SCEN103 -- House Wiring

Progression of circuit loading

On arising for a morning of classes, consider the following scenario: turning on a light, heating a steam iron for later use, preparing a quick breakfast of toast, and finishing drying of your hair. Suddenly all goes dark! -- what happened?

Powered circuit, no load
Light load, one lamp
Medium load, steam iron
High load, toaster added
Medium load, iron "off"
High load, hair dryer added
Overload, iron back "on"
Blown circuit

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Comments, suggestions, or requests to ghw@udel.edu.

"http://www.physics.udel.edu/~watson/scen103/house/"
Last updated Dec. 12, 1996.
Copyright George Watson, Univ. of Delaware, 1996.