. Fuses and circuit breakers are overcurrent protection devices, which protect appliances against excessive current due to overloads or short circuits. CommentFuses and circuit breakers are used to protect the wire feeder that supplies the load. A load could be connected to a circuit that would cause an increase of amperage above what the wire is rated for. If this condition happens the fuse or circuit breaker will open the load from the supply service.


What happens when a circuit is closed?

when a circuit is closed, electricity can move though it.


What happens when a circuit closes?

when a circuit is closed, electricity can move though it.


What happens if there is a break in a series circuit?

The series circuit becomes an open circuit because there is no remaining path.