Are you protected by an RCD safety switch?
Just like it is a must to have a smoke detector from Smoke Alarms Cleveland in your home, every house must also have an RCD Safety Switch.
In this post, you will learn everything about the RCD Safety Switch and the protection it provides.
What is an RCD?
RCD is commonly known as the residual current device. It is a life-saving device that is specially designed to prevent us from getting a severe electric shock if touched, something such as a bare wire. RCD also helps to protect against electrical fires. Ordinary fuses and circuit breakers often fail to provide personal protection like RCD.
What does RCD do?
RCD is a safety device that switches off the electricity if there is a fault. Earth Faults often cause electrocution and fire. RCD helps to protect against that risk.
How exactly does it work?
An RCD keeps monitoring the electric current flowing through one or two circuits it is used to protect. If RCD detects any sort of electricity flowing down in different paths such as through a human who has touched a live part, then the RCD will immediately switch the circuit off. This significantly reduces the risk of injury or death. If you live near Coorparoo, then look online for Electrician Coorparoo to help you provide the best RCD installation and electrical services.
What are the types of RCD found?
As RCDs can help people stay protected from electric shocks in dangerous areas, they are available in different forms:
- Fixed RCD: Fixed RCD provides the highest level of protection. These can protect an individual or groups of circuits.
- Socket outlet RCD: In a place of a standard socket-outlet, you can put these special socket outlets that have an RCD built into them. Though this provides protection only to the person who is in contact with the particular equipment.
- Portable RCD: These can be plugged into any standard socket outlet. Then the appliance can be plugged into the RCD. Try to get these only when the other two are not available. Just like socket-outlet RCD, they protect a single person in contact with the equipment, including its lead attached to the portable RCD. An electrician will provide you RCD according to your requirement.
How reliable is RCD or how quickly does the RCD safety switch disconnect the supply?
RCDs are very reliable when it comes to the question of safety. The ones manufactured for homes are very sensitive and are set to disconnect within 10 to 50 milliseconds of detecting any sort of current leakage.
Circuit breaker and RCD; are they the same thing?
The answer is no. Though both circuit breakers and RCDs are safety switches, they both work differently and serve a different purpose. Circuit breakers are meant to protect your home’s wiring by breaking the electrical current when a short circuit is detected. They fail to provide any protection to the people. For more information, you can contact South Brisbane Electrical Services.
