Safety Switches (RCDs) in NSW: What You Actually Need

Modern homes on the Upper and Lower North Shore rely on electronics more than ever chargers induction cooktops EVs. Your switchboard and safety switches RCDs need to keep up. In NSW the regulator has banned the installation of Type AC RCDs in new work since May 2023. Today homes use Type A and Type B in special cases to protect people from electric shock.

Plain English wiring rules without the jargon

The Australian and New Zealand Wiring Rules AS NZS 3000 2018 set minimum safety requirements for electrical installations including RCD selection and where they are needed. Your licensed electrician will apply these rules to your home and appliances so protection is appropriate for each circuit.

Type A Type B and why Type AC is out

• Type AC not permitted for new installations in NSW since May 2023
• Type A the standard choice for most household circuits handles AC and pulsed DC faults
• Type B used where DC leakage is present or possible for example certain EV chargers or specialised equipment your device manual will specify

Choosing the correct type is not guesswork. It is set by standards and manufacturer instructions then verified by testing.

Why many homes upgrade to RCBOs

Older boards sometimes had one or two RCDs protecting many circuits. That can mean a fault on one circuit drops power to half the house. Modern practice is to install RCBOs an RCD and a circuit breaker combined on each circuit. This improves fault isolation and reduces nuisance blackouts during dinner or school morning rush.

Signs your switchboard needs attention

• No safety switches on power or lighting circuits
• Ceramic fuses or mixed ageing breakers
• Warm smells charring or recurring trips
• Adding high demand devices such as an induction cooktop or EV charger

A tidy compliant upgrade what we do

We assess your loads and wiring recommend the right RCD types provide an upfront quote and book a two hour arrival window. After installation we test RCD trip times and label every circuit so you know what is what. You also receive a CCEW as your documented proof of compliance. Keep it with your home records or strata file.

If your board still has no RCDs or you are unsure what is installed get a safety check. It is a practical upgrade that protects the people you love.

Book a safety upgrade across the North Shore & Beaches

From Mosman to Manly, Chatswood to Collaroy, get your switchboard compliant and safer for modern living.