Tips For Main Switches & Safety Switches

Your switchboard is the heart of your home’s electricity system. Recognise the main switch, which shuts off all power, and the circuit breakers that isolate specific zones. Understanding the components of your electrcial system may help youto understand when you need tyo call in a professional. Firstly, circuit breakers trip during overloads or short circuits. A Safety switch (RCDs) provide critical protection by detecting earth faults or leakage currents and cutting power almost instantly—preventing shocks and potential fires.

You should watch out for warning signs like repeated breaker trips, flickering lights, warm outlets, or burning smells. These are all  are serious red flags—don’t ignore them. And if you think you have a problem, don’t DIY inside the panel – never remove covers or touch wiring—leave internal switchboard work to a licensed electrician. However you can regularly test your safety switches. Use the built-in “Test” and “Reset” buttons monthly to ensure functionality.

To keep your family and property safe, ACE recommends :

• Upgrade Outdated Switchboards

  • Many Sydney homes still use old ceramic fuses that aren’t up to modern safety standards. ACE can upgrade these to modern circuit breakers and overload-style main switches—reducing risk of wiring damage or fires.

• Install Safety Switches (RCDs) Across Circuits

  • Safety switches protect against shocks and prevent over 80% of electrocution deaths. Modern boards offer switchboard-mounted and combination RCD/safety switches for full coverage.

• Layer Surge Protection

  • Pair primary surge protection at the switchboard (to intercept surges entering from the street) with secondary internal protection like power boards for sensitive devices—and don’t forget to protect phone and cable TV lines as they can conduct surges too.

• Upgrade Incoming Mains When Needed

  • Older homes often have insufficient mains capacity (e.g., 40 A old-style cabling). ACE can upgrade the mains cable and switchboard, providing safer and more consistent power flow—especially important for modern appliances and central air conditioning systems.

• Rewiring for Safety

  • Homes with aging wiring (like cloth or vulcanised rubber insulation) are at significantly higher fire risk. ACE’s Safe and Sound Wiring Inspections can identify and remediate these hazards—providing peace of mind for decades.

• Replace Faulty Power Points and Switches

  • Loose, cracked, or overheated outlets and adapters pose serious fire and shock risks. ACE recommends avoiding double adapters altogether and replacing damaged power points—especially when unprotected by safety switches.

• Regular Test & Tag Services

  • ACE follows recommended intervals for safety testing: e.g., monthly for fixed safety switches, and every 3–12 months for portable equipment, depending on use and environment.

• Emergency Support and Safety Reporting

  • ACE ensures a rapid response (within 2 hours—or they pay $50)—and includes free electrical safety reports with every job to identify and resolve potential hazards immediately.