RCD Testing RCD (Residual Currency Device), aka Safety Switch, perform a lifesaving job

Overview

Most people are aware of safety switches that are located in the switchboard or at the outlet (power point) and this vital piece of your electrical safety needs to be tested to ensure that it will perform its lifesaving job when most needed. Under the current Australian Standards and general WHS compliancy, safety switch time test tripping is required in all work places on a yearly basis.

Information

FAQs

• Do I have to test RCDs of a building we are renting?

  Yes as the employer or person having control of the workplace it is your duty to ensure that RCD are regularly tested and records are maintained of individual test results

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• How are RCDs Tested?

  When RCD tests are carried out, it will trip the RCD and disconnect the circuit that it protects, so any electrical equipment will need to be turned off prior to RCD Testing being carried out. Each RCD Test only takes approximately 5 minutes for each RCD. We suggest that RCD Testing is carried out after hours, before the office opens, or you will need to advise your staff that the power will be disrupted for each circuit, and that there computers will need to be turned off.

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• How do I tell the difference between a RCD and a circuit breaker?

  A RCD looks like a circuit breaker, but also has a test button. The photograph shows two circuit breakers compared with a RCD, Combined RCD/circuit breakers are available also. These devices provide protection from overload, short circuit and electrocution. They also have a test button.

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• What are Portable RCDs?

  Portable RCDs attached to a power board or extension lead are available. RCDs on power boards and extension leads only protect the circuits of appliances connected to them. They are essential for people using power tools or electrical appliances outside that are not protected by a meter box RCD or power point RCD.

  These are generally used and are considered mandatory on construction and building sites

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• What are Power Point RCDs?

  RCDs may be fitted to a power point, and can be distinguished by the test button on the faceplate. They must be fitted to the first power point after the meter box. They are suitable for protecting electrical appliances in specific areas such as bathrooms and workshops.

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• What are RCDs (Safety Switches)?

  RCD’s are designed to isolate (turn off) when an active (live) conductor detects earth (Object or person) in a split millisecond to potentially save you from electrocution.

  These are a life saving device which has been around for many years and under current building code are required to be installed on all lighting and power circuits.

  They are generally installed in your switchboard in replacement of circuit breakers and are easily identified by having a small pushbutton on the face for testing.

  (Please note: Circuit breakers are not designed to trip to save your life, but are designed to protect the circuits wiring and switchboard)

  Legislation and Australian Standards require that a time trip is conducted generally yearly by a qualified electrician or technician and that all details of the trip times are recorded.

  This includes not only single phase safety switches (240v) but also 3 phase safety switches (415v)

  All workplaces to AS/NZS 3760:2010

  RCD Operating Time (RCD Tester)

  • Non- Portable -Fixed RCDs – 12 monthly tests for operating time by qualified person
  • Portable RCDs – 3 monthly test by qualified person

  RCD – Push Button Test (by user)

  • Non- Portable -Fixed RCDs – 12 monthly push button test by user
  • Portable RCDs – To be tested daily or before connection of electrical equipment by user

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• What flexibility is allowed with the testing intervals?

  In order to remain compliant to the standard, you will need to comply with the above test intervals in the section above.

  There is a tolerance of 2 weeks allowed from renewal date for you to still achieve compliance.

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• What information is contained in the RCD Test Results?

  • Testers name who carried out the test
  • Date testing carried out & re-test date
  • Result from testing – Pass/Fail
  • License no. of the electrician or certificate no. of the competent person carrying out the testing
  • Asset Id No of the items tested

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• What is a Push-button test?

  Any person can perform the push button test; however before that person performs the test they must be deemed competent.

  The push-button test is to ensure that the RCD will trip when there is an earth leakage, and break the electrical circuit protecting the individual from suffering an electric shock, or electrocution. When you press the test button, and the RCD has detected an imbalance, the on/off switch will jump to the “off” position.

  The test button will only test the RCD if an electricity supply is connected.

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• What is an RCD (Residual Currency Device)?

  A RCD (Residual Current Device) is a safety device that disconnects a circuit when it detects an imbalance of the electric current. The RCD turns the power off almost immediately to prevent electrocution. While you may still receive an electric shock, the duration will be very short, reducing the risk of serious injury.

  Where electricity is supplied through a socket, the risk associated with that supply must be minimized by the use of a safety switch (RCD).

  A RCD cannot detect all types of faults, for example if a person receives a shock between the active and neutral conductors. However these circumstances are rare and the vast majority of incidents occur between the active conductor and earth, which is protected by a Safety Switch (RCD).

  If a person comes in contact with a live electrical conductor, electricity flows through their body, causing an electric shock. Effects can vary from a tingling sensation or muscular pain to breathing difficulties, burns, and heart failure.

  RCDs are extremely sensitive, disconnecting within 10 to 50 milliseconds (The standard allows up to 300 milliseconds but this is very rare that they reach this time and are generally deemed as failed and replaced) of detecting a leakage current. This stops the flow of electricity through someone’s body to earth. Importantly, this response time is much faster than the critical section of the cardiac cycle, and therefore reduces the risk of death or serious injury.

  RCDs also protect against fire caused by faults in appliance, tools and wiring. If these faults go undetected they could cause a fire, or personal injury. RCD’s provide a means of early fault detection.

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• What is Fixed RCD Testing?

  Can be carried out by a competent person, but they cannot carry out repairs, or remove the cover of the switchboard exposing live terminal, as only a licensed electrician can.

  We suggest that you should only use a licensed electrical worker trained on the test equipment

  ATTS use only qualified electricians to carry out RCD Testing.

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• What is the difference between “circuit breakers”, surge protectors and RCDs?

  Circuit Breakers and fuses are designed to protect electrical cables and fittings, installed in premises from overloading and short circuits. They cut the power when electrical wiring in the premises has too much current flowing through it. They are designed to prevent electrical fires, not electrocution.

  Some Meter Boxes have surge protection fitted to safeguard appliances against a spike in electrical voltage, such as a lighting strike. Some power boards or extension leads also have surge protectors fitted. These devices do not offer any protection against electrocution.

  Only RCDs will prevent electrocution by cutting the power to a circuit in the event of an earth leakage.

  This why you need to ensure that your RCDs are regularly tested.

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• What RCD compliance reporting is required?

  The following documentation must be kept for all RCDs:

  • Register of all equipment
  • Record of formal inspection & tests
  • Repair register
  • Record of all faulty equipment showing details of services & corrective action

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• Who can test RCDs?

  The test for the operating time of a RCD requires specific technical expertise and interpretation of results and, therefore, can only be carried out by an appropriately qualified or trained person. This means a licensed electrician or a person who has successfully completed a competency- assessed training course in the use of a RCD tester.

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• Why do my RCDs trip out – nuisance tripping?

  Some electrical appliances and old wiring may have a normal small amount of earth leakage which can trip a RCD.

  This is more evident with old lighting fixtures that have iron core ballasts and when combined with a number of other light fittings, this gives a combined earth leakage greater than the RCD allows and will cause tripping. This can be solved by replacing the light fixtures with more modern LED type

  Earth leakage increases with each additional electrical appliance that is plugged in, and if RCD keeps tripping out it may be an overloaded circuit. Any faults we recommend that you have your wiring and appliances checked by an electrician to ascertain the fault if a RCD keeps tripping.

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• Why test RCDs?

  The majority of electrical fatalities could have been prevented by the use of a properly installed RCD, and regular testing to ensure they are working correctly.

  By law most work places have a Residual Current Device (RCD) testing requirement for electrical equipment under AS/NZS 3760:2010 & AS/NSZ3012:2010 standards.

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