RCD Tester Tips: Reasons Why Your Safety Switch Keeps Tripping
When our testing technicians complete RCD safety switch testing, one question they often encounter is: why does my safety switch keep tripping? There can be a number of reasons for frequent RCD intervention and we will cover them in this blog post.
If you are concerned about the functionality of your safety switch, you can ask one of our RCD tester team members to inspect your device.
Why do I need a safety switch?
We know that constant tripping of your RCD can be annoying, but this could actually be a sign of a greater problem. Your safety switch is in place to detect harmful changes in electrical currents and prevent potential electrical shock. When your RCD turns the power off, it is doing its best to protect you from harm. You need an RCD installed in your home or workplace and you should have it tested regularly to ensure maximum protection. Jim’s Test & Tag technicians have over 10 years of experience in the safety testing industry. Our testing team is highly dedicated and thoroughly trained in RCD testing.
Common Causes of Frequent RCD Tripping
1. You might own a faulty electrical appliance
If you have had an appliance in your home or workplace for some time, there is a chance it has become unsafe to use. An electrical appliance that is not functioning correctly could be the cause of your RCD issues. An easy way to confirm this is to unplug all of your electrical devices and reset your RCD. If the switch resets properly, you can plug all of your appliances back in one at a time. While you’re doing this, reset the switch each time you plug a new appliance in. When the RCD trips you will know, which appliance is faulty.
Appliances that commonly cause an RCD to trip include the following:
- Washing machines
- Kettles
- Fridges & Freezers
- Dishwashers
2. An electrical circuit in your building may be the cause
Your safety switch may be turning off the power to prevent flow in a faulty circuit. Some houses and buildings have older wiring that can cause a dangerous electrical environment for the occupants of the property. Faults in old wiring are caused by brittle or broken down insulation. An exposed current is dangerous, so your RCD safety switch turns off the power.
3. Your Residual Current Device could be faulty ( Faulty RCD)
Although RCDs are made to last, there is a chance that your safety switch could be the reason for the frequent tripping. If your RCD trips and you can’t reset it, or after resetting, it trips again in a few minutes, you may have a faulty RCD device. Your RCD should be tested regularly and according to the standard dictated by the AS/NZS 3760:2010. Contact us for more information about when you should have your device tested. To treat a faulty switch, you must replace it.
How to Reset your Safety Switch
If your RCD keeps tripping, you’ll need to reset it to get the power back up and running. To reset your RCD, find the main toggle switch on your device. This can vary from device to device, it may be labeled as a ‘main switch’ or it might be the largest switch at the front of the RCD. If you are having trouble locating the toggle switch, it is usually the only switch in a different position from the rest. This is because the switch is in an off position. You can reset your device by pushing the switch into the same position as the rest. If you are facing some difficulty resetting your switch, contact our RCD tester team at Jim’s Test & tag.
Still, annoyed with your RCD? Check out the blog post about how a safety switch can save your life. They’re doing their best to protect you from harm. If you would like an RCD tester to test your switch, contact our team here at Jim’s Test & Tag on 131 546 or get a free quote via the online form.
