Do you need to test your safety switch? Fire services run a campaign to change your smoke alarms at the start of Daylight savings. But it is also a great time to check your safety switch to make sure your home or business will protect people from electric shock which can cause serious injuries.
At Max Power Electrical we take electrical safety very seriously, it is so important to keep your home and family protected from electrical risks like electric shocks and electrical fires. We specialise in electrician jobs like switchboard replacement, switchboard upgrades and safety switch testing.
Currently, we have a special on these services.
Get A Free 100 Point Safety Check Valued at $121
- Switchboard Replacement Assessment
- Safety certificate
Limited Time FREE SURGE PROTECTOR Value $130 (while stocks last) with any switchboard replacement or switchboard upgrade
How Does a Safety Switch Work?
Firstly, safety switches are not circuit breakers or surge protectors as they are sometimes confused with. Surge protectors work by protecting your property from voltage surges that come from lightning strikes or power spikes. The surge diverter will divert the power spike down the earth to avoid it from going down the wiring, stopping it from surging your appliances and home. They do not stop an electric shock from zapping you. They keep your appliances like computers, fridges, dishwashers and TVs protected from electrical surges which can permanently break them & cause fire in some cases, and is often not covered by home insurance.
Circuit breakers do not protect people from electric shocks either. They provide a short circuit override for instances like overloaded powerpoints. Only a safety switch will turn the power off in your home if it detects an issue. A safety switch turns off power within 0.03 of a second (30ms). Safety switches monitor the flow of electricity through a circuit.
If someone in your home or business has contact with a live electrical conductor, for example, a toaster, electricity will flow through their body, acting as a conduit to the earth. This can cause a person’s heart to stop. A working safety switch means the electricity is stopped in 300 milliseconds providing life-saving protection.
My Safety Switch Keeps Tripping and Turning Off the Power
Is your safety switch tripping every time you turn on more than one appliance or certain appliances together? This may be because you have the wrong wiring in your switchboard, call us to detect what wiring has been hooked up incorrectly. It can be as simple as changing the wiring from one switch to another that has more power available, or you may need an extra circuit be run to separate.
A safety switch also turns off if you keep trying to plug in a broken appliance. If it detects a surge it will cut the power, the appliance is not safe and needs to be replaced. A lightning strike may also cause your safety switch to turn off the power, just reset the safety switch and you should get power back.
Can I Press the TEST Button on My Safety Switch?
You should test the safety switch yourself every 3 months by pressing the TEST button to make sure it still works. If it is working this will trip the safety switch immediately. If nothing happens when you press the TEST button – the power stays on immediately call us.
Every year or two it is important to have your whole electrical system inspected for safety, this check will include your safety switch and switchboard. Safety switches protect the most important keepsakes in your home – your family. Make sure yours is working properly and get peace of mind for not much cost at all.
FAQS Safety Switches
Should the Safety Switch Be Up or Down?
The ‘up’ position is on and the ‘down’ position.
How do I turn my Safety Switch back on?
Flip the switch to the ‘on’ position.
Do I need a safety switch on a new switchboard?
If you are upgrading, replacing or installing a new switchboard, Yes you must have a safety switch on all outgoing circuits as of 1st January 2019. Our qualified electricians would advise you this before starting the job.
What happens if I press the TEST button on the safety switch?
As mentioned previously it will turn off your power and this means it is working, If the power stays on call us straight away.
My PowerPoints are not working but my Lights are on.
This is likely caused by a faulty electrical appliance. Unplug the last appliance you used and reset your safety switch. If this turns the power back on then is that appliance. If not then check some other commonly used or always plugged-in appliances, turn then all off and one at a time turn them back on, this should help you find the culprit. If not call us for help, it may be a bigger issue that needs attention.
CONTACT US
We are qualified and licensed electricians with expertise in safety switches and switchboards. Contact Max Power Electrical now to get your 100 point safety check and make sure your home or business is protected.
