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Safety switches are basically equipment meant to be connected to electronic devices to interrupt abnormal flow of electricity in an instance of electrical fault. It is an aid against hazards such as electric shock, fire break out, injury which can prove fatal to human lives. The switch is placed in a box mostly made of metal and a handle is attached to it outside such that it can be controlled externally.
Mechanism of Safety Switches
Often confused with circuit breakers, safety switches works differently than the former. They supervise the power-flow, the amount of electricity flowing through a circuit and turn the power off within seconds of detecting a current leakage. Technically they are known as “Residual Current Device”.
Types of Safety Switches
Following are the commonly known safety switches:
Switches mounted on switchboard meant to guard any device they are connected to - They are commonly required in newly built homes.
Switches meant for power points commonly found in older houses -To ensure maximum safety, such switches should be connected to the first socket.
Portable switches are meant for those generally involved in outdoor workshop - They are similar to extension cords plugged in to the source of power on one end and connected to the machine on the other end.
What are Safety Switches required for
They are required for protection against wiring that is at fault.
They provide protection against faulty electrical tools.
When working in a wet area.
How to install Safety Switches
Every package of safety switch comes with an instruction manual which will help in proper installation of the device. Certain manual insists plugging in the device into definite plug namely “in” and “out”. It is to be ascertained that the safety switches remain unaffected by the machine it is connected to.
Problems with Safety Switches
Tripping of the switch is the most common trouble that people witness which doesn’t allow it to turn on. In such cases, the first thing to do is to unplug each and every device running on electricity and then carefully reset the switch. It is generally found that devices which often come in contact with water like refrigerator, kettles, pumps etc tend to cause such problem. Certain switches turn off to an intermediate position. They are to be switched off completely to to get them to work again. A leakage in electrical panel or improper wiring can be the cause as well. Heavy rain at a stretch or raging storms may cause tripping of safety switch.
Identifying problems with Safety Switches
You can connect a radio with the safety switch to identify which device is causing the tripping in the safety switches. Then all the appliances can be connected individually or serially to find out the root of the problem.
Precaution against use of Faulty Safety Switches
In case you are sure that all devices are left unplugged and still the safety switch doesn’t turn on, possibly there is an internal wiring problem. The remedy to this problem is to ring up an electrician and find more about it. The safety switches turning off with a flash can even cause the explosion of either the switches or the device connected to it or both.
Prevention of Safety switches against Tripping
Many houses all over the world, especially the old ones often rely on one safety switch despite having innumerable wiring circuits. This often leads to prevention of multiple electronic devices from working at one time. The solution to this problem can be installation of combination safety switches on each circuit. This ascertains that even if one turns off the other can be used with extension cord to run devices of which we are in dire need.