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Gardening in Oz

electrical safety switches

20 years ago

I wonder if you are more likely to die of electrocution from a dud appliance, or if the frustration of having the damned switches trip, and cause you to spend hours disconnecting appliances and "trying again", will kill you first.

They are compulsory here, everywhere I expect. Trouble is if you buy a 2nd hand house and have no circuit plans you have no idea where you start. And do you notice that it always happens at the least convenient time? I threw up my hands tonight, a VERY kind neighbourhood sparky came down and got at least the fridge, a TV and the microwave back and he's coming back tomorrow to tackle the power box. I am very gingerly on the computer courtesy of a looooong extension lead.

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Comments (2)

gardenlen
20 years ago
far better to ahve a safety switch on your power only circuit, than not and then of course all circuits should have earth leakage switches as well the filament fuse should be well and truely buried.

if the switch has tripped it takes a process of elimination to work out whether and appliance casued it, or a faulty wall socket might have caused it or some inteferrance to the wire circuit as might be caused by rodents etc.,.

anyway in the end a sparky will find circuit problems could of course be a faulty switch.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
sterculias
20 years ago
Electrical safety switchs (RCDs) do not stop you from receiving a shock but they turn off the power within 20 milli seconds of detecting the fault. This prevents you from receiving a serious or fatal shock. A bit like the seat belt in the car. It will limit the severity of the injury.

GO for the safety switch every time. If you keep tripping the RCD then don't blame it, it is doing what it is supposed to do. Find out what the fault is. It may be a pain in the butt but how much is your butt worth? LOL

The other advantage of these is it stops handy persons from replacing the old wired fuses with nails, silver paper or fencing wire. I kid you not.

Doug.
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