Reset Your Safety Switch

Safety switches protect against electrical faults and shocks in under 20 ms. Resetting them properly ensures your home remains safe and helps pinpoint any faulty appliances or wiring quickly. Following these simple steps should help you safely reset your safety switch and identify any underlying issues. If you’re ever unsure—or if the switch refuses to stay on—it’s best to call a qualified electrician.

1.Prepare & Power Down

1. Unplug all appliances on the circuit that’s protected by the tripped safety switch.

2. Turn off all circuit breakers connected to that switch.
   This ensures no residual power or faulty devices trigger it again

2. Reset the Safety Switch

• Locate the safety switch (often labelled “RCD”) in your switchboard—it’ll be in the OFF or middle position.

• Flip it back to ON.

• Once it’s on, switch your individual circuit breakers back on one by one

3. Restart Appliances Safely

• After reactivating breakers, plug appliances back in gradually, one at a time.

• Monitor closely: if the switch trips after a specific appliance is plugged in, that appliance is likely faulty

4. Troubleshoot Faulty Devices or Wiring

• If it trips again immediately or won’t reset, unplug everything again. Then:

  • Reboot the switch, and plug in only one appliance at a time.

  • Identify devices that cause the trip—these are likely at fault.

• TVs & computers seldom cause issues; common culprits are hot appliances like kettles, toasters, heaters, and dishwashers.

5. Keep a Trip Log (For Intermittent Issues)

• Record each trip’s date and time, and list everything plugged in at that moment.

• Use ACE’s recommended checklist or flowchart to track patterns.

6. When to Call a Professional

Call a licensed electrician if:

• The safety switch won’t reset at all, even with everything unplugged.

• It keeps tripping, despite unplugged appliances.

• Your home has old wiring, storm exposure, or grey cabling, suggesting wiring faults.

If you need more help, information and advice regarding your tripping safety switches, then click HERE to access the 4 Most Common Reasons Why Your Safety Switch Trips. Includes how you can fix and reset it without an electrician.