RCD - Testing

What is the purpose of an RCD?

An RCD (residual current device) is the industry term for a safety switch. An RCD’s main purpose is to prevent severe electrical shocks from occurring. An RCD acts as a life-saving device; it detects and halts the power in an electrical socket preventing dangerous electric currents and fatal electric shocks. RCD’s are usually located on a switchboard but can be used portably. Every home and workplace should enlist in regular RCD safety switch testing to ensure they are working correctly.

Electrocution is one of the most disconcerting and upsetting experiences a person can expect to have in their life as a result of contact with the environment they live in. Nobody ever gets used to it; nobody ever likes it and, unfortunately, for some, it can lead to serious consequences, and even death. Naturally, the world has been adapted to make it easy to use electricity and to place preventative devices in place to intervene should faults result in our electrical devices posing a threat.

Safety Switch Testing

Safety switch testing is something that every facilities/office manager need to complete on a regular basis to ensure that their premises are protected in this regard. A safety switch is also known as an RCD or Residual Current Device, and its entire function is to prevent severe electric shocks from occurring.

At Just Test & Tag, we are professional specialists in all things electrical, and over the past 20 years, we have been working for Australian’s just like you to test their electrical appliances to ensure that they are in optimal working condition. We are the prevention team and believe that taking measures and remaining vigilant about the proper working order of your electrical appliances and the devices in place to insulate you from harm, including safety switches.

Signs You Need To Call An RCD Tester Pro

So, perhaps you are unsure if there is any need to check the working condition of your safety switch. Well, you can start your decision-making process by first checking the tags. If you find tags that are hand-written, that should be the first warning sign that prompts you to get in touch with the team here at Just Test and Tag. We believe that no tag should be produced or issued until thorough testing that complies strictly with AS/NZS 3760:2010 has been completed.

What’s more, safety switch testing is definitely needed if the RCD in your business trips regularly. This indicates that there is most likely a faulty appliance on the premises. While nothing might seem off about your appliances on the surface, there may be issues lurking within their mechanism that only the professionals will be able to identify.

RCD Tester Protection

For safety switch testing, you really can’t leave anything to chance. The lives of those in your care depend on this crucial piece of equipment working at all times. As such, having a handyman that is supposedly competent take a look may achieve as much as a placebo solution.

Here at Just Test and Tag, we have earned our reputation as technicians of the highest grade because we are consistent in our approach, our dedication to safety and our response times to those who wish to immediately assess and safeguard their property.

A free quote can be claimed by getting in touch with us today and could make all the difference in terms of protecting the ones you love and are responsible for into the future.

RCD Testing Services

Something that we all take for granted every day is the power points that we use to get our electrical tools and equipment up and running, as well as electrical installations that will make our lives immeasurably easier. The problem is that while everything can appear to be normal on the surface, there may be issues present that could result in injury, serious harm or even death as a result of electric shock.

A professional RCD tester will determine whether the safety switch in your place of business is working as it should, and will also be able to identify whether there is any electrical equipment or appliances faulty that could pose a threat.

At Just Test and Tag, over the past decade, each member of our network of electrical technicians has undergone extensive training and education to make sure that we adopt best practice policies and follow the most current thinking in terms of work safety. We complete comprehensive electrical risk assessments every single day all across Australia and have done for over a decade.

RCD Testing Professionals Only

In terms of what you get when you choose a professional RCD tester, there are many benefits. The immediate one, which is of concern to everyone, is, of course, safety. You don’t want to put the lives of those in your place of business at risk by trying to save a buck by doing the work in-house. As such, a professional test and tag crew will approach the work taking the necessary precautions and will carry out the work with the correct equipment and will leave your premises once it is perfectly safe for occupation.

It is often the case that what appears to be a small problem, such as your RCD tripping repeatedly over and over again, is, in fact, just a symptom of another fault elsewhere. The RCD is there to cut the power in the electric circuit once it detects a fault. As such, there may be one or many appliances or pieces of equipment that have faults, which are prompting this response. Professionals will thoroughly assess the situation where a layperson may not and directly address the cause.

The cost you could incur by handing important electrical testing over to a handyman only to have to retain the services of a professional crew later could be prevented by trusting in the expertise and dependability of the latter in the first place. Your time and money are at stake, but if the work is not done properly, so, too could be your life.

A Reputation That Speaks Volumes

At Just Test and Tag, our team are as highly skilled as you could hope to find and we are 100% dedicated above all else to the prevention of accidents as a result of an electrical fault. Our reputation among those that have retained our services in the past is second to none and should you ask around we expect that you will learn that we are leading experts in our field and the team that you can trust no matter what your issue is.

Do You Need A Qualified RCD Tester?

If you use or own electrical equipment either at home or at work, then the answer is yes. Only a qualified tester can make certain that your safety switch is fit for purpose and will stop a disaster from happening in the event of an electrical short. At Just Test And Tag, we provide a service that gives you the peace of mind to go about your day knowing your electrical appliances are safe and carefully monitored by effective safety switches.

When Do You Need A Safety Switch In The Workplace?

In workplaces where electrical equipment is powered through socket outlets, or where equipment is used in high-risk environments, Residual Current Devices are required. RCDs must be provided when regular use of electrical equipment exposes a device to conditions that are likely to result in damage or a reduction in expected life span. This can include conditions that involve exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust. If electrical appliances are moved between different locations where damage to the unit or to a flexible power supply chord is likely a safety switch is necessary. Any electrical equipment that is moved frequently during normal use or is connected to or used in connection with an amusement device requires an RCD. Common examples of electrical equipment that require an RCD include:

• Portable electrical appliances like drills, saws, curling wands, electric knives and hair dryers
• Electrical equipment that is in motion while being operated such as electric lawn mowers, floor polishers, extension cords and jackhammers
• Electrical equipment that is transported between jobs a manner that could cause damage to the equipment, for example, electric welders, electric cement mixers, portable bench saws and extension cords.

Protect Yourself and Those Under Your Care

If less than a quarter of an amp of current leaked from a faulty electrical installation, it could generate enough heat to start a fire. If this amperage leaked through a human body for even a fraction of a second, it could cause heart fibrillation and even death. An accurate and fully functioning RCD protects against these worst-case scenarios by constantly monitoring the current flowing in a power supply or an individual piece of equipment. Under normal circumstances, the current flowing in both the live and neutral wires in a circuit should be equal. When an earth leakage occurs due to a circuit fault or an accident with the equipment, an imbalance occurs. The RCD detects this imbalance and immediately cuts off the power before any injury or damage can occur. That is why it is essential that all electrical equipment is not just installed correctly but that safety switches are tested by a professional to ensure they will prevent dangerous accidents.

A Service You Can Count On

At Just Test And Tag, you can count on us to keep your electrical equipment in safe working condition. Our qualified and thorough RCD testers will make certain your electrical safety switches are up to scratch and will keep your home or workplace safe come what may.

So, if are in need of RCD testing and want peace of mind that the job is done right the first team, look no further than the team here at Just Test and Tag. We look forward to providing you with a free quote and safeguarding the lives of those in your care.