Safety switches and smoke alarms
The two things in a house that only matter on the day something goes wrong.
What a safety switch actually does
A circuit breaker protects the wiring. A safety switch — an RCD — protects the person. It watches for current leaking to earth, which is what happens when electricity finds a path through someone, and cuts the supply in around 30 milliseconds.
That distinction matters because plenty of older Hills boards have circuit breakers and no RCDs at all, and look modern enough that people assume they're protected. They aren't.
If your safety switch keeps tripping
It trips at the same time each day
Nearly always a timed appliance — hot water, pool pump, or irrigation. The timing is the clue.
Call 0422 253 379It trips after rain
Water in an outdoor powerpoint, a garden light, or a poorly sealed external fitting.
Call 0422 253 379It trips when you use one particular appliance
That appliance has an insulation fault. Stop using it — it's leaking current to earth, and the RCD is doing exactly its job.
Call 0422 253 379It trips with nothing plugged in
The fault is in the fixed wiring rather than an appliance, which needs proper diagnosis rather than a reset.
Call 0422 253 379Smoke alarms in NSW
Smoke alarms are required in all NSW homes, and there are specific obligations for rental properties around installation and annual checking. Hardwired, interconnected alarms are the better arrangement — when one detects smoke, they all sound, which matters in a large or single-storey-sprawling Hills home where a hallway alarm may not wake someone at the far end.
We install, replace and test alarms, and can provide documentation for rental properties.
Safety questions
How many safety switches do I need?
Enough that every circuit requiring protection has it, arranged so one fault doesn't black out the whole house. In practice that usually means several RCDs or RCBOs rather than one covering everything.
Do I legally need safety switches?
New and altered circuits must be RCD protected. An older installation that has never been altered may not have them, which is precisely why it's worth checking rather than assuming.
How often should smoke alarms be tested?
Test monthly with the button, and replace the whole unit every 10 years — the sensor degrades whether or not the battery is fine. Rental properties have specific annual obligations for the landlord.
Can you provide compliance documentation for a rental?
Yes. We test, replace what needs replacing, and provide documentation for your records or your property manager.