Our helpful team always has safety as a number one priority and will notify you if we consider existing installations unsafe, or if they do not meet the current Australian Electrical Standard.
Switchboards in older houses are a common risk encountered, as is the lack of safety devices such as RCDs. It is our duty to ensure that your home is safe for yourself and your family.
Our technicians are also available to amend any issues that arise in existing systems and appliances, with highly skilled staff in troubleshooting and problem-solving areas.
Safety switches and RCDs (residual current devices) are vital to electrical safety in the workplace.
Generally, RCDs are located in switchboards or distribution boards at the workplace. Throughout the year, they need to be tested before they can meet Australian standards. For instance, offices, workshops, portable RCDs and portable site buildings all require regular testing.
O’Brien Electrical & Air Conditioning Bendigo is experienced in meeting Australian standards. In order to meet Australian standards for RCD testing, also known as a safety switch test, a trained and competent person must carry out the test in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. An RCD test involves inspection, push-button tests, electrical tests, and the labelling and logging of results.
Testing of RCDs in accordance with Australian standards ensures workplace safety and greatly reduces the risk of electrocution and fires. At O’Brien Electrical & Air Conditioning Bendigo, we can handle the testing process from start to finish so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
In addition to providing detailed electronic reports, we can also send you courtesy emails and phone calls to remind you when the RCDs are due for re-testing.
For more information, you can download your own copy of the AS/NZS 3760:2010 standard here.
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For more information or to have your RCDs tested, contact the team at O’Brien Electrical & Air Conditioning Bendigo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are RCDs Mandatory In Victoria?
RCDs are mandatory across Australia, including Victoria. They must be installed on all switchboards in new homes and there are no exceptions in terms of amperage.
This includes portable RCDs, which need to be tested by pressing the button before each and every use. By pressing this button on all RCDs, it will simulate the current being tripped.
Home and business RCDs should be tested annually while portable solutions will need to be tested by a licenced electrician every month while they are used on the job site.
What Is The Recommended Testing Frequency For An RCD?
Tests should be conducted on lead wires and RCDs every 12 months in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. After the test has been performed, the device should be tagged. This will indicate who performed the tests and at what time.
AS/NZS 3760 requires testing and tagging equipment every time it is hired by an organisation that hires, installs, and uses the equipment (dry hire). Under such circumstances, the owner of the equipment is responsible for performing 12 monthly inspections.
How Do RCD Tests Work?
The RCD must be tested by pressing its ‘test’ button quickly and then letting go. When connected to an electrical supply, the button will test the RCD only.
When the test button is pressed, a leakage fault is simulated, and an indication of the accuracy of the device is provided.
What Is The Best Way To Test A 3 Phase RCD?
The earth socket of the tester is connected to the central power controller in the system when testing a three-phase RCD. This method is similar to that for measuring the earth loop impedance.
In order to measure the trip time for each phase, the live socket of the tester should be connected to each line in turn.
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