How do you tell if you have an electrical short? We look at what is an electrical short circuit and how to fix an electrical short.

What Is an Electrical Short Circuit?

Electricity always wants to return to earth. This is just in electricity's nature. This is why when a circuit is functioning correctly, the current will flow through the designed wiring circuit and flow back to the service panel and then back through the utility lines. 

If the connections within the wiring become weakened or break entirely, then the electrical current can start to leak. In these situations, the current will immediately attempt to return to death using the shortest path possible. 

Unfortunately, taking this shorter route can mean passing through a flammable object and, in some cases, even a person. This is exactly why short circuits create a risk of a deadly shock or a fire starting.

This happens because the other materials provide a much lower resistance channel than the copper wiring which is found in the circuit. 

If the bare copper hot wire comes into contact with a metal electrical box or the metal faceplate found in a light switch with a loose wire or a faulty connection, then the current will travel through whichever path offers the least amount of resistance. This is often a person's hand, finger, or body.

Identifying and Fixing An Electrical Short

Shorts Occur in a Circuit

Electricity flows around in a circuit. A short happens when the flow of electricity is moved outside of the intended flow. 

No matter what the cause of this interruption may be, it is important that the shortage is addressed as soon as possible. If not, then this short can end up being highly dangerous, as well as the appliance and your home's breakers. It can even result in a large-scale fire.

Shorts can be identified by a popping sound when you turn on an appliance, a breaker tripping, or a fuse being blown. Once you have identified that there is a short, then you can start to figure out what exactly is causing it and how to solve the issue.

Isolate the Circuit

When attempting to fix an electrical short, you need first to try to isolate the electrical circuit. All outlets in your home receive power from a breaker. 

Each breaker has outlets and appliances running on the same circuit. Here's an example, in your kitchen, the fridge, oven, and washing machine, which are all along one wall, will likely all belong to the same circuit. Any outlets or devices on the opposite wall will likely all belong to a different circuit. 

Locating the circuit will help to single out which breaker might be the issue as you go on to deal with the rest of the problem. It is also important to turn off the appropriate breaker in order to ease fears about getting shocked or unnecessarily wasting more fuses.

Check the Appliances on the Affected Circuit

Take a look at all of the appliances that are connected to the same circuit. They all need to be unplugged and inspected for any visible damage. 

This can be wire insulation becoming melted or smoke floating out from the motor within the appliance. Once all of the appliances have been unplugged, fixing an electrical short can just be as easy as just resetting the breaker. However, that might not always be the case. 

You might need to change the fuse. It is common for this just to be as far as the issue of an electrical short goes, but unfortunately, there are times when the steps have to go far beyond this.

Use the Proper Tools

Safely fixing an electrical short can require a few unique tools that you won't find in your standard toolbox set. Although it does require a selection of fairly common tools too. Before you start trying to fix the short, ensure that you have all of the following tools ready to use.

Remove the Wires

First, turn off the circuit by using the switch. You can also remove the fuse to do this. Then change the setting on your multimeter to read in volts. Ensure that the outlet is reading zero volts by placing the metal probes directly into it. The receptacle can then be removed using your pliers and your screwdriver. The wires need to be removed after this.

Check the Wires

Unsure of how to find a short circuit using a multimeter? First, you need to check to see whether there is any power coming from an individual wire by using your volt/ohm meter and setting the tool to read ohms. You might also need to use your wire strippers to gain access to a bare portion of the wire. 

Link one lead of the meter to the black wire and the other one to the white wire. If you have a reading of infinite ohms, shows as O.L, then it means that the receptacle is the issue and it needs to be replaced. If the multimeter shows continuity, then the short may be within the wiring or the circuit breaker.

Remove the Breaker Wires

In order to continue with fixing the electrical short, you will need to shit off the power to the main breaker. 

Remove the covering of the box, as well as the wires from the breaker causing the issue. It is important that you do not forget to disconnect the white wire as well.

Check the Breaker

This process of checking the breaker and the wires inside the breaker needs to be repeated. If the multimeter shows a reading of infinite ohms, then the breaker needs to be replaced. 

If the breaker wire is showing a reading of zero ohms, then the wire is what has caused the short. In this case, replace the wire in order to fix the electrical short.

Preventing Shorts

You can avoid this whole process simply by ensuring that you have taken precautionary measures. You should regularly inspect your breaker box, as well as appliances and outlets, for any signs of damage. 

If there is visible damage, then you need to stop using the outlet or breaker. An electrician should be contacted right away.

Are you looking for electrical servicing in Ludlow and the surrounding areas of Shropshire? Contact our qualified electrician for domestic and commercial electrical services near you.