Short circuit

How it is used

Used in fault-finding and protection. Often shortened to 'short': 'there's a short on the board', 'a short to ground'. As a verb, two pins are 'shorted' or something 'shorts out'. Fuses and circuit breakers protect against short circuits.

Example sentences

1. A solder bridge between two pins caused a short circuit and the regulator burned out.

2. The breaker tripped immediately, so we suspect a short circuit in the cable.

Common collocations

• short circuit current
• short circuit protection
• cause a short circuit
• short to ground

Related terms

• open circuitA circuit with a break in its path, so no current can flow. It can be intentional, like an open switch, or a fault, like a broken wire or a cracked solder joint.
• circuit breakerAn automatic switch that opens a circuit when it detects too much current, for example from an overload or a short circuit. Unlike a fuse, it can be reset and used again.
• fuseA safety device with a thin metal link that melts and breaks the circuit when the current is too high. Once it has blown, it has to be replaced.
• continuityAn unbroken electrical path between two points. A continuity test checks whether current can flow from one point to another, for example along a wire or a PCB trace.
• overloadA condition in which a circuit, cable or machine carries more current or power than it is rated for over a period of time. Unlike a short circuit, it builds up heat gradually.

More terms: Circuits and Components

• circuit
• resistor
• capacitor
• inductor
• diode
• transistor
• in series
• in parallel
• integrated circuit
• LED
• switch
• relay