Do I need a safety switch? What SA homeowners should know

A safety switch — also called an RCD, residual current device — watches the current on a circuit. If it sees current leaking somewhere it should not, it opens the circuit in a fraction of a second. That is the difference between a nasty shock and something much worse.

Why a breaker is not enough

Ordinary circuit breakers trip on overload or a short. They protect cables and appliances. They are not designed to trip fast enough when current is leaking through a person. RCDs are. That is why they are treated as essential on modern Australian installs, and why we push them on older Adelaide houses that never had them.

How to see if you already have one

• Open the switchboard (carefully — you are only looking) and find a breaker with a Test button. That is usually the RCD.
• Some boards have more than one, covering different groups of circuits.
• Plenty of homes that have not had switchboard work in years have none. If you cannot see a Test button, assume you need one until an electrician confirms.

Pressing Test should trip that device. If it does nothing, or you are not comfortable in the board, leave it — we can test it as part of a visit.

Can you add one without replacing the whole board?

Often yes. An RCD can be fitted to a board that still has room and is otherwise sound. Very old or damaged boards sometimes need a full upgrade before an RCD will sit safely. We will say which case you are in before we start — we do not upsell a new board if a safety switch is all you need.

Want the board checked for a safety switch?

General information for Adelaide homes — not a substitute for a licensed electrician assessing your property.