Safety Switches / Switchboard Upgrades

The dreaded term ‘switchboard upgrade’ can strike fear into any home owner. Thoughts such as ‘this is going to cost me an arm and a leg!’ and ‘it’s been fine for 30 years so why change now?’ often spring to mind. But the installation of safety switches can save you so much more than money. Can you put a price on the life of your loved ones?

Put simply, a safety switch (or residual current device) provides us and our loved ones with protection from electrocution. In the event of an electric shock, they will cut the power supply before fibrillation of the heart normally occurs. 

I like to think of safety switches in the same way I think of the air bags in your car. Chances are you’ve never had to use the airbags in your car, but it’s nice knowing that they’re there. If you or your loved ones have ever been unfortunate enough to need to use the airbags in your car then you will be thankful for them. 

There once was a time when airbags in cars didn’t exist, but after they were invented, their safety benefits became obvious, and they quickly became mandatory in all new cars. The same is true of safety switches, they are now mandatory on all new electrical installations in your home.

Safety switches offer a last line of defence, ideally, we want to reduce the risk of this happening all together which is why it is so important to have a qualified and vigilant electrician inspect your wiring and appliances to ensure that they are safe for use.

During the switchboard upgrade process, we do exactly that. Our qualified electricians test all cabling inside of your home to make sure that it’s up to current safety standards, we test all of your power points, lights and appliances for correct operation and that they have an adequate protective earthing conductor. We rectify any faults that are found and only once all of these tests are complete, we can install the new safety switches. 

All switchboards are tested and confirmed to be safe by an independent electrical inspector prior to being re energised and handed back over to you along with a certificate of electrical safety. Bringing your switchboard back in line with current Electrical Safety Standards.

To book an assessment of the switchboard or wiring in your home, call Jamie on 044 835 3203 or email jamie@hudelecballarat.com.au