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Safety Switches & Switchboards

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Residual current devices (RCDs) commonly referred to as safety switches, are the single most effective measure to prevent electrocution, serious electrical injured & fires. The circuit breakers & fuses in your switchboard provide protection against overloading & short circuits. They DO NOT protect you against electrocution. An RCD is the only device able to save you & your family from electrocution. No RCD means no second chance. Pulse Electrical & Communications can offer an electrical inspection on your switchboard and provide a vast range of upgrades to your switchboard that will ensure electrical safety and compliance to protect your family, home or business.

Why Pulse Electrical & Communications for your switchboard installation?

Assessment of your existing lighting circuit wiring

Clear communication and honest advice

We use dust catchers and dust sheets to protect your possessions

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We only use quality safety switches and circuit breakers for our installations

Upfront pricing

Neat and tidy installation

We clean up after ourselves

Safety switches have been mandatory in new or extended homes since 2000 but only for a limited number of circuits. The latest version of the Australian & New Zealand: Electrical Installations “Wiring Rules” (AS/NZS3000:2018) issued 26th June 2018 made it a mandatory regulation for RCDs to be installed for all sub circuits rated at 32 amps or less. Mandatory compliance to the updated wiring rules were enforced on 1st January 2019.

How do I know when it’s time to upgrade my switchboard?

A switchboard upgrade is a formality as you make additions to your electrical installation and is an absolute no brainer in terms of safety.

Your switchboards electrical integrity plays a crucial part to ensure your family or employees are safe from electrical faults that can lead to electric shock. If your switchboard is not up to date or has old wiring that is not protected with the correct circuit protection then it can impose a serious safety risk.

Here are some reasons why you need a switchboard upgrade NOW:

Your switchboard contains rewireable ceramic fuses or circuit breakers protecting your sub circuits that offer zero protection against electric shock and quite often have loose electrical connections that cause arcing which can lead to an electrical fire
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Your switchboard does not contain a safety switch or does not automatically disconnect when the “test” button is pressed. It is a mandatory regulation for RCDs to be installed for all sub circuits rated at 32 amps or less

You have upgraded or added appliances to your electrical installation that consume more power than the circuit has been designed for. This can lead to overheating and can cause circuit breakers or RCBOs to trip

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You are planning to renovate, add a granny flat or extend your home. By modernizing your home, you inevitably increase the maximum demand for your electrical installation. Older homes were not designed to handle how reliant we are on modern day electrical appliances. You may need to upgrade your incoming electricity supply that comes from the Street to your home and your consumer mains that connect your incoming electricity supply to your electricity meters. You may need to install an earth electrode if your main earth is being provided from copper water pipes that are embedded in the ground.
switchboard

What is a switchboard:

Switchboards are used to safely distribute electricity throughout your home or business. They divide an electrical supply into smaller sub circuits that are protected by circuit breakers and safety switches (RCDs). Switchboards in houses are commonly located at the front of the house or often to the side of the property within your meter enclosure, where your electricity meters are located. For apartments switchboards are quite often found inside kitchen cupboards & wardrobes.

RCD

What is safety switch or RCD:

RCDs (Residual Current Devices) are commonly referred to as safety switches. RCDs are a sensitive safety device that protects against electrocution and fire caused by earth faults. They are designed to quickly automatically disconnect when current flowing through the active and neutral conductors are not balanced. The imbalance of current between the active and neutral conductors is called earth leakage current. Earth leakage current is a potential risk for electric shock. An electrical current of 30 milliamps (mA) through the human body has the potential to cause cardiac arrest or series harm. RCDs rated at 30 milliamps (mA) are the most common type of RCDs which are used in homes and businesses. Medical installations like hospitals and clinics require 10 milliamp (mA) RCDs to be installed. RCDs protect people!
RCBO

What is a RCBO:

RCBOs (Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current) combine the functionality of an MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) and an RCD (Residual Current Device). RCDs are specifically designed to protect against earth leakage and MCBs specifically to protect against overcurrent. RCBOs protect against both of these types of faults. RCBOs protect people and against fire.

MCB

What is a circuit breaker or MCB:

MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) are devices designed to protect an electrical circuit from over current. Over currents can be caused by overloading a circuit or a short circuit. Overloading can occur when too many appliances are placed on one circuit and therefore draw more current than the circuit and cable are designed for. A Short circuit is a direct connection between the active and neutral which can be caused by a faulty appliance or a faulty electrical circuit. Circuit breakers have 3 principle characteristics, a short circuit rating measured in Kilo Amps (KA), an overload rating rated in in Amps (A) and tripping curve. The tripping curve of miniature circuit breaker allows for initial surges of current that exceeds the overcurrent rating of the MCB and is determined by the type of MCB. Type C MCBs are commonly found in homes and businesses. MCBs protect against fire.
test RCD RCBO

How do I test my RCD or RCBO:

RCDs and RCBOs can be functionally tested by any “competent person” by simply pressing the ‘test’ button that is located on the front of the RCD or RCBO. By pressing the test button the RCD or RCBO simulates an earth leakage fault and will automatically disconnect if the device is not faulty. AS/NZS 3760 states that RCDs should be functionally tested every 6 months and injection tested every 12 months. An injection test should be performed by a Licensed Electrician. The injection test is conducted using an RCD tester, that applies various milliamp currents between active and earth and records the time it takes for the RCD or RCBO to trip. The first test is performed at half of its rated trip current, and it should not automatically disconnect. The second test is at x1 of its rated trip current, the RCD or RCBO must automatically disconnect within 300 milliseconds (ms) when this test is performed. The final test is at x5 of its rated trip current, the RCD or RCBO must automatically disconnect within 40 milliseconds (ms).
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What are rewireable fuses:

Rewireable fuses are made with a ceramic or plastic carrier that slots into the switchboard. They use a length of fuse wire which is connected between two screws on the contacts of a fuse holder and operate when a circuit is overloaded or a short circuit current. When replacing the fuse wire in the event of a short circuit or overload it is quite common for a home owner or business to install the fuse wire themselves in a rush to re energise the circuit, without investigating the root cause of the problem and are unaware that there are different types of fuse wire that can be connected between the two screws of the fuse holder that are rated for different currents, this is why rewireable fuses can present a risk of fire and if they are installed in your home or business you are long overdue a switchboard upgrade.
electrode

What is an Earth electrode:

An Earth electrode consists of a copper alloy rod that is driven vertically into the ground. It connects the neutral of the electrical installation to the general mass of earth. Earth electrodes must maintain effective contact with moist soil and should be have a permanent label attached with a warning that the main earth conductor should not be disconnected. The location of an earth electrode should be identified at the main switchboard. Earth electrodes are used to provide a return path through the general mass of Earth for fault currents in the event of an open circuit between the neutral and earth connection either on the distributors network or the consumers electrical installation.

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