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The switchboard is the backbone of every property’s electrical system, yet it rarely gets much attention until something goes wrong. Behind its cover are the safety switches and circuit breakers that protect your household from electrical faults. These components are easy to overlook, but they play a vital role in preventing electric shock and house fires.
Among these components, the safety switch is the most important. Designed to cut power in a fraction of a second when a fault is detected, it can be the difference between life and death. But safety switches only work if they are installed properly, tested regularly, and kept in good condition.
With all this in mind, we’re going to explain why it’s so important to call an electrician to check your safety switches. Let’s get started.
A safety switch constantly monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit. If it detects current leaking to earth, which could happen through damaged wiring, faulty appliances, or even a person receiving a shock, it shuts off the power instantly.
Circuit breakers, by contrast, are designed to protect wiring and appliances from overloads and short circuits. They are important, but they won’t stop you from receiving an electric shock. Only safety switches provide that layer of personal protection.
Energy Safe Victoria confirms that a properly functioning safety switch can cut the power in as little as 30 milliseconds. That’s enough to prevent a fatal electrocution; but only if the switch itself is working.
If you own a home, it should have a functional safety switch installed on the switchboard. As stated by Energy Safe Victoria, “the safety switch will indicate if there are problems with your household wiring” and “if they detect a problem they cut the power off within milliseconds.” (Source)
Safety switches may vary in appearance depending on the switchboard, but they are typically shown with a ‘safety switch’ label. Each switch has a button marked with a ‘T’ or the word ‘Test’. Take care when identifying them, as there may be multiple switches, and the buttons can differ in shape and size.
Ideally, industry recommendations specify that safety switches should be checked every three months. You can check Energy Safe’s ‘Test, Reset, Protect’ page for both a written and visual guide. However, if you’re at all unsure, reach out to the Day & Night Electrical today.
While regular household testing is useful, it’s no substitute for a professional inspection. Only a licensed electrician can check that every circuit is properly protected, that the wiring behind the switchboard is safe, and that the whole system complies with industry standards.
There are warning signs to watch for other than a failed safety switch test. These might include:
In these circumstances, we always recommend getting your electrical systems checked out as soon as possible.
Since the introduction of new state legislation in March of 2023, all rental properties in Victoria must comply with the electrical safety rental minimum standard (Source: Consumer Affairs). This requires a modern switchboard fitted with circuit breakers and safety switches.
The rules are fairly straightforward. As a rental provider, it’s your legal responsibility to ensure that any property being leased is safe and compliant with industry standards. That means engaging a licensed electrician to inspect the switchboard, carrying out upgrades if required, and providing a Certificate of Electrical Safety once the work is complete.
Much like smoke alarms, Energy Safe Victoria also requires that switchboard upgrades in rental properties be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector before being energised. With demand for electricians high, landlords are encouraged to arrange inspections early to avoid delays in compliance.
Pressing the test button is safe for homeowners, but any further work on safety switches or switchboards must be carried out by a licensed electrician with proper training and accreditation. Attempting DIY electrical work is both illegal in Victoria and incredibly dangerous, especially when you factor in the risk of electrocution.
A licensed electrician will be able to check whether the safety switches are working, as well as confirm that every circuit is covered, the wiring is sound, and as a whole, the switchboard meets modern requirements. They can also identify problems such as nuisance tripping, which may be a sign of a deeper fault rather than a broken switch.
If your safety switch trips often, it doesn’t always mean it’s faulty. In many cases, it’s doing its job; which is to say, it’s cutting off power because an appliance or circuit is unsafe. The real challenge is finding the underlying cause.
Our electricians use diagnostic tools to pinpoint whether the fault lies in the switch itself, the wiring, or a specific appliance. For example, we’ve attended older apartments in Melbourne where a single faulty heater was repeatedly tripping the switch. Replacing the switch wouldn’t have solved the problem; tracking the fault to the appliance did.
This type of fault finding is essential to ensure safety switches aren’t just replaced unnecessarily, but that the underlying issue is properly resolved.
With the introduction of the rental minimum standards, many landlords are already required to replace outdated switchboards. At Day & Night Electrical, we’ve completed numerous upgrades for property owners across Melbourne and Geelong, ensuring compliance and issuing Certificates of Electrical Safety to confirm the work.
Outside the rental sector, switchboard upgrades are one of the most effective ways to make a home safer. So, if you need assistance, our team can test, reset, and when necessary, replace safety switches for an affordable price.
If you live in an older property, you might need to upgrade your safety switches. As technologies evolve, so do safety standards. What was once considered safe may not meet current safety regulations. It’s crucial to have your safety switches checked periodically to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest safety regulations and functioning optimally.
Our skilled electricians carry out inspections and recommend necessary upgrades to your safety switches. We also provide routine maintenance services to ensure your safety switches remain in top condition.
Switchboards are incredibly important to the overall safety of your property, but there are more pieces to the puzzle. Another critical safety measure you’ll need to undertake is to organise regular smoke alarm inspections.
Functional smoke alarms are a literal lifesaver, and in order to serve their core purpose, they must be up-to-date with working batteries. This is why checks are required annually for rental properties, as well as highly recommended for various other settings.
At Day & Night, we’ve spent decades working on Melbourne homes and businesses, and we know how critical safety switches are in keeping people protected. Our electricians are fully licensed and accredited, and we’ll always arrive with the right equipment to test, repair, or replace switches on the spot.
Electrical faults don’t wait for business hours, which is why you can reach us anytime, whether it’s a sudden outage in the middle of the night or a planned upgrade. We’ve got electricians available in Altona, Essendon, Malvern, Prahran, Seddon, Surrey Hills , Chadstone, and all other corners of Melbourne.
Give us a ring or get a quote right here online!
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