Overload

Overload is an overcurrent condition in which an electric circuit or item of equipment is carrying more current than its specified limiting value, rating or current-carrying capacity allows. IEC Electropedia defines overload current for an electric circuit as overcurrent that is not caused by a short circuit or earth fault. In home electrical and home energy paperwork, the word can appear around consumer units, fuses, circuit-breakers, extension leads, EV chargepoints, inverters, batteries and heat-pump circuits when a load, circuit or supply limit is being exceeded or protected against being exceeded. An overload is different from a short circuit, earth fault or open PEN fault, and the term alone does not identify which device should trip, whether a circuit is correctly designed or whether extra equipment can be added safely.