Basic home wiring

[bennylaird]

Having spent 5 years of my youth working as a qualified electricain then moving to a country that is 20 years behind the rest of the world

I watch the Pommy home shows on Foxtel where they do up a garden or fix up a house.

You have to be kidding, the 20 years is the other way round, they do things the way my Dad did when I was a kid.

[silentC]

After seeing the English plugs etc in Malaysia I'm supprised there aren't more fires etc. They were nasty, fuses inside most of them and so many different sizes to suit different loads.

But Benny, they are 20 years ahead of us mate, so it's beyond our ability to comprehend.

[bennylaird]

They had this stange double adaptor system with so many holes to suit all the different plug, only time I've seen a double adaptor catch fire. But it may be the dodgy Malaysian manufactured components, the english plugs wouldn't have cardboard cable securing devices.

[Honorary Bloke]

Now that this thread has been well and truly highjacked, I am enjoying the resulting um, discussion. Good to see you take the phizz out of the Poms for a while, since we're getting slugged with 4X2's on the American Measurements thread.

It is not illegal here for a homeowner to replace like for like, but new work must be according to Code. Even so, I daresay a fair bit of our DIY wiring is dodgy. (Not mine, as I always bring even like for like up to code if it needs it. And in my old house it often needs it. :eek: )

[bennylaird]

Cmon Bob, were talking real power here mate and the right frequency, not that dinky 110v 60Hrz stuff

See we can bag you in two thread?

[Honorary Bloke]

When I was but a lad of 9 or 10 tender years, I had learned in school that magnets somehow contained electricity. So, of course, in order to make a really powerful magnet, I put a wire on each end of the horseshoe and stuck them into the powerpoint. :eek: :eek: :eek:

The resulting spark traveled from one end of the house to the other and created an opportunity for my Dad and I to form a somewhat closer bond down in the basement afterward. Even our dinky 120 volt can hurt if you stick your tongue in the light socket.

[bennylaird]

Apparently a fresh 9V drycell on the tounge can do the job as well? Never actually seen a documented case though.

Had a student at TAFE stick an LED into the socket and then flicked the switch. Don't worry he will never do it again, took a few hours to get colour back into his face and for him to see properly. Doesn't matter how much you preach safety you still get duck heads like him.

[thatirwinfella]

The legislation was changed a few years ago (at least it was in Victoria, I don't know about the rest of Aus) and a new licence was introduced called "Disconnect/Reconnect". The idea behind it is to allow "like for like" replacement of anything electrical and allows any non-electrician to be able to do repairs, such as GPO (power point) replacement, etc, but not do new installations.
For some strange reason which I don't agree to, you have to prove you need the licence. All the fitters at work have one as part of their skills requirement, but there's a few other people around that were giving a flat "No..." when they inquired about doing the course (Such as: the robotics programmer and members of our technical department).
Unfortunately, they also exclude the general public from this licence, which I don't agree with because the main basis of the D/R licence is safety with electricity, and your home handyman would benefit greatly. It would also allow the DIY'ers a legal footing for home repairs.
I could be wrong, but if you're interested in the D/R licence, make some calls and see if you can get to do the course. You might be able to.

I have a feeling that the "keep it in the trades" part of the deal is a union related stipulation. Don't start me on unions!

the d/r licence is restricted to people with a business need for it, such as fitters/plumbers and hvac guys. it is so they can install pumps, air cons, hot water services without needing an electrician, and gives them an idea of what not to do... eg, if you disconnect that green and yellow wire from that water pipe, make sure you put it back.

[chrisp]

the d/r licence is restricted to people with a business need for it, such as fitters/plumbers and hvac guys. it is so they can install pumps, air cons, hot water services without needing an electrician, and gives them an idea of what not to do... eg, if you disconnect that green and yellow wire from that water pipe, make sure you put it back.

I don't think it is any thing to do with "need for it" - it's to maintain a closed-shop.

So it's "dangerous" for people to do their own wiring because they mightn't know how to do it properly - so we have regulations limiting who can do the work. But if you do want to learn the correct method and have an official disconnect-connect permit (S-permit) to do work around your own home safely then sorry you can't have one!

What a lot of crap we put up with - time to change I think. I think the UK or US system is better than ours!

I'm all for allowing anyone to learn correct wiring procedures - the more that people know the correct procedures the better the electrical system will be.

[silentC]

I'm all for allowing anyone to learn correct wiring procedures

Coming from someone with your user name, that is just too funny

[thatirwinfella]

What a lot of crap we put up with - time to change I think. I think the UK or US system is better than ours!

I'm all for allowing anyone to learn correct wiring procedures - the more that people know the correct procedures the better the electrical system will be.

these are from a site frequented by US and UK sparkies. Yes, their regs are different to some of ours, but I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

http://www.electrical-contractor.net...ML/001034.html
http://www.electrical-contractor.net...ML/000705.html
http://www.electrical-contractor.net...ML/001041.html

...and you're telling me these are better systems?

[Cliff Rogers]

Mr Irwin, can you pls edit your post & remove the http:/ from in front of your links so they work.

[Eastie]

A good call!
...Second: Information for doing it safely.
There's a course that can be done for the correct use, installation and upkeep of electrical systems. It's called an apprenticeship and takes 4 years to complete....

The day they legislate owner builders doing their own wiring is the day I'll go into grave digging - there'll be better returns than the stockmarket.

[boban]

This is always the result whenever someone asks for electrical advice.

I can't see the need for a four year apprenticeship. You could learn everything for domestic installations in less than 6 months. Some might argue that the time it took to read the Standards would suffice.

Im sorry if I offend, but unlike many other trades, skill is not usually associated with domestic electrical work.

Most the information you need is readily available on the net or to purchase from Standards Australia. If you cant understand the diagrams etc, you probably wont attempt it anyway.

What I find most annoying, and something I've noticed from the first day on the forums is that if a "familiar" forumite asks an electrical question, the approach seems to be somewhat different.

Perhaps all electrical questions should be answered with the following preface

"It is illegal, extremely dangerous and obviously not something you should attempt, but qualified electricians would do it this way"

I agree with Pulse's approach. If he follows the method knowing that it is illegal, extremely dangerous and not something that he should attempt, then his life is in his own hands.

[Eastie]

You don't offend me, but we do differ in opinions. If someone wants to do it legislation won't stop them. From time to time I'll trow my two bob in just like you. I suppose we could do a backflip to the 1950's and see trades used as fodder on projects like the snowy hydro. The problem with that is they learned from their mistakes and ensured legislation protected the trades and to this day they and other trades are offered protection by means of licenses to apply agreed standards that are backed by the governments we elect, employer associations and employee associations. Be it a building, plumbing or electrical license, there are long established and entrenched reasons for them.

What makes this a great place to live is the fact that we can and do challenge the laws and can have such discussion.....