RCD Testing
What is an RCD?
An RCD, or residual current device, is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It can also provide some protection against electrical fires. RCDs offer a level of personal protection that ordinary fuses and circuit-breakers cannot provide.
What does an RCD do?
An RCD is a sensitive safety device that switches off electricity automatically if there is a fault.
An RCD is designed to protect against the risks of electrocution and fire caused by earth faults. For example, if you cut through the cable when mowing the lawn and accidentally touch the exposed live wires or a faulty appliance overheats causing electric current to flow to earth.
What are the main types of RCD?
RCDs can help protect you from electric shock in potentially dangerous areas like bathrooms and gardens, and there are various types of RCDs that can be used to make sure you are always as safe as possible.
Fixed RCDs
These are installed in the consumer unit (fusebox) and can provide protection to individual or groups of circuits. A fixed RCD provides the highest level of protection as it protects all the wiring and the sockets on a circuit, and any connected appliances.
Socket-Outlet RCDs
These are special socket-outlets with an RCD built into them which can be used in place of a standard socket-outlet. This type of RCD provides protection only to the person in contact with equipment, including its lead, plugged into the special socket-outlet.
Portable RCDs
These plug into any standard socket-outlet. An appliance can then be plugged into the RCD. They are useful when neither fixed nor socket-outlet RCDs are available but, as with socket-outlet RCDs, they provide protection only to the person in contact with the equipment, including its lead, plugged into the portable RCD.
In addition to electrical appliance testing Power Safe Australia can also arrange RCD (Safety Switch) trip time / current tests. RCD (Safety Switch) trip time / current tests involves the following procedures:
- Locate switchboard and identify circuits protected by RCD’s
- Check switchboard door hinge, locking mechanism and weatherproof seal.
- Push button test to ensure RCD is operational
- Plug in RCD test device and measure for trip time
- Plug in RCD test device and measure for trip current.
- Check time and current fall within AS3760