You can protect your family and greatly reduce the risk of tragedy caused by electrical accidents by inspecting the components of the electrical system in your home. Photo | courtesy

We use dozens of electrical appliances and equipment every day without considering the electrical system that powers them. But don't think yours is safe. Many electrical fire risks are caused by factors such as old appliances, counterfeit products or malfunctioning sockets, and even frayed wires.

One of the very serious consequences of using substandard electrical products in your home is arc faults. An arc fault is a high-power discharge between conductors. This discharge generates heat, which damages the insulation of the wires and causes electrical fires. These damages can occur anywhere in your home's electrical system.

As a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment and power monitoring solutions, Schneider Electric has the responsibility to help electrical professionals conduct training and education to understand the best practices and techniques that can be used to prevent fires.

You can spend a few minutes to check the following five components of the electrical system in your home, thereby protecting your family and greatly reducing the risk of tragedy caused by electrical accidents.

You can spend a few minutes to check the components of the electrical system in your home, thereby protecting your family and greatly reducing the risk of tragedy caused by electrical accidents. Photo | courtesy

Your switchboard is the core of your home's electrical system. Modern homes use 63-ampere to 200-ampere circuit breakers to accommodate more and higher power consumption appliances.

Normally, in the case of a power connection, the power passes through a circuit breaker box, where it is divided into many circuits. After installing circuit breakers, they help control sudden rises in current and voltage that may damage your equipment or appliances.

Your switchboard is the core of your home's electrical system. Photo | courtesy

The service life of the circuit breaker panel is 25-30 years. If your equipment is older than this, it may have aging components and fewer circuits, then your electricity usage can be handled, and it should be checked by a licensed electrician to determine if it needs to be updated. There are a variety of circuit breakers to choose from, depending on voltage, installation, external design, placement, and breaking mechanism.

When checking the electrical panel, make sure that it has at least one device installed to prevent electric shock caused by malfunctioning equipment or direct contact with live equipment.

This device is called a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFCI) or Residual Current Device (RCD), which measures the difference between the power flowing into the circuit and the power flowing out. If it detects imbalance, it will recognize the current leakage and immediately close the circuit to prevent electric shock.

When checking the electrical panel, make sure that it has at least one device installed to prevent electric shock caused by malfunctioning equipment or direct contact with live equipment. Photo | courtesy

Except for your electrical panel, please make sure that all sockets and switches in your home are in good working order. Photo | courtesy

Except for your electrical panel, please make sure that all sockets and switches in your home are in good working order. Any cracked, damaged or loose place should be replaced. Humming or discoloration indicates a wiring problem that requires professional attention.

Don't forget to check all your household appliances and equipment. Worn wires and damaged plugs are one of the biggest causes of electric shocks and house fires. Stop using and replace any appliances exhibiting such wear and tear.

By designing and installing electrical systems in accordance with all applicable standards, selecting appropriate protective devices, vigilantly monitoring potential risk conditions, and following best maintenance practices, electrical fires can be significantly reduced. Schneider Electric provides leading technology, solutions and services to support you every step of the way.

Learn more about the safety of your family by visiting other information about household electricity safety.

The most important thing is to ensure that you purchase genuine Schneider Electric products from our authorized distributors and dealers.

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