What precaution should be taken to avoid the overloading of domestic electric circuits?
To avoid the overloading of domestic electric circuits, we should use an electric fuse in the circuit. A fuse prevents damage to appliances and the circuit by stopping the flow of unduly high electric current. During overloading, the Joule heating melts the fuse to break the circuit.
Another precaution is to avoid connecting too many appliances to a single socket, as this is a common cause of overloading. Additionally, appliances with different power ratings should be connected using separate circuits, such as a 15 A rating circuit for high-power appliances like geysers and a 5 A rating circuit for bulbs and fans.
Explanation
The textbook context explicitly states that a fuse prevents damage due to overloading by breaking the circuit when current increases. It also lists causes of overloading, such as connecting too many appliances to a single socket, implying that avoiding this is a necessary precaution. Furthermore, the text describes the use of separate circuits for different current ratings (15 A and 5 A) to manage the load.