If your home was built or last rewired more than 20 years ago, there’s a real possibility it doesn’t have proper safety switches — and it’s worth sorting.
A safety switch (also called an RCD) does something a normal fuse or circuit breaker can’t: it detects when electricity is leaking to earth — for example, through a person — and cuts the power in a fraction of a second. Fuses protect your wiring from overload. Safety switches protect you from electric shock. You need both.
How to check
Open your switchboard and look for a switch with a “T” or “TEST” button on it. That test button is the giveaway — only safety switches have them. If none of your switches have a test button, your home likely isn’t protected.
How to test the ones you have
Press the TEST button. The switch should trip immediately and cut power to that circuit. If it doesn’t trip, or won’t reset afterwards, it needs attention. It’s worth testing every three months.
What if you don’t have them?
If your switchboard has old ceramic fuses or no safety switches, an upgrade is one of the most valuable safety improvements you can make to your home. Modern standards require safety switches on most circuits, and retrofitting them is straightforward for a licensed electrician.
Not sure what you’re looking at? Send us a photo of your switchboard, or give us a call on 0417 852 582 and we’ll tell you where you stand.
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