The Problem
In our previous blog post we looked at the cascading series of events and spiralling costs that could result from a simple installation of new power points.
Click here to see our previous article “The $800 Power Point”
When changes are made to certain parts of your electrical installation it can trigger the requirement to upgrade other parts of the installation to comply with current regulations.
This can be a costly exercise for what started out as just a very minor job.
Regulations require that all new power points, all additions to existing circuits and all relocations of existing power points must be protected by an earth-leakage circuit breaker.
Jargon Explained
An earth-leakage circuit breaker, a safety switch and an RCD (residual current device) are all names for the same thing. They are devices that detect an imbalance in the electrical current flowing through a circuit and switch off the power within 30 milliseconds to hopefully prevent injury or death from electric shock.
The regulations around RCDs are designed to improve electrical safety and are a good idea, but there are additional costs involved.
Even if your switchboard is not suitable for the addition of a safety switch there is a way to comply with the regulations, improve electrical safety and keep the costs down.
Problem Solved
The solution is to install an earth-leakage protected power point.
This power point has a built-in safety switch which avoids the requirement to add a safety switch to the switchboard.
If the earth-leakage protected power is installed as the first power outlet on a circuit it also protects any other outlets downstream on the same circuit.
The RCD protected outlet alone will cost a little over $200, but installation is the same as a normal power point.
Despite the higher cost it is still far cheaper than replacing your switchboard and mains cables.