Description
This is a portable RCD Safety Switch rated 10A at 240V, priced at $39.99. It plugs in between a wall outlet and your extension lead or appliance, and it has a test button and a reset button on the body.
An RCD - a residual current device - watches the current flowing out on the active conductor and the current returning on the neutral. In normal operation those match. If some current is leaking to earth instead of returning, the two no longer balance, and the device opens the circuit. Because that imbalance is what happens when current is passing through a person, the device is designed to disconnect quickly when it detects one.
Specifications
| Type |
Portable inline RCD |
| Rating |
10A, 240V |
| Controls |
Test button, reset button |
| Installation |
Plugs in - no wiring, no electrician required |
| Quantity |
1 |
What's in the Box
| Portable RCD |
1 |
| Extension lead or appliance |
Not included |
Why a Portable One
-
Older wiring often has none - many Australian homes predate RCDs on every circuit
-
Goes where the work is - a shed, a garage, a caravan, a job site outlet
-
No electrician needed - it plugs in rather than being wired in
-
Test and reset on the body - you can verify it before every use
-
Moves between outlets - one unit protects whichever tool you are using today
What Does an RCD Actually Do?
It monitors the balance between the current going out and the current coming back. A difference means current is escaping the circuit somewhere - through damaged insulation, through water, or through a person - and the device opens the circuit in response. That is a different job from a fuse or circuit breaker, which responds to too much total current rather than to leakage. It is not a guarantee of safety: it addresses one specific fault type, and there are fault conditions it cannot detect.
Does an RCD Replace a Circuit Breaker?
No, and this matters. The manufacturer says so plainly and we will repeat it: an RCD is not a substitute for overcurrent devices such as fuses and circuit breakers, and it is not a substitute for wiring, leads, appliances and outlets being kept in safe condition. The two protect against different things - overload and short circuit on one hand, earth leakage on the other. You want both, and you want the underlying equipment sound regardless.
How Often Should You Test It?
Press the test button before each use, and certainly before any job involving water, damp ground or outdoor conditions. The test button simulates a leakage fault and should trip the device immediately; if it does not trip, stop using it. Reset with the reset button. This takes five seconds and is the only way to know the device is still working, since an RCD can fail without any outward sign.
Buyers are using power tools outdoors, working in older homes without RCD protection on every circuit, and adding protection in sheds, garages and caravans.
See Tools & Hardware, Essentials, or Camping & Outdoor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is it rated for?
10A at 240V.
Do I need an electrician to fit it?
No, it plugs in. Any change to fixed wiring does require a licensed electrician.
Does it replace fuses or circuit breakers?
No. It addresses earth leakage, not overload or short circuit. You need both.
How do I know it is working?
Press the test button before each use. It should trip immediately. If it does not, stop using it.
Can I use it in the rain?
Keep the device and all connections dry and off the ground. It is not a licence to work in wet conditions.
Will it protect me from every electric shock?
No. It detects earth leakage faults. Some fault conditions are outside what any RCD can detect.
Can I run a whole worksite through it?
It is rated 10A. Do not exceed that, and do not daisy-chain it with other protective devices.
Fast Australian Shipping
Dispatched from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, with regional and remote addresses served through the standard Australia Post network.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY: this device reduces but does not eliminate the risk of electric shock, and no protection is guaranteed. It is not a substitute for fuses, circuit breakers, or wiring, leads, appliances and outlets maintained in safe condition, and it is not a substitute for care around mains electricity. Test before every use and stop using it if it fails to trip. Do not exceed its 10A rating. All work on fixed wiring must be carried out by a licensed electrician. If you are unsure whether your installation has adequate protection, consult a licensed electrician.
