During the Diwali celebration, more electrical appliances may be used simultaneously in homes than on ordinary days. In addition to devices such as refrigerators, fans, televisions, air conditioners, and water heaters, numerous garlands and decorative lights are connected. Although the consumption of each LED bulb may be low, the overall increase in the number of lamps and other appliances leads to an increase in overall electricity demand.
It is crucial to consider not only the light consumption but also the total load of all devices connected to one circuit.
Devices like air conditioners and water heaters consume significantly more energy than decorative LED bulbs. Therefore, when installing festive lighting during Diwali, it is necessary to monitor which specific circuit various appliances are connected to. Connecting multiple devices to one outlet or extension cord can create additional load on that circuit.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has included circuit overload, faulty wiring, loose connections, old wiring, and low-quality electrical appliances in the list of major risks of electrical fire as part of its 2026 electricity safety awareness program.
If any of the following problems appear after installing festive lighting in the home, they should not be considered normal:
- Frequent tripping of the automatic circuit breaker (MCB)
- Strong heating of the switch or socket
- Burning smell coming from the plug
- Unusual heating of the wire or extension cord
- Frequent flickering of the light
- Sparking from the socket
- Damage or wear of insulation on old wires
In such situations, you should refrain from connecting additional appliances to that circuit. If necessary, you should call a qualified electrician for inspection.
No, this is not necessarily the case. The electrical load allowed in a house and the actual load on a specific circuit are different things. For safe use, it is necessary to assess the condition of the house wiring, circuits, circuit breakers (MCB), and the appliances connected to them. Therefore, it is incorrect to assume that having a high-capacity meter allows arbitrarily connecting appliances to any outlet.
If the house wiring is many years old, its condition must be checked before installing additional festive lighting. Over time, wire insulation can deteriorate, and connections can loosen. The CEA also links the risk of electrical fire to old wiring, loose connections, overload, and unauthorized electrical modifications.
If problems such as MCB tripping, socket heating, or burning smells have occurred in the house before, it becomes even more important to conduct an inspection before Diwali.
Many people use extension cords, connecting several appliances to one outlet. However, this does not increase the overall electrical capacity of the house. A multi-plug simply provides the possibility of connecting more devices to one outlet. If the load connected to this outlet or circuit exceeds its permissible capacity, problems may arise. Consequently, you should avoid connecting a large number of additional appliances to one extension cord along with energy-intensive devices such as air conditioners and water heaters.
It is not necessary to call an electrician in every house before Diwali. However, if the wiring is very old, MCBs trip frequently, sockets heat up, there is a burning smell, or if significantly more electrical appliances are planned to be used than usual, it is better to have an inspection. If a new circuit needs to be installed or the house wiring needs to be modified, the work must be carried out only by a qualified and licensed electrical specialist.
When installing festive lighting, one should not only look at how much energy the garland consumes. It is also necessary to consider what other appliances are running on the same circuit. One should avoid using damaged or broken wires, refuse low-quality electrical goods, and not overload outlets or extension cords beyond what is necessary. Before illuminating the house, it is extremely important to understand the capabilities of its wiring and circuits. A little caution will help keep the joy of Diwali safe.