Which symptom most clearly indicates an overloaded circuit?

• A. Breaker trips repeatedly.
• B. Outlets and wires become hot to the touch.
• C. Lights flicker intermittently.
• D. Voltage increases.

Answer: (A)

When a circuit is overloaded, the protective device designed to guard the circuit will act by interrupting the current. The clearest sign of this is a breaker that trips repeatedly. That repeated tripping directly shows the circuit is drawing more current than it was designed to carry, so the breaker steps in to shut things down and prevent overheating or a fire.

Other signs can occur for various reasons. Outlets and wires feeling hot to the touch indicate heat buildup, which can come from overloading but also from poor connections or a fault at a device. Lights flickering can be caused by voltage fluctuations or loose wiring, not solely overload. A voltage increase isn’t a typical indicator of overload in a normal circuit and usually points to a different fault or supply issue. If a breaker trips, unplug some devices and reset, and if it keeps happening, have an electrician check the circuit.