Tripping Safety Switches
October is Safety Month in Australia and at Bright Solutions, electrical safety is something that we never take for granted. Having safety switches or RCD’s (Residual- Current Device) installed at your home or work place can save lives by preventing electrocution. In this month’s newsletter, we share some important information regarding safety switches and what to do when the safety switch trips.
Reasons Your Safety Switch Might Trip
When a safety switch trips and you lose power or get left in the dark without lights, it is easy to get annoyed. But, it is important to remember that a safety switch is actually there to protect and is designed to quickly switch off the electricity supply if an electrical fault is detected. Some common reasons for the safety switch to trip include:
- Faulty appliances
- Overloaded power sockets or power boards
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Water in the walls or ceiling affecting the power circuit
- Faulty safety switch
It is law and a minimum requirement in Queensland, that safety switches are to be installed on all power circuits. However, WorkCover strongly recommends having safety switches on all electrical circuits because a safety switch can only protect you if it’s on that particular circuit. As of January 1st 2019, the electrical wiring rules are changing and you will need a safety switch installed on any new or modified electrical circuit.
What to do if the Safety Switch Trips
1. When a safety switch trips, the first thing needed is to work out which particular circuit is causing the problem. This can be easily identified by looking in your switch board at the labelled circuits.
2. Try to reset the tripped safety switch by flicking it to the ON position. Sometimes the issue is temporary and the safety switch will reset. However, if the safety switches regularly trip after being reset, you will need to get an electrician to check it out.
3. If the tripped safety switch does not reset you now need to unplug ALL the appliances from the wall that are connected to the faulty circuit. Don’t forget the hidden power points like behind the fridge, washing machine, or dishwasher.
4. Once you are certain ALL appliances are unplugged from the circuit, go back to switchboard and reset the safety switch. It should stay on but if the safety switch does not reset, call an electrician as soon as possible.
5. Once the switch is reset, plug all your appliances back in one at a time. Through a process of elimination, you will find that when the faulty appliance is plugged in, the safety switch will trip thus, clearly identifying the cause of the problem. Common offenders include toasters, kettles and fridges.
We are here to help. If you are having problems with your safety switches tripping, would like us to inspect and test your safety switches or bring your switch board up to date, please give Bright Solutions Electrical a call on 3349 6056.
