Which type of circuit protects against excessive current that can lead to fire hazards?

The protection against excessive current that can lead to fire hazards is best addressed by both overload protection circuits and short circuit protection circuits. An overload protection circuit is designed to detect when the current exceeds the rated capacity of the circuit, which could potentially cause overheating of wires and components, leading to fires. This type of protection typically operates by using fuses or circuit breakers that interrupt the circuit when a predetermined current level is exceeded.

On the other hand, a short circuit protection circuit addresses situations where a fault has caused an unintended low-resistance connection between two points in the circuit. This condition can result in an extremely high current flow, which can also generate significant heat and pose a fire risk. Short circuit protection circuits work similarly to overload protection circuits through the use of fuses or circuit breakers that react quickly to disconnect the circuit in the event of a short circuit.

By integrating both types of protection, circuits can be safeguarded against different scenarios that could lead to excessive current flow and, consequently, fire hazards. Therefore, recognizing that both overload and short circuit protections are essential for comprehensive safety makes the answer that includes both protection types the most accurate.