Why Does My Safety Switch Keep Tripping?

If it feels like the power keeps going out in your home, you’re probably wondering, why does my safety switch keep tripping?

There could be a number of reasons for the cause. In this latest blog from Armitage Electrical, we talk about the reasons your safety switch may trip and the preventative measures you can follow to try to stop it from happening.

To find out more keep reading our blog below. For further advice, give Armitage Electrical a call on 1800 230 400 or submit an online enquiry here.

Safety Switch Tripping

Safety switches are earth leakage devices. The most common cause of a safety switch tripping is actually a faulty appliance. If your safety switch continually trips off, take note of what was being used at the time.

To work out where the problem is, the first thing you should do is unplug everything from the power points. Keep in mind out-of-sight power points, such as outside power points for pool pumps and electric gates. Inside hidden power points might include dishwashers and range hoods.

Safety switches are also supposed to be tested monthly (push to test button). If this test is not done regularly, the safety switch itself can fail.

When Should You Call an Electrician?

Once all items have been unplugged and removed from power points, if the safety switch will still not reset, you will need to call an electrician to source the problem.

Should I Test My Safety Switch?

Every safety switch, Residual Current Device (RDC) and Earth Leakage Device have a push to test button on the device themselves that should be tested monthly.

It’s as simple as pushing the test button, and the safety switch must trip off instantly. If you press the test button and nothing happens, you either have a fault with your wiring, or you have a faulty safety switch.

We recommend to our customers to use their electricity account (usually 3-monthly) as a reminder to do the test. Remember, if it does not have a “test button”, it is not a safety switch.