We’ve all been there – dashing to work and trying to get the kids ready for school, when suddenly the safety switch trips and everything seems to grind to a halt.
This may feel annoying, but when safety switches keep tripping they’re doing exactly what they’re meant to do – keeping your family and property safe. To fully understand their importance, let’s look at what a safety switch is and does.
What is a Safety Switch?
A safety switch is an important device located in your switchboard that’s designed to protect people from electric shocks. Also known as an RCD, or Residual Current Device, it detects leakages in your circuitry, such as from a faulty appliance or dodgy wiring. When it does, it switches off the power supply within 30 milliseconds.
This rapid action puts a halt to current surges and prevents a whole lot of electrical hazards, from fires to electric burns and shocks.
Why Do Safety Switches Keep Tripping?
There are a few common reasons your safety switch might be tripping. A local residential electrician will be able to accurately on the problem and provide a path forward, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with one if required. They will be able to diagnose the issue while ensuring compliance with Queensland electrical safety laws.
Faulty Appliances
A safety switch is designed to trip when there is a surge above 30mA through your circuits. A damaged appliance such as a kettle, hair dryer or fridge can cause this to happen. Isolating the culprit is fairly simple – unplug all your devices, then plug them in one by one to see which one causes the trip.
Electrical Storms
During a big storm or cyclone, a nearby lightning strike could cause a surge through your system. It doesn’t even need to hit your house – it could be a neighbour’s property or nearby power lines that get the direct hit. Again, the switch is doing what it needs to do and keeping you safe from surges.
This is not to say a direct lightning strike won’t damage your circuits and appliances. We’d recommend unplugging everything before a storm, and if your safety switch has tripped wait for the bad weather to move on before you attempt to turn it back on.
Nuisance Tripping
This happens when you’ve got too many appliances drawing power off a circuit at the same time. Their combined usage exceeds the trip threshold and down goes your safety switch. It might be time for a switchboard upgrade by a professional electrician. They’ll be able to add additional circuits with a greater capacity, and you’ll be enjoying a seamless day-to-day life with less power loss before you know it!
Faulty Wiring
Just like anything, wiring ages and suffers from wear and tear. It can fray, become loose at connection points or get damaged by water, vermin and renovations. Your safety switch should protect you from dodgy wires causing an electrical fire, but you should keep your eyes peeled for signs that your wiring is faulty, such as flickering lights or burning smells.
Faulty Safety Switch
This doesn’t happen often, but sometimes there’s an issue with the RCD safety switch itself. A qualified electrician will be able to pinpoint if this is the issue and replace the safety switch with a functional one.
What To Do When Your Safety Switch Trips
There are a few steps you can take yourself to reset the safety switch before you get an electrician in. Open up your electrical switchboard and flick the switch back up into the ‘on’ position. If it’s a temporary issue that affected your circuit, it should stay up and you’re safe to continue using your power.
If the safety switches keep tripping, unplug all your appliances, then flick it on again. Plug in appliances one at a time, and you’ll be able to tell which one is causing the problem.
If the appliances don’t seem to be causing the trip, you can do the same with the lights in your house. Turn them all off, then turn them on one at a time and see if it’s a light causing the problem.
If your safety switches trip regularly and you can’t get to the root of the problem, then it’s time to get an electrician in. Make sure they’re fully licensed professionals, and look out for the Gold Master accreditation.
Contact the Switchboard Experts
It is frustrating when your safety switches keep tripping, but remember, it’s doing its job by keeping you and your home safe. You can read more about safety switches and circuit breakers here.
If you’ve got any concerns with your switchboard, get in touch with Voltora Industries. We have mobile teams of Brisbane electricians solving electrical issues all across the city, plus anywhere from the Gold Coast to Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast. With award-winning service and a commitment to safety, you’ll be in the best hands possible.
Give us a call today and lets make sure your home or business electrical system is as safe as it should be.
