What Causes Power Trip In Singapore HDB?

In our modern world, everyone is relying on an invisible force. This force powers virtually everything in your home: electricity. 

Electricity has become such an integral part of everyday life, it basically creates mess if we lose it. A sudden loss of electricity, otherwise known as a power failure, or power trip, can negatively affect everything from working to cooking to being able to see at night.   

Power tripping in most Singapore houses is not very common. If you encounter power trip, the most common thing to do is to reset the power circuit breaker. However, you still have to identify and settle the root cause of power trip, else power failure will still repeatedly occur. In this article, we are going to talk about causes of power trip in Singapore.

Basically, power trip happens in Singapore for two main reasons, which are overloaded circuit and short circuit.

1. Overloaded circuit

Typically this is the main cause of the power trip. This takes place when multiple high power-consuming appliances are plugged in simultaneously into a power socket. In this situation, the circuit holds a much heavier electrical load it is designed to carry. A circuit breaker will trip when the current exceeds the amps your system can handle.

For example, you circuit which actually tolerates 15 amps but you are connecting two electrical devices that total up using 20 amps, then the circuit will get fried and damaged. Consequently, circuit breaker trips automatically to prevent this from happening, potentially even preventing a major fire.

When there is a circuit overload, the breaker will trip and open up, which shuts off the power supply to that circuit, cutting off electricity. This preventive step is a common global safety guideline. If there wasn’t a breaker, the overload would cause the wiring to overheat and possibly even melt, which could start a house fire.

2. Short circuit

Short circuit is another common reason why we encounter power trip in Singapore, and it is even more dangerous than overloaded circuit. A short circuit is caused when a “hot” wire comes into contact with a “neutral wire” in one of your electrical outlets. When this happens, a large amount of current will flow through the circuit, creating more heat than what the circuit can handle. It usually starts as a big spark and can cause a fire if not attended to immediately.

Faulty wiring or a loose connection may also lead to short circuit. It may leave a burning smell lingering around the breaker or a brown or black discoloration mark around it.

How To Prevent Power Trip In Singapore

There are a few simple precaution steps we can do at home to prevent power trip in our HDB.

1. Avoid plugging in too many devices to one electrical outlet

Now we know that power trip possibly caused by overloaded circuit, while overloaded circuit possibly caused by too many devices plugged in and used at a time. Therefore, to prevent overloaded circuit, if you have few outlets, try to spread your biggest energy users around.

Besides, try to plug in devices or products which consume power within the installed power socket’s limit. Also, you may also unplug electrical appliances that are not in use. Electrical current still runs to the appliance even if it is not turned on. Be aware of how the appliances you have plugged in. For devices of high power consumption such as air conditioners, water heaters, oven etc, please avoid using an extension plug or power strip, which will tax the electrical outlet even more. This may cause overloading easily.

2. Regular check of sockets at home

Secondly, we have to ensure that both plugs and power socket at home are free from damage. Some old sockets are too old that the wire inside may have worn out. If you notice a burning smell or you see burnt mark on your socket or electrical outlets, do not turn them on anymore and get them repaired soonest possible. For very old devices/ old electrical component, try not to use them. This is because wire inside these equipment may have worn off, which will increase the risk of power trip.

24 Hour Electrical Services by Winway Home Services

If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, you may whatsapp Winway Home Services to inspect the situation. Power trip repair is one of our services offered to residents in Singapore. Winway Home Services offers convenience, safety, reliability, and professionalism in electrical services, already served thousands in Singapore.