A residual current device (RCD), also known as a safety switch, protects people from electric shocks.
A safety switch will turn off your electrical circuits in just a fraction of a second if it detects a leakage of current.
For example, should you have a faulty power point or electrical appliance in your home, your RCD will turn off the current to keep you safe.
Consumer, Building and Occupational services in Tasmania recommend that RCDs are installed by a licensed electrician and are tested regularly.
For your safety, you should have a safety switch on all the electrical circuits in your home or business that supply power to appliances, lights and power points. We can advise you on which circuits these area and carry out a professional installation for you.
CBOS also recommends that all switches are tested every three months to make sure they are working. This is something you can do yourself, but should you need specialist advice or guidance, we can handle all of your safety switch testing needs for you.
To make sure your safety switches are operating safely and efficiently in your home or workplace, contact us today!
A safety switch, or residual current device (RCD), protects people from electric shocks by disconnecting the electrical circuit where equipment is faulty or someone makes contact with live cable.
Yes. While a circuit breaker protects electrical circuits by switching off power in the case of a fault or overload, a safety switch disconnects the circuit at the smallest sign of current leakage. Simply put, a circuit breaker protects wiring and equipment, but a safety switch protects people.
The best way to be sure that you have safety switches installed and working correctly is to have your premises assessed by a licensed electrician. While they have a 'test' or 'T' button to check they are working correctly, a licensed electrician can check that all your circuits are protected by an appropriate safety switch.
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