Rental compliance
Owners and property managers bringing a property up to standard with compliant RCDs before a new tenancy.
Perth & the Hills
RCD & safety switch installation.
A safety switch is the device that protects people — it cuts the power in a fraction of a second if electricity starts leaking where it shouldn't. The E-LEC team supplies, installs, tests and documents RCDs across Perth and the Perth Hills, for owners, landlords and property managers.
RCD vs circuit breaker — what's the difference?
People use "safety switch", "RCD" and "circuit breaker" interchangeably, but they do different jobs. A circuit breaker protects the wiring — it trips when a circuit is overloaded or short-circuits. An RCD (residual current device, or safety switch) protects people — it constantly compares the electricity flowing out with the electricity flowing back, and if even a small amount is leaking to earth (for example, through someone touching a live part), it disconnects almost instantly.
A modern, safe installation needs both. Many older Perth and Hills homes have circuit breakers or fuses but little or no RCD protection — which means the wiring is protected, but the people in the house aren't.
When you might need RCD work
- Your switchboard has no safety switches, or only one covering part of the home
- You're renting a property out and need it compliant for a new tenancy
- A building inspection, settlement or compliance check has flagged missing RCDs
- An existing RCD is faulty, won't reset, or won't trip on test
- You're adding circuits — a renovation, an extension, an EV charger or a pool
- You simply want the peace of mind that the people in your home are protected
For more background, see our guide on whether you need RCDs in your WA property.
What's included
The exact scope depends on your board, but RCD work with E-LEC typically includes:
- An assessment of the existing switchboard, circuits and earthing
- Supply and installation of RCDs suited to your installation
- A sensible arrangement so one fault doesn't take out the whole house
- Testing of each device to confirm it trips correctly
- Clear labelling so it's obvious what each switch protects
- Reporting on anything else we find that needs attention
- Documentation appropriate to the work carried out
Where the board is old, full or uses fuse gear, adding RCDs may not be the tidiest option on its own — in that case we'll explain whether a switchboard upgrade is the better path, and why.
Common scenarios
When people call us about safety switches
Buying or selling
Missing or non-compliant safety switches flagged during an inspection or settlement.
Nuisance tripping
An RCD that keeps tripping — usually a sign it's found a real fault on a circuit or appliance.
Older home, no protection
A board with circuit breakers or fuses but no safety switches protecting the people inside.
New circuits
Renovations, extensions, EV chargers and pools that need their own RCD-protected circuits.
Failed test
An existing safety switch that won't trip when tested — protection that isn't actually working.
FAQ
RCD & safety switch questions
What's the difference between an RCD and a circuit breaker?
An RCD (safety switch) protects people — it disconnects in a fraction of a second if it detects current leaking to earth, such as through someone touching a live part. A circuit breaker mainly protects the wiring against overload and short circuits. A modern installation needs both.
How many RCDs does my home need?
It depends on the circuits in your home. We arrange a sensible split so a single fault doesn't black out the whole house, and so the arrangement meets the requirements that apply to your property. We confirm this after assessing the board.
Do WA rental properties have to have RCDs?
WA residential tenancies must have compliant RCDs — relevant to landlords and property managers as well as owner-occupiers. We assess what's installed, report on it and bring it up to standard where needed.
My safety switch keeps tripping — is it faulty?
Usually the opposite — a tripping RCD is generally doing its job and has found a fault on a circuit or appliance. We isolate the cause rather than overriding the protection. See our guide on why a safety switch keeps tripping.
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Safety switch work across the Perth Hills
Not sure if you're properly protected?
We can check what's installed, test that it actually works, and bring it up to standard. For urgent electrical safety concerns, call us straight away.