What Is an Electrical Dead Short?
Last Updated Mar 30, 2020 7:44:38 PM ET
A dead short is a short circuit that creates no real resistance, allowing the amperage to build up until it trips the circuit breaker. These can be difficult to track down and diagnose because the current builds so rapidly that it usually trips the breaker immediately.
Dead shorts can be dangerous due to the high amount of current the situation creates. Repeatedly cycling the breaker to try to locate the short can cause damage to the wiring and present a major fire hazard.
Common causes of a dead short include a direct connection between the positive and negative power legs or a direct connection between the positive and ground wires without any load or resistance in between.
More From Reference
Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?!)
The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles
Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon
Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses?
Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors?
Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha