What Are Separate Circuits? and Why Do I Need Them?

So What Are Separate Circuits? And Why Do I Need Them?

Dedicated circuits are necessary to prevent dangerous overloads that could cause the wiring to overheat and the circuit to trip repeatedly, which could result in an electrical fire. The National Electrical Code calls for most major appliances to have dedicated circuits.

Circuit breakers are designed to protect you against electrical hazards such as electrocution or fire and will shut down the power supply and trip when they detect faults that can cause these risks.

When a circuit supports a single appliance, it’s known as a dedicated circuit and has its own breaker in your electrical box. The purpose of dedicated circuits is to ensure high-power appliances have access to adequate amperage so they can operate safely without forcing a circuit breaker to trip. Throughout this blog post, we will go over everything you need to know.

My Power Has Turned Off And Is Not Turning Back On! What Do I Do?

If your electricity has suddenly turned off and is not turning back on, an electrical circuit has popped. below we will guide you on how to fix this issue.

1) Turn off all devices connected to the circuit.

2) Find your electric service panel.

3) Locate the tripped breaker (The switch that is flipped down/up).

4) Turn the circuit breaker handle to the off Position.

5) Turn the circuit breaker handle to the on Position.

6) Plug one low-powered item into a power socket and test if the power is flowing and working correctly again.

Why Did My Circuit Breaker Trip/Overload?

When too many appliances, equipment, tools, or light fixtures are operating at the same time, the internal sensing mechanism in the circuit breaker heats up, and the breaker “trips,” usually by means of a spring-loaded component within the breaker. This breaks the continuous pathway of the breaker and renders the circuit inactive.

Having too many tools, appliances, or equipment plugged into 1 room/area is likely to overload the circuit in that area.

When using a large number of appliances, equipment, or tools, you must spread out where you plug in all of your tools, appliances, and equipment to avoid tripping the circuit breaker. Spreading out where you are drawing power from will easily allow you to get as much power as required-without overloading or tripping the circuit in the property.

The most common cause of a tripped circuit breaker is an overload in that circuit. Each circuit is only intended to carry a certain electrical load, and if it exceeds this load, it will cause the breaker to trip.

when the circuit’s internal sensor becomes overheated, and the breaker shuts off the power to prevent further overheating. When a circuit trips, it’s likely overloaded with electricity from too many appliances.

A circuit breaker will usually trip when there is an electrical fault that could cause damage to the circuit. This is usually an excess of current, a power surge, or a faulty component. These events fall into three broad categories: Overloads.

 What Is A Fuse Box And Where Can I Find It?

Fuse boxes contain safety devices called fuses or circuit breakers which are designed to prevent an excess of electric current from entering your house by only allowing a certain maximum current to flow in. When the electrical current is too large, an electromagnet attracts a spring-loaded switch which breaks the circuit and cuts the power supply. The switch must be reset before any current can flow again.

Fuse boxes are typically located in your home’s basement, garage, or utility room. If you have an older home, you may have a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker. Fuse boxes are not as common as they once were, but they can still be found in some homes.

The Fuse Box is where your Circuits are located so that you can reset it when it overloads/pops.

What Is A Circuit Breaker And Where Can I Find It?

While every home is different, circuit breakers are generally located in low-traffic areas of the home, such as a basement, garage, or utility closet. If you live in an apartment, your circuit breaker may be in a more central location, such as a hallway or laundry area. Most modern circuit breakers are located inside the home, But it’s important to note that your circuit breaker could be located on your home’s exterior as well.

Your circuit breaker should appear as a metal box; you may only see the door if the box is recessed into your wall. The box and door may be a matte gray color, or they may be painted over to match the color of the surrounding area. If you can’t find your circuit breaker, call on your electrician for assistance!

A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent/overloading. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent the risk of fire. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.

Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect low-current circuits or individual household appliances, to large switchgear designed to protect high-voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The generic function of a circuit breaker, or fuse, as an automatic means of removing power from a faulty system, is often abbreviated as OCPD (Over Current Protection Device).

Is It Safe To Reset A Tripped Circuit Breaker?

Before resetting a breaker, you must determine the cause of the trip. It is safe to reset a breaker only if it has been determined that the circuit was overloaded. Repeatedly resetting a breaker could result in an arc flash or a fire. It is recommended to unplug ALL items prior to the reset.  Then slowly re-connect items one by one using different power points to avoid tripping the circuit again. What happens when you reset a circuit breaker?

The tripped circuit breaker will be in the “off” position or in a middle position between “on” and “off.” Reset the Breaker: Move the breaker to the full “off” position and then back to “on.” That should clear an overload and return power to the room.

What Certain Items Need A Dedicated Circuit?

We need a minimum of 4 – 10 dedicated circuits while on the job, If you do not have the required amount of dedicated circuits, simply contact your local electrician and they will fix the issue for you.

• Demolition Equipment (2-4)
• Concrete Grinding Equipment (1-4)
• Dust Extraction Equipment (1-2)

What Is The Minimum Amount Of Electrical Circuits That I Should Have In A Granny Flat?

The minimum number of electrical circuits for a new small Granny Flat would be 5-6, as follows;

A good procedure is to have separate circuits for certain appliances that have heavy loads as well as separate circuits for major items to avoid circuit overloading/tripping.

• Lights
• General Power outlets (GPOs)
• Hob and Oven
• Air Conditioning
• Hot Water Service (Only if Electric)
• Bedroom

What Is The Minimum Amount Of Electrical Circuits That I Should Have In A Residential Home?

The minimum number of electrical circuits for a new residential home would be 20 – 30, as follows;

A good procedure is to have separate circuits for larger rooms and certain appliances that have heavy loads as well as separate circuits for major items to avoid circuit overloading/tripping.

This is the recommended amount of circuits roughly for a 4-bedroom house

• Kitchen (3)
• Laundry (2)
• Living Room (4)
• 3x Bedrooms (3 / per room)
• 1x Master Bedroom (4)
• Lighting Living (2 – 3)
• Lighting Bedrooms (5)
• Hot Water Service (2)
• Hob & Oven (1)
• HotPlates (1)
• Centralised Air Conditioning (2)

Do I Need 15AMP Power?

Possibly – 15AMP power is generally only required for commercial and industrial jobs. However, if you are in a larger property that requires more powerful tools to complete the job. Then 15AMP power may be required.

A 15AMP power point allows appliances that demand a heavier electrical load to be safely operated. They are often installed outside or in areas of the home that require them, such as in garages. An electrician can be called to install the power points required to provide this level of power if the property does not have it.

Do I Need 3-Phase Power?

Possibly – Three-Phase power is generally only required for commercial and industrial jobs. However, if you are in a larger property that requires more powerful tools to complete the job. Then 3-phase power may be required.

A Three-Phase power point allows appliances that demand a heavier electrical load to be safely operated. They are often installed outside or in areas of the home that require them, such as in garages. An electrician can be called to install the power points required to provide this level of power if the property does not have it.

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