How do RCDs or Safety Switches Work?
OK, so you’ve heard of safety switches, but how do they work? Why are they important to protect your workplace for electrical injuries?
Residual current devices (also known as safety switches and by their acronym RCDs) are an essential electrical safety device and must be installed in every home and workplace. Here’s what you should know about safety switches.
What are safety switches?
Safety switches are devices that cut off the electrical current within milliseconds to protect against the risk of electric shock and electrocution. The safety switch measures the current running through the electrical circuit. Safety switches work by detecting imbalances between the neutral and the live currents running through the circuit and immediately cut off once an imbalance is detected. When a circuit is running normally, the current running through the neutral and live wires should be the same. But if there is an interruption to the normal circuit, such as the current running through a person, an imbalance is detected, and the switch instantly cuts off the electricity.
Why are safety switches important?
Safety switches are a critical safety measure that protect against potentially fatal electrocution. The safety switch is designed to act in less time than a heartbeat so it can cut the flow of electricity through a person faster than the cardiac function vastly reducing the risk of electrocution or death.
Are safety switches and fuses the same thing?
No. Safety switches are designed to protect humans from dangers (specifically electrocution) arising from electrical fault whereas fuses (or circuit breakers) are designed to protect the electrical circuitry itself. Fuses will trip when there is too much electrical current running through the system, such as when too many appliances are plugged into the one power point.
How do I know if there are safety switches installed in my property?
It is illegal to have an electrical circuit board that does not have safety switches installed so there will almost certainly be safety switches installed on your circuits. Check your electrical switchboard. There should be a unit within the switchboard with a T or Test symbol and this is a safety switch. If you check your switchboard and you can’t see the safety switch, contact an electrician or qualified safety switch tester to check your switchboard immediately.
How many safety switches do I need?
Safety switches must be installed on the power point circuit and the lighting circuit of all new homes. If you live in an older home or have a business in an older building, you should check that both these circuits have safety switches. But this is really a minimum requirement. You should really have safety switches installed on every circuit within your home or building to minimise the risk of electric shock or electrocution.
If in doubt, ask your electrician or safety switch specialist to check that there is a safety switch installed on all applicable circuits.
How reliable are safety switches?
Safety switches are very reliable. It is estimated that they prevent up to 90% of electric shocks and electrocutions.
How often do my safety switches need testing?
It is recommended that your safety switches get tested every three months. It is possible to do this yourself by pressing the test button in your switch box. But as with all electrical safety tests, it’s good to get the experts to test the switches whenever they are visiting your home or business. They can check that not only are the switches working correctly but that they are on the right circuits, and you have enough safety switches installed.
Jim’s Test & Tag conduct safety switch testing and can combine this with other testing such as test and tag, microwave testing and smoke alarm testing.
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