Oikosulun

Oikosulun is the inflected (genitive) form of oikosulku, the Finnish word for a short circuit. In electrical engineering, a short circuit refers to an unintended, low-resistance connection between conductors of different potentials, causing a large increase in current flow. Such faults can occur in power systems, electrical installations, and consumer devices, and they typically trigger protective devices to interrupt the circuit.

Causes of oikosulku include insulation failure, moisture ingress, physical damage to cables or components, loose or corroded connections, manufacturing defects, and wear in aging equipment. Short circuits may take different fault paths, such as line-to-line, line-to-ground, line-to-neutral, or three-phase faults, depending on which conductors are joined by the unintended connection.

The resulting high current can lead to overheating, component damage, melted insulation, fire hazards, and nuisance tripping of fuses or circuit breakers. Therefore, oikosulku is treated as a serious electrical fault in safety standards and design practices. Protection and mitigation rely on overcurrent devices (fuses and circuit breakers), residual current devices, proper insulation and separation of conductors, correct grounding, adequate clearances, and robust wiring practices.

Prevention emphasizes regular maintenance, insulation resistance testing, and fault detection through protective relays and coordinated protection schemes. In Finnish electrical practice and education, oikosulku is a central concept illustrating the need for reliable protection, proper installation, and adherence to safety standards to minimize damage and risk.