What happens if I can’t reset the safety switch?

If a safety switch will not stay on, there is a fault on the circuit it protects, in the wiring or in something connected to it. Do not force it. Note which lights or power points have lost power and call a licensed electrician, or call 000 if there is smoke, sparks or a burning smell.

What does it mean when a safety switch will not stay on?

A safety switch cuts power when it senses electricity leaking to earth. If it trips again straight away, the leak is still there. It could be a fixed appliance such as a hot water system or oven, damaged or damp wiring, or a fault in the switch itself. From the switchboard, there is no safe way to tell which.

Why shouldn’t I keep trying?

Repeated attempts do not fix a fault, and the device is telling you something is unsafe. Forcing a switch to stay on, or interfering with it, takes away your protection against electric shock. Please leave it alone and let a licensed electrician work out what is wrong.

Which parts of the house are affected?

This is the most useful thing you can tell an electrician. Safety switches commonly cover a group of circuits, such as power points, lighting or an oven, so the pattern of what is dead points toward the fault. For example, if only some power points are dead, the problem is likely on that part of the wiring or something connected to it.

Is the whole street out as well?

If neighbours have lost power too, the problem may not be in your home. Contact your network provider’s faults line. If only your property is affected, treat it as an electrical fault and call a licensed electrician.

What if I am renting?

Tell your property manager or owner as soon as you can, in writing if possible, and describe what has stopped working. Safety switch repairs and installation must be done by a licensed electrician, and in Queensland the Electrical Safety Office is the regulator for that work.

What will the electrician do?

A licensed electrician will usually start by working out which circuits are protected by the switch that will not stay on. They then use test equipment to measure the circuit and its connected equipment safely, find where the leakage is occurring, and repair or replace the faulty part. They will also check that the safety switch itself is working as it should before they leave. Ask them what they found and what documentation applies to the work, and keep it with your home records.