Safety switches, surge diverters and circuit breakers

The Fisher Brothers Electrical DOMESTIC division offers a team of highly experienced, skilled and trained professionals whose primary focus is to deliver a full and complete range of electrical services to Melbourne’s property owners.

Part of our service is to ensure our clients safety and compliance with Energy Safe Victoria regulations.

So what are safety switches, surge diverters and circuit breakers and what’s the difference?

• Safety switches are often confused with circuit breakers and surge diverters. It is important to understand the differences between these three devices:
• Safety switches monitor the flow of electricity through a circuit and detect a problem that may pose a risk to personal safety and turn the power off within 0.03 of a second, that’s before you heart has a chance to beat.
• Safety switches always have a test button and 30ma printed on them. They are also sometimes labelled with the words “safety switch”.
• Surge diverters protect the property from voltage surges such as those resulting from a lightning strike. The surge diverter captures the voltage spikes in the wiring that would otherwise be transferred into the equipment within the property.
• Circuit breakers provide short-circuit and over current protection such as when a power point is overloaded.
• Surge diverters and circuit breakers do not act as safety switches for personal protection against electric shock.

Safety switches are not a substitute for common sense!

If you are unsure if a safety switch is installed at your property,

our friendly tradesman will explain on site.

Safety switches do save lives!