The $800 Power Point Problem Solved

The $800 Power Point Problem Solved

by | Aug 16, 2016 | Common Repairs, Save Money

Add New Power Points Without Expensive Upgrades

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.

 

For free advice and quotes on all power point installations phone Mance Electrical on 6331 4711

Or send us a message using the form below

The $800 Power Point

The $800 Power Point

by | Aug 11, 2016 | Common Repairs

How a simple job can turn into a major expense

A new client called us to get an extra power point installed in their garage.

On checking their switchboard we found they had an old fuse board in poor condition, with no circuit breakers or safety switches.

Regulations require that all new power points are protected by a safety switch. In this case there was just no way to fit a safety switch to the existing board.   Before any new power points could be installed the entire switchboard would need to be replaced.

Our quote to install a new circuit breaker switchboard with earth-leakage protection (safety switches) and to install the additional power point was around $800.

There are great benefits to getting rid of your old fuses and fitting safety switches, but obviously this was a much greater investment than the client was expecting.

There are other potential complications once you start altering major parts of your electrical installation.
Making changes to components such as switchboards triggers the requirement for other parts of the installation to comply with current standards.

For example if your existing switchboard and power meters are at the back of the house and you wish to make alterations, you will be required to relocate the meters to the front of the house. This is to ensure that meter readers have easy access to the meters.

Moving your meters will mean alterations to your sub-mains cables or mains cables.
Any alterations to your mains cables could trigger the requirement to relocate your point of attachment, and even replace the mains cables.

Relocating your switchboard also means having to extend all the existing circuits to the new switchboard position.
If the wiring in your home is not up to scratch then those existing circuits may need to be replaced as well.

What started out as a job to install one new power point has suddenly snowballed into a full-blown rewire with new mains cables and switchboard. The cost has ballooned from maybe $200 to over $7,000!

This is why you should talk to an electrical contractor while you are still in the planning stages of any building or renovation project.

What’s the difference between and electrician and an electrical contractor?

When you make alterations to your electrical installation, one thing can lead to another and you can find yourself on the slippery slope to major electrical costs.  Proper advice and planning before any work commences will prevent unexpected surprises.

If all you really want is that one extra power point in your garage and you aren’t currently ready for a rewire or new switchboard, there is a much cheaper alternative that could get you out of trouble.

It may be possible to install an RCD protected power point and bypass the requirements to make other upgrades.  It’s a slightly higher investment than a standard power point but it could be a way to get what you want without spending thousands.

Click here to see our article on RCD protected power points.

 

For a free quote and advice on all new power point installations phone Mance Electrical on 6331 4711

Or send us a message using the form below

The Cheapest Way To Install More Power Points

by | Jun 10, 2014 | Common Repairs, Fun Ideas For Your Home, Keep Your Family Safe

4 gang power point

You really need some extra power points, but what’s the most economical way to get them installed?

More appliances and more gadgets means you need more power points.  More in the kitchen, more behind the TV and more for your computer gear.  You could get some power boards and double adapters but we all know the horror stories about the fire and electric shock hazards that a tangled jumble of cords and plugs can cause.

The easiest and safest way to get additional power points is to swap an existing double power point for a new 4-gang fitting.

In most cases it’s a simple job to remove the old power point and fit a new 4-gang power point to the existing wiring.  It’s an easy fix that doubles the number of available outlets.

There are some limitations.  Your power circuit is most likely protected by a 16 amp circuit breaker so the combined maximum load on one circuit will be 16 amps.  That means you can’t plug your toaster, kettle, heater and clothes dryer all into the one power point.

Appliances like TVs, computers, DVD players, games consoles and phone chargers are not so power hungry so shouldn’t be a problem when operated together.

Please give us a call on 6331 4711 or send an email to admin@manceelectrical.com.au and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding additional power points in your home or business premises.

 

 

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