Loose Electrical Connections Are A Fire Hazard
Loose Electrical Connections Get Hot, And This Could Be The Result.
Electrical connections can become loose for a variety of reasons. A tightly made connection can become loose over time due to the tiny expansion and contraction that occurs as the cable warms up during use and cools down when not energised. Perhaps the last tradesman to work on the installation didn’t do them up tight enough, or maybe the connecting parts have worn out and don’t make good contact anymore.
Occasionally we find connections that have never been tightened up at all. The wire has been pushed into the terminal and the screw never tightened. This can happen even in new homes and installations. It’s a sign that the tradesman didn’t do a final check by pulling on each wire to make sure it’s solidly connected.
Sometime the connectors or terminals are faulty so even though the screw is done up tight it’s not actually clamping the cable enough. Once again, a simple check by tugging on the wire will alert the tradesman to that type of fault.
Every electrical connection has the potential to get hot. With increased heat comes increased electrical resistance, which in turns causes things to get even hotter. Depending on the location of the connection this heat could potentially start a fire.
Common Locations
Common locations for loose electrical connections include switchboard connections of fuses and circuit breakers, connections to stove elements and hotplates and connections to power points.
The more load being drawn through the loose connection the more likely it is to fail. For example a loose connection to a power point is more likely to be a problem if a heater is plugged in to the heater as compared to a phone charger or some other low wattage device.
Signs To Watch For
Signs that could indicate a loose electrical connection include flickering lights, intermittent power fluctuations, buzzing noises and burning smells. If you do find any of these problems you should have an electrician check it out as soon as possible.
For fast attention to any signs of loose electrical connections,
phone Mance Electrical on 6331 4711
Mance Electrical is your Launceston electrician offering same day service for urgent electrical repairs.
