What happens when electrical wiring breakers overload?

Answer by  john11 (617)

Electrical breakers overload due to overrated current flowing through them. This causes a switch to be thrown, breaking the circuit. The switch is a relay, and it can be reset.

Answer by  mannersandsuch (1796)

As a measure of safety when electrical wires overload the current flips the breaker switch so lights go out. This prevents fire, or damage to the electrical devices. Unplug somethings and go and look for the breaker box if this happens and be more careful next time.

Answer by  electroman (337)

The breaker will trip and create an open circuit so that the wiring and/or equipment will not heat up and cause a fire or damage to the equipment attached to the wiring.

Answer by  Sparky101 (366)

Circuit breakers generally work on two principals, thermal overload and electrical overload. When a circuit breaker senses either or both of these overload conditions it mechanically trips and opens the circuit preventing the flow of electricity to the load and must be reset.