We like to keep our eastern suburbs customers up to date with the latest news, products and tips around electrician developments and new electrical innovation that can make our homes more energy efficient, more electrically safe and more ecologically sustainable.

The In’s and Out’s Of safety Switches

Safety switches, also known as “r.c.d. switches”, save lives of Australian every year. They work by sensing current imbalances within the electrical circuitry within our homes and offices which could mean that there is a potentially life threatening electrical fault present. Once detected, these switches then cut off the electrical power to that circuit (for example all power points could be shut down) in just a few milliseconds. This is amazing technology. Imagine a ‘smart switch’ that senses electrical danger and then cuts power faster than a human beings heart beat – that is exactly how a safety switch operates.

Current estimates suggest that only around 60 percent of homes have safety switches installed and very few older homes have these safety switches fitted on all of their electrical circuits, with estimates of around 35 percent installed on the power outlet circuits and around 45 percent installed onto lighting circuits. Modern safely switches are relatively inexpensive to have installed and if an electrical fault occurs on an electrical circuit it is hugely beneficial to have and r.c.d. safety switch installed on that circuit to offer immediate protection. These circuits include the lighting circuitry, each and every power outlet in the home, the electric hot water system, the electric cook top and electric oven and the air conditioning systems installed. For full protection, most homes would need to have at least four safety switches installed.

Electrical faults can occur for many reasons, which is why we need safety switches. Faults can occur due to:

• Defective or aged electrical wiring and cables. Like everything in life, electrical cables deteriorate over time. this is particularly true of cabling installed over 50 years ago. We have seen instances of wiring that has lost a good percentage of its electrical insulation and is a real hazard – not just in terms of the risk of electrocution, should anyone touch the cabling, but also it can greatly increase the risk of electrical fires starting.
• Faulty appliances. If an electrical appliance develops a short circuit or if the active line should short onto a conductive area that a person could touch, then this becomes a potentially lethal situation. An r.c.d. safety switch will cut the power instantly in this instance which could very easily save a life.

What Exactly Is An R.C.D. Safety Switch?

A safety switch or Residual Current Device (RCD) is an electrical switching device that is designed to cut the

Residual current device (r.c.d.)

electrical power to an electrical circuit in a fraction of a second, measured in milliseconds ( a thousandths of a second) should an electrical “leakage” or “imbalance” be detected by the sensing circuitry within the switch.. The moment a circuit is detected to be in a state of electrical “imbalance”, such as someone touching and electrically “live” wire, for example, then the supply of electricity to that particular circuit would be cut off by the safety switch  in literally less time than it takes for a human heartbeat. The power is switched off so quickly the residents of the home who are potentially at risk from the electrical fault doesn’t have time to receive an electric shock. This is why it is imperative that electrical safety switches are installed, by a licensed electrician on each and every circuit. We can install r.c.d. switches efficiently and inexpensively and are happy to do an electrical inspection of your property to see if you require them.

Recognising a safety switch as opposed to a circuit breaker on your electric switchboard is fairly straightforward. The r.c.d. safety switches generally have a button (often red or blue in colour) marked ‘test’ on the front of them. The N.S.W. department of fair trading recommends having safety switches tested every 3 months. See details here. The majority of properties already will  have circuit breakers installed, but  it is important to understand the distinction that circuit breakers are designed only to protect against electrical overloads and short circuits and NOT to protect against potential electrocution situations. 

R.C.D. Safety Switch Types

Here we take a look at the three most commonly seen types of r.c.d. safety switches:

• Switchboard mounted safety switches. These are usually seen installed next to the circuit breakers in the meter box or electrical distribution board in homes and industrial units
• Combination safety switches and circuit protection. These devices combine both circuit breakers and r.c.d. safety switches into one unit and are designed to prevent the possibility of electric shocks as well as protecting all electrical circuits and appliances installed on those circuits.They are generally installed into existing meter boxes and switchboards that have limited space, meaning that discrete circuit breakers and separate safety switches cannot be installed due to lack of space,
• Portable safety switches. These are life saving devices that are attached to a power board or to an extension cord to protect the appliances that are connected to them. They are a ‘must’ when using electrical garden tools like hedge clippers or any power tools that are used in outdoors  areas where they may not be protected by a safety switch installed on a switchboard.

The following video clearly explains the benefits of safety switches and the difference between r.c.d. safety switches and circuit breakers:

Conclusion – Safety switches are a MUST. More than 30 people are killed in homes every year through electrocution.These were most likely preventable electrical accidents. Had  safety switches been installed, these lives could have been saved. There are over 200 people are hospitalised every year in Australia with electricity related injuries and burns. Bottom line is that you must have safety switches installed.

Relevant links:

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Product_and_service_safety/Electrical_safety.page

https://www.clipsal.com/Home-Owner/Products/Safety/Safety-Switches

Electrical Pre Purchase Inspections – Why They Make Sense

Whether you are looking to buy a new in Paddington, Coogee, Bronte or Randwick or anywhere in Sydney’s eastern suburbs we recommend investing in an electrical inspection prior to exchange of contract on that property. It is commonsense and virtually a ‘must’ to have a pre-purchase building inspection done when buying property but why not an electrical inspection? In our opinion, we think the minimal cost to have this work performed is money well spent. In an electrical inspection we look to see if there are electrical issues with the home that would warrant expensive repairs or upgrades once you move into the property. By being aware in advance of these potential problems you may be in a position to negotiate the repairs be done prior purchase of the property or negotiate a lower buying price that takes into account the likely costs of the remedial electrical work that will be required to bring the property up to modern, electrically compliant standards. Areas that an electrical inspection would cover could include any or all of the following:

• Electrical switchboard. Will the existing switchboard need upgrading? If you are planning on doing
  

  A modern electrical switchboard

  building renovation or adding extensions it may be that the existing switchboard, if it is outdated will simply not be up for the task. This could mean that the installation of a new electrical switchboard is required. Does the switchboard have safety switches installed (as discussed above) and if so are they on all circuits and have they been recently tested for correct operation? Does the switchboard have modern circuit breakers installed or, in the case of many older properties, are the old style fuses still installed. These older types of circuit protection are a thing of the past. Do you want to be looking for fuse wire to repair a blown fuse at 11 pm at night? (Not that we recommend anyone other than a licensed electrician do this work anyway).

• House Wiring. What is the condition of the wiring in the property? We can inspect the cabling in the roof space and see if it is correctly installed and if it is within modern day standards. Has any additional unlicensed ‘dodgy’ wiring been done that is non- compliant? Is wiring to outdoor lighting, garden lighting and external power points safe and legal? These are all points that should be checked. rectifying them later is another unneeded expense when buying property so it pays to check.
• Smoke Alarms And Detectors. Does the home have smoke detectors installed. we can check the type installed (photo-electric type smoke alarms are now recommended over ionisation types), are they functioning correctly. We can also check on their placement, for maximum safety and see if the are wired back to the switchboard with a battery to back them up, in case of power failure, or if they are the ‘stand alone’ type of smoke alarms with battery operation. Smoke detectors are life saving devices and we can isnpect them and report on their status.
• Electrical Compliance. We can report on any non compliant electrical installations or components that have been installed.

We can give you an estimate of the likely cost to rectify any electrical issues identified so you will have peace of mind prior to the property purchase.

L.E.D. Lighting Benefits – Save Electricity – Longevity Of L.E.D. Light Bulbs

If you are doing any sort of lighting upgrade, be it for your lounge room, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms or even outdoor areas we strongly recommend l.e.d. light bulbs and fittings be installed. We are experienced in all aspects of l.e.d. lighting installation and can source the highest quality bulb, light fittings and transformers. There are huge

Typical LED light bulb – 40,000 hour lifespan

benefits of l.e.d. lighting including typical bulb life time of 35,000 to 50,000 operating hours – compare that to 1,000 hours of the old style incandescent light bulbs!! Energy savings gained by switching to l.e.d. technology can easily be 75 – 90 percent, so huge savings on lighting costs can be made.

Much of the energy efficiency of l.e.d. lighting is due to the high thermal efficiency that l.e.d.’s exhibit. Well over 90 percent of the ‘input energy’ – that is the energy supplied to the bulb is actually converted into visible light and very little of the energy is ‘wasted’ in heat. This is apparent when you put your hand near a l.e.d. bulb – you will notice there is very little heat emitted. This is very different from the old style incandescent or halogen style bulbs.

More Information on Energy Efficient Lighting: http://yourenergysavings.gov.au/energy/lighting/energy-efficient-lights