A SAFETY switch is able to cut your power in less than a second if there is an electrical incident.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So while you are changing your clocks over for daylight saving, it is also a good time to check your safety switch is working properly.
Master Electricians Australia NSW/ACT state manager Jody McGann said it was a proven fact that safety switches saved lives.
“While circuit breakers are great at protecting electrical equipment, safety switches are specifically designed to protect human beings from death or serious injury from electrical shocks,” she said.
“But safety switches aren’t of much use if they are not working properly, which is why it is important that you perform a simple and safe test to ensure that they are functioning as they should.”
To test your safety switches, open your switchboard and press the ‘test’ button on each of your safety switches.
If they are working properly, the power will instantly trip off on that circuit.
Ms McGann advised to do the test before changing over digital clocks to avoid having to restart them a second time.
“Some houses have safety switches installed on all circuits, while some only have them on the light or power circuits,” she said.
“If your switchboard does not have a “test” button on every single circuit, then your home is not fully protected.”
If you hit the “test” button and it doesn’t immediately trip the power, your safety switch is faulty and you should urgently call an electrician to have it replaced.
If you don’t have a safety switch on each circuit, you should also contact a n electrician to ensure that your home is fully protected.