Though it often goes unnoticed and unappreciated, your RCD (Residual Current Device) is one of the most invaluable pieces of technology in your home, keeping you and your loved ones safe from electrical fires and life-threatening electrical shocks.
Located in your consumer unit (fuse box), your RCD works right around the clock, monitoring your home’s electrical circuits for faults and automatically switching off your entire electricity supply the moment it detects one.
According to the UK charity Electrical Safety First, these devices are 97% reliable when it comes to disconnecting to eliminate the risk of fires and injuries, though this percentage can be increased with regular testing.
The good news is that testing your RCD isn’t complicated. In fact, you can do it yourself within the space of five minutes, all without any specialist knowledge or equipment required.
Here’s how it’s done:
Lift up the flap on your home’s consumer unit and look for the switch labelled ‘RCD.’
Just above it, you should see a button labelled ‘Test.’ In some homes, this button may just be called ‘T.’
Push the button in. You should hear a loud click as the RCD switch moves down into the off position, disconnecting your electricity supply.
NOTE: All circuits controlled by this RCD will lose power, so ensure you have saved any important data/files before pressing this button!
If it does this, that means your RCD is working fine. If it doesn’t, that’s a sign that something could be wrong. In that case, call our electrical fault finding specialists who will be happy to help with identifying the problem and recommending a solution.
To ensure maximum safety, first switch off the circuit breakers next to your RCD by moving them down into the off position. You can then push your RCD switch back up to reset it, and finally, switch your circuit breakers back on in the same way, counting a 5 second gap between each breaker, to help prevent a power surge.
As a general rule, carrying out this simple test once every six months should be enough to ensure your RCD remains in good working order. However, if you suspect that the device might be faulty, then it always pays to check it again and call us if it isn’t working correctly.
Dealing with a faulty RCD? Struggling with RCD testing? As the leading electricians in North London and Hertfordshire, Pulse Electrical are here to help. Whether you need advice and guidance on locating and testing your Residual Current Device or practical support with a faulty electrical system, speak to our experts today by contacting us online or calling now on 0203 504 0000
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