Safety Switch Installation Geelong
Safety switches (RCDs) fitted, tested and certified in homes across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, by CabledIN
Safety switch installation in Geelong means fitting a safety switch (RCD) at your switchboard so that a circuit cuts out within a fraction of a second if electricity leaks to earth, for example through a person. CabledIN's licensed electricians (REC 30925) fit, test and certify them.
We quote after seeing the board. Adding switches to a sound board is a much smaller job than replacing an old fuse board.
- How fast it trips
- Within 0.03 of a second (Energy Safe Victoria)
- How to spot one
- It has a test button and is marked 30 mA
- How often to test
- Every three months (Energy Safe Victoria)
- Who fits it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925
What a safety switch does, and what it does not
A safety switch monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit. When it detects a leak that could harm a person, it cuts the power within milliseconds. Energy Safe Victoria puts the figure at within 0.03 of a second.
Three limits are worth knowing:
- A safety switch only protects the circuits it is connected to. One switch on the power points does nothing for the lights, the oven or the hot water.
- It is an extra layer of protection that works alongside circuit breakers or fuses. It does not replace them.
- It will not prevent every electric shock. It is not a reason to keep using a damaged appliance or lead.
Safety switch, circuit breaker or RCBO: the difference
| Device | What it protects | What makes it trip |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit breaker or fuse | The wiring | An overload or a short circuit |
| Safety switch (RCD) | People | Electricity leaking to earth |
| RCBO | Both | Either of the above, on one circuit |
| Surge diverter | Electronics and appliances | It does not trip. It diverts voltage spikes |
Energy Safe Victoria is clear that circuit breakers and surge diverters are not safety switches. The RCBO is the part we fit most often on safety switch jobs: one device per circuit that does the work of a circuit breaker and a safety switch together. If you also want to protect electronics from voltage spikes, that is a separate job: surge protection.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
How to tell if your home has safety switches
Open the switchboard door and look for switches with a button marked T or Test, and the marking 30 mA. Then count them against your circuits.
- No test buttons at all: you have circuit breakers or fuses only, and no safety switch.
- One or two test buttons: some circuits are protected, usually the power points. Lighting and fixed appliances may not be.
- A test button on every circuit: the board has full coverage.
- Ceramic pull-out fuses: the board predates safety switches. It is usually better to plan a switchboard upgrade than to add parts to it.
Not sure what you are looking at? Send us a photo of the open board when you book.
Safety switch installation in Geelong: what happens on the day
- We check the board. Is there room, is the board sound, and which circuits are unprotected?
- Written quote. You see what is being fitted to which circuit before work starts.
- Power off, devices in. We switch off the board and fit a safety switch or RCBO to each circuit being protected. A larger enclosure is fitted if the old one is full.
- Testing. Each new device is tested to confirm it trips correctly, along with the other mandatory tests: earthing continuity, insulation resistance, polarity and earth fault-loop impedance.
- Fault repair if needed. A new safety switch can expose a leak that was always there. If a circuit trips on test, we find the cause.
- Labels and certificate. Circuits are labelled and you receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety. For this type of work your copy is due within 30 days.
Installing or maintaining safety switches on an existing board is non-prescribed work, so it does not need an independent inspector. Replacing the whole main switchboard does.
When Victorian rules call for safety switches
- New homes and major renovations. Powercor states that safety switches are mandatory in Victoria in new premises and where major renovations occur.
- A replaced switchboard. When a switchboard is replaced, the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) require safety switch protection on all final sub-circuits.
Older homes, whether lived in by the owner or rented out, often have partial coverage or none. Energy Safe Victoria lists an old switchboard without a safety switch as a warning sign that the wiring may be faulty.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Test your safety switches every three months
Energy Safe Victoria says to test safety switches every three months. It is a safe check you can do yourself:
- Tell everyone in the house the power is about to go off.
- Press the test button on each safety switch.
- Check that power is off on that circuit.
- Reset the switch.
If lights or appliances stay on after you press the test button, the switch may have failed. Call a licensed electrician immediately.
Safety switch keeps tripping or will not reset
A safety switch trips because current is leaking somewhere on its circuit. The leak can come from a faulty appliance, the wiring or a damaged power point. The safe checks are simple: unplug the appliances on that circuit, reset the switch, then plug them back in one at a time to see which one trips it.
If the switch will not reset with everything unplugged, leave it off and call a licensed electrician. Frequent tripping means the wiring and appliances should be inspected. Our guide explains the causes in more detail: why does my safety switch keep tripping?
Safety switch work across Geelong
Our job records hold more than 200 safety switch jobs. The suburbs where we do the most are Lara, Corio, Bannockburn, Leopold, Highton, Hamlyn Heights, Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek. The work includes adding protection to older boards, replacing failed switches, fault finding on circuits that keep tripping, and fitting protected circuits for new appliances.
CabledIN is a licensed Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) based in North Geelong, with more than 20 years' experience, a lifetime workmanship warranty, 2,000+ five-star Google reviews and 24/7 emergency call-outs.
Recent safety switch jobs around Geelong
Safety switches and RCBOs fitted to Geelong switchboards by our electricians.
Frequently asked questions
How many safety switches do I need?
A safety switch only protects the circuits connected to it, so full protection means every circuit is covered. The tidiest way is one combined device (an RCBO) per circuit, so a fault switches off that circuit only.
Is a safety switch the same as a circuit breaker?
No. A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overloads and short circuits. A safety switch protects people by cutting power when electricity leaks to earth. An RCBO combines both in one device.
Are safety switches mandatory in Victoria?
Powercor states they are mandatory in new premises and where major renovations occur. They are also required on all final sub-circuits when a switchboard is replaced.
Can you add safety switches to a home I rent out?
Yes. If the board already has circuit breakers, safety switch protection can usually be added to the power and lighting circuits; an older fuse board may need replacing. We check the board, quote the work for the owner or property manager, and arrange access with the household.
How often should I test my safety switch?
Every three months, according to Energy Safe Victoria. Press the test button, confirm the power is off on that circuit, then reset it.
Why does my safety switch keep tripping?
It is detecting current leaking to earth, usually from a faulty appliance, damaged wiring or a faulty power point. Unplug everything on the circuit and reset it. If it still trips, call a licensed electrician.
Can a safety switch be added to an old fuse box?
Sometimes, if the board is sound. Older fuse boards may need full replacement, and when a board is replaced every circuit gets safety switch protection.
How long does safety switch installation in Geelong take?
Adding safety switches to a sound switchboard is a short job with the power off for part of the visit. It takes longer if the enclosure has to be replaced or a wiring fault shows up on testing.
Can I install a safety switch myself?
No. DIY electrical work is illegal in Victoria. A safety switch must be fitted by a licensed electrician, who then issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.