Rising Temperatures, Rising Risks: Understanding and Preventing Electrical Fires
- electrical fire safety, overload protection, short circuit prevention
As the mercury climbs, so does the risk of electrical fires in our homes. Recent reports, including data from Divya Bhaskar, highlight a concerning trend: a significant increase in fire incidents attributed to electrical faults, particularly during the hot summer months. Over the past three years, a staggering 3130 fire incidents in the city were caused by short circuits, often triggered by overloaded electrical systems.
Understanding Electrical Fire Hazards
The news article points out that the primary culprit behind this surge in electrical fires is the increasing electrical load on our home wiring. During summer, the simultaneous use of high-power appliances like air conditioners (ACs), refrigerators, and geysers, many of which operate at or above 15 amps, puts immense strain on the existing electrical infrastructure. This often leads to:
- Wire Overheating: Continuous high current flow causes wires to heat up excessively. This can melt the insulation, leading to short circuits.
- Lack of Protective Devices: Inaccurate MCBs or direct connections don’t prevent overloading or protect against voltage fluctuations.
- Climate Factors: Higher temperatures lead to more AC usage, increasing the load and chance of overheating.
- Appliance Malfunction: Overloading can damage the appliances themselves, increasing the risk of internal faults and fires.
- Voltage Fluctuations: Unstable power supply leading to overheating.

Protect Your Appliance from Damaging Voltages & Overloading
with Gelco Electronic Starters
- Use Fire-Retardant Cables: Replace standard wires with ISI-marked fire-resistant cables to reduce the chance of ignition during a short circuit.
- Install Surakshaa in mainline:Surakshaa is installed on the mainline and provides protection against current leakage and voltage surges, with adjustable leakage settings as per requirements.
Gelco Electronic Starters | India's Pioneering Solution for Superior Electrical Safety
For enhanced and comprehensive protection, look no further than Gelco electronic starters. As a pioneering brand in India, Gelco introduced the first electronic starters in the Indian market, establishing themselves as a leader in electrical safety solutions. Gelco electronic starters offer a significant advantage over traditional methods like MCBs and industrial sockets by providing a more intelligent and responsive safety net for your valuable appliances.
- Voltage Protection:Gelco starters go beyond simple overload protection. They actively safeguard your appliances against high voltages and low voltages, preventing damage that MCBs typically don't address. Voltage fluctuations are common and can severely impact the lifespan and safety of your electrical devices.
- Superior Overload Protection: Gelco electronic starters utilize cutting-edge electronic technology to provide overload protection that surpasses the capabilities of traditional MCBs. They excel at detecting overcurrents with greater accuracy and reacting virtually instantaneously, unlike the thermal bimetallic strips used in MCBs, which require a certain amount of time to heat up and trip. This fundamental difference in technology translates to a more responsive and ultimately safer solution for your home.
- Surge Protection: Many Gelco electronic starter models also incorporate surge protection, shielding your appliances from sudden and damaging power spikes caused by lightning or other electrical disturbances. This is a critical feature that MCBs generally lack.
- Advanced Monitoring with Digital Display: Select Gelco models come equipped with a digital voltage and ampere meter, providing real-time information about your electrical supply and appliance consumption. This allows you to monitor the health of your electrical system and identify potential issues before they escalate.
- Better Than MCBs and Industrial Sockets: While MCBs offer basic overload and short circuit protection, and industrial sockets provide robust connections, Gelco electronic starters offer a more intelligent and multi-faceted approach to appliance safety with easy installation. They actively monitor voltage and current, providing a proactive layer of defense against a wider range of electrical hazards. Industrial sockets primarily focus on secure connections and don't offer the same level of automated protection.