Why can not I turn on the turned on electrical appliances?

In many regulatory documents regarding the use of electricity, it is forbidden to leave electrical appliances unattended during operation. However, in the instructions for modern TVs, computers and other complex devices, you can find an indication that frequent shutdowns adversely affect the durability of the device. We will figure out in which cases you can neglect the ban, and when you need to turn off the power without fail.

Why can’t you leave appliances unattended?

Electric current passing through metal conductors is capable of exerting several types of environmental impacts. In residential buildings, the thermal effect of electricity - the ability to cause heating of a conductor through which current flows - is of greatest importance. If the metal heats above the ignition temperature of the surrounding materials, it will cause a fire.

A device designed with this in mind has certain protection against overheating and spontaneous combustion. Thickened conductors, radiator fins, cooling fans, etc. are used to cool the heated parts.

However, there are several reasons why overheating protection may not be effective:

• The use of thin conductors, poor-quality soldering, the absence of heat-removing elements. Such disadvantages are characteristic of low-quality cheap equipment from “no-name” manufacturers.
• Declining quality of electrical contacts (oxidation, loosening of clamping screws, etc.).
• Short circuit in the network. In this case, a current flows through the device, the value of which is noticeably greater than the calculated parameters.
• Violations of the rules of electrical installation. One of the most serious violations is the direct connection (using twists) of aluminum and copper wires. Such a compound is rapidly oxidized and begins to heat up.

Inspect electrical appliances before each use, especially if you have not used them for a long time. During storage, the insulation could dry out or be damaged by rodent teeth.

Even a properly operated electrical device can heat up. Only timely detection of overheating avoids a fire. Therefore, it is dangerous to leave an operating appliance unattended!

When does a vehicle go unattended?

According to opinion polls, most Russians understand the need to disconnect electrical devices from the network in case of prolonged absence (for example, when leaving on vacation). But cases of short-term finding of working household appliances without supervision are much more common.

The most common (and very dangerous!) Manifestations of irresponsibility when using electrical devices include:

• Sleep in front of the TV, electric heater or fan. Such behavior is also dangerous because a person who has fallen asleep in the event of a fire risks breathing poisonous combustion products and dying.
• Short absences. It doesn’t matter if the person has gone over to the phone, talking to a neighbor or just to the toilet - even a few minutes may be enough to start a fire.

Finding household appliances in “standby mode” when the red LED is lit on the case and just click the remote control to return the device to work is another case. It seems that such a device is turned off, but it remains fire hazardous.During a sudden power surge, such a device may catch fire and cause a fire.

To reduce the risk of fire, it is worth installing voltage stabilizers and line filters. The overhaul of wiring also improves safety. Ideally, all aluminum wires in the apartment should be replaced with copper, all twists should be eliminated. But even such repairs can only reduce the risk of fire, and not eliminate it completely.

What needs to be disconnected right after use?

Ideally, you should turn off all unused electrical appliances, and unplug the plugs from outlets. This is far from always meticulous and attentive.

However, several groups of devices must always be turned off:

• High power heaters: hair dryer, iron, washing machine, household electric heaters. The very purpose of these devices is to heat. And if easily flammable substances (paper, fabric, fuel) come into contact with them, a fire cannot be avoided.
• Devices used in the bathroom: electric razors, trimmers, toothbrushes, etc. Due to the increased humidity in the bathroom and the risk of water entering the appliance, the likelihood of a short circuit increases sharply
• Charging devices from the network: smartphones, tablets, power banks, power tool batteries, etc. If such a device continues to be energized after the battery is fully charged, there is a risk of fire. In addition, overcharging is dangerous for many types of batteries.
• Printers and office equipment. It seems that these devices should always be in standby mode, but the real need for them is rarely around the clock.

Modern household appliances have a fairly perfect protection against short circuits and spontaneous combustion. But the only electric device that cannot catch fire is the one whose plug is removed from the outlet. Therefore, do not forget to turn off unused electrical appliances. And those who use, do not leave without supervision.