Common Reasons for Power Cuts: What's triggering your safety switch?

Power outages are often caused by safety switches. It is a good thing that safety switches have been proven effective at preventing power outages. They detect any current variation and cut off the power before it causes any harm to appliances or people. In some cases, switches can be activated even though there isn't an immediate danger. It is important to investigate such behavior in order to find the source of the outage and fix it. There are many reasons why power outages happen, some of which are listed below.

Nuisance Tripping

This is the most common reason for power outages in many homes. Nuisance tripping occurs when there are too many appliances in the line. Each appliance emits a small amount of current. The cumulative current that is leaking can be large enough to activate the safety switch. You should not overload your power lines in order to avoid this. You can prevent this by switching off any sockets that aren't being used to relieve the pressure on your power lines.

Lightning Strikes

When lightning strikes your house or power lines, it can cause power outages. Lightning can cause a surge in power, which causes the safety switch to turn off the supply. You should not reset the safety switch if this happens during a storm. A lightning arrester could also be an option to protect your home and prevent further lightning strikes. You can ask one of our electricians to help you get one.

Faulty appliances

Sometimes, a defective appliance can cause the safety switches to go off. Such appliances usually draw too much current. The safety switch will interpret this as an excessive leakage and cut off the supply. You should immediately locate the problem and have it checked. An electrician should be contacted if you are unsure of the cause.

Problem with wiring

Sometimes the problem with the wiring could be the reason for the safety switch. The wiring can become dangerous over time as they get corroded and old. Not only can they get old, but they can also become exposed to other conductors, which can cause the safety switch's trip. It is better to have a qualified technician inspect the wiring. He can recommend either a replacement or a repair depending on the findings.