Safety Switch Installation & Testing in Eltham & Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs
A safety switch watches the electricity flowing through a circuit and cuts the power if it detects a problem that could hurt someone. We install, test and replace safety switches in homes and businesses across Eltham and Melbourne’s north.
Get a free quote
Four quick details and Mardi gets back to you. No call centre, no obligation.
When to call us about safety switches
- Your switchboard has no safety switches, or you’re not sure whether it does
- Pressing the test button doesn’t turn the power off
- A safety switch keeps tripping and won’t stay on
- You own a rental property and need power and lighting circuits protected
- You’re renovating or adding new circuits such as a cooktop, hot water or air conditioning
- Your home is more than 30 years old and the wiring has never been checked
Fully licensed & insured · 10+ years’ experience · Free quotes
Get a Free QuoteWhat a safety switch does (and what a circuit breaker doesn’t)
Energy Safe Victoria describes a safety switch as a device that monitors the electricity flowing through a circuit and turns the power off within 0.03 of a second when it detects a problem that may put someone at risk.
A circuit breaker is different. It protects the wiring from overloads and short circuits, but it isn’t designed to protect people from electric shock. That’s why a modern switchboard has both. You can usually spot a safety switch on your board by its test button and the "30mA" printed on it.
Safety switches add protection on top of circuit breakers and fuses. They can’t prevent every electric shock, so they need to be installed on the right circuits and tested regularly.
Does an older home have safety switches?
Many don’t. In Victoria, safety switches became mandatory in 1991 for power circuits in new homes and in existing homes undergoing significant electrical work. Wiring rules introduced in 2018 extended this to all final sub-circuits in homes. Houses built or last rewired before then may have no safety switches at all, or only some circuits covered.
If you’re not sure what your board has, we can check it and tell you which circuits are protected before you decide anything.
Safety switches in rental properties
Under Victoria’s rental minimum standards, from 29 March 2023 all power outlets and lighting circuits in a rental property must be connected to a switchboard-type circuit breaker and a switchboard-type safety switch (residual current device). Rental providers must also have an electrical safety check done by a licensed or registered electrician every two years.
We can check whether a rental’s switchboard meets the standard, fit the safety switches it needs, and carry out the two-yearly electrical safety check.
- 1
Check
We look at your switchboard and find out which circuits are and aren’t protected.
- 2
Quote
You get a clear, free quote before any work starts.
- 3
Install
A licensed electrician fits the safety switches, or upgrades the board if it can’t take them.
- 4
Test & explain
We test every safety switch and show you how to test them yourself.
How to test your safety switches every three months
Energy Safe Victoria recommends testing your safety switches every three months:
- Let everyone at home know you’re about to test.
- Press the test button on each safety switch. It should trip to the off position and cut the power.
- Check that lights and power points on that circuit have gone off.
- Reset the switch by lifting or twisting it back to on.
If the power doesn’t go off when you press the test button, the safety switch may have failed. Call a licensed electrician to check it.
Common questions about safety switches
Have something else in mind? Give Mardi a call.
0431 569 629How do I know if I have a safety switch?
Look on your switchboard for a switch with a test button and "30mA" printed on it; some are also labelled "safety switch". If you can’t find one, or you’re not sure, we can check your board for you.
What’s the difference between a safety switch and a circuit breaker?
A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overloads and short circuits. A safety switch protects people by cutting the power within 0.03 of a second when it detects a fault. Most homes need both.
How often should I test my safety switches?
Energy Safe Victoria recommends pressing the test button on each safety switch every three months. If the power doesn’t go off, call an electrician.
Can a safety switch be added to my existing switchboard?
Often, yes. Some older boards don’t have the room or are in poor condition, and the better option is a switchboard upgrade. We’ll tell you which applies after we’ve looked at it.
Are you licensed to install safety switches?
Yes. All our electricians are fully licensed and insured, REC 25142.
Helpful guides
Plain-English advice to help you spot warning signs, plan ahead and know what to ask your electrician.
Safety switch keeps tripping: what homeowners should do safely
A tripping safety switch is doing its job. Here are the safe checks you can make, and the point where you should stop and call an electrician.
SafetyHow to tell if your switchboard needs upgrading
Old fuses, constant tripping and missing safety switches are the most common signs. Here is what to look for without touching anything live.
SafetyHow to prepare for an electrical safety inspection
A little preparation makes an inspection quicker and more useful. Use this checklist before your electrician arrives.
Get your safety switches checked
Servicing Eltham, Eltham North, Montmorency, Yallambie, St Helena, Viewbank, Watsonia, Diamond Creek, Macleod, Rosanna, Plenty Valley, Greensborough, Heidelberg, Templestowe and surrounds. Call 0431 569 629 or request your free quote.
Also available in these nearby suburbs: