Wiring after an outlet - legal?

[ronafios]

Hi,

I'm building in a TV / stereo etc, and want to install cabinet lights and extra power boards etc. There are a couple of power points already where I want to install everything. My understanding of the law is that I can't touch the powerpoints, but I can do my own wiring after a power point? For example, if I purchased some halogens from Bunnys and wired them into my built-in and added a power connector - controlled by X10 etc?

Ross

[Gra]

Oh no not again :scareboo:

[silentC]

My understanding of the law is that I can't touch the powerpoints, but I can do my own wiring after a power point?
That's my understanding of the situation in NSW. Could be different in the ACT.

[ronafios]

OK - found some more out, helps a little (this is for ACT):

http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/2039/en4.pdf

Quote:

When does electrical work not require an electrical licence?

A licence is not required for:

􀂃 Work on an electricity network
􀂃 Work on telecommunications cabling and equipment under 90 volts
􀂃 Work on extra low voltage electrical installations (installations up to 50 volts a.c. or up to 120 V ripple-free d.c.)
􀂃 Work on electrical equipment that has been disconnected from the electricity supply
􀂃 Connecting or disconnecting electrical equipment to an electricity supply with a plug and supply cord or cable and working on the cables or cords used to connect the equipment.

So it seems that all fixed wiring needs to be installed/inspeced by a licensed electrician, but maybe not stuff with a plug?

Ross.

[silentC]

There are a couple of issues - one is what you're allowed to do as a contractor, the other is what you are allowed to do in your own home. From what I have seen, other state's legislation seems to only cover the former, not the latter. That could be the case in ACT for all I know.

As far as I know from my reading of the legislation in NSW, you need a license to do any electrical work as a contractor. That would include wiring up an entertainment unit with lights as far as I can tell.

Although you're prohibited from touching any fixed wiring on the other side of the power point, I don't know of anything that prevents you doing what you want to do. If you were doing this in NSW, as far as I can tell, you're in the clear.

The other question is whether or not you would be better advised to get a sparky to wire it up, but that's more to do with whether or not you are competent to do it, rather than what you're allowed to do. Since I don't know you, all I can do is tell you what I think the law in NSW says and let you make up your own mind :)

[Barry_White]

That maybe ok but you definitely need to know what you are doing. Because it can still kill you. When I built my home made projector it was an electrical nightmare inside but fortunately I know what I am doing. It was a mixture of 240v AC and 12v DC.

[munruben]

I agree with Bazza you got to know what you are doing with electricity. I avoid playing around with mains power.

[ronafios]

Thanks for the above comments. Competency isn't the issue, I've done plenty of low voltage wiring jobs and worked with electronics my whole life and I understand the principles well. It's more the legality for the purposes of insurance/reselling a home.

After thinking about it more, what I'm suggesting is no different really to building (for example) a power amplifier kit from jaycar. It still involves electrical work that gets plugged into 240v. With X10 control everything can be switched anyway so I can still install wireless wall switches etc, so hopefully everything will be above board this way without me laying out $$ for a sparky.