Where to put the power points?

[rscho]

We had to lift parts of the floor to get access to the joists and while there decided run some cable for extra power points. The outside walls of the house are double brick while the inside ones are single brick and there is normally no access to the sub floor, so it was an opportunity too good to miss.

We're now ready to install the GPO's and are deciding on whether to mount them on the skirting boards or to chisel out a channel and mount them on the walls above the skirting. Currently each room only has one and some are mounted on the skirtings while others are on the walls. As all the skirtings have to be replaced its a chance to go one way or the other.

We're using the flush type GPO's so as far as Australian Standards is concerned there is no difference (last time I checked, anyway). What's normal for a 1940's brick house with plastered (not gyprock) walls? Being a man I have no sense of asthetics so would appreciate other opinions.

[echnidna]

The power points are more likely to get damaged by normal wear and tear if you fit them on the skirtings.

About 250mm above the floor is a practical height.

[Pulse]

I agree with echnidna, I attached some to the skirting and rendered some into the wall, the wall looks a lot better.

The way to do it is to chase a 30mm wide by 30mm deep channel in the wall with an angle gringer and a diamond wheel. Chip out the waste. Also cut a small box in the wall for the socket outlet. Buy a bracket that you can render into the wall. (It has lots of holes of varying size.. try an electrical supply shop). Enclose the cable in conduit and render over the whole lot.

Good Luck
Pulse

[GraemeCook]

The previous owner of our house had a fetish about power points and put in heaps of doubles.

All are flush mounted into the skirting. The supply wiring is under the floor and whenever he put in a powerpoint he then ran some wire to the other end of the skirting and put in another. At each power point he then drilled thru the wall (all internal walls are double brick) and put another powerpoint in the next room.

Result is that we have between four and six double power points in every room, and we never use double adaptors.

Only exceptions are the kitchen, bathroom and laundry where they are at shoulder height.

Cheers

Graeme

[Pulse]

Just a word of warning, running the cable behind the skirting is not permitted without mechanical protection. Vertically above and below is OK as is within 150mm of wall and ceiling.

Cheers pulse

[rscho]

Thanks for the reply guys.

We thinks fixing into the walls is the way to go, especially as they need some work anyway.

Pulse, can I ask what product you used to re-render? My old AS3000 (1986!) 3.20.2.1 says the cables can be installed in plaster or cement render as long as they run vertically and are less than 3m, but I'm thinking that for the cost of a length of conduit its probably just as easy to include it to hold the cable in place.

[Pulse]

just a sand cement and lime mix.

Cheers
Pulse

[GraemeCook]

Just a word of warning, running the cable behind the skirting is not permitted without mechanical protection. .

Thanks Pulse.

Whats the authority for the above?

My power supply is under the floor to the first power point, then runs behind the skirting (12x1 inch baltic) for about 4 metres to a second powerpoint. Only protection is the thick insulation plus the skirting.

Additionally, droppers to light switches are simply routed and plastered into the solid plaster on the walls.

Do I have a problem, or is there a grandfather clause, or what? We bought the place fifteen years ago and it was rewired two or three years before that.

Cheers

Graeme

[Pulse]

Its in the AS3000 (Wiring Rules), thay have a nice drawing of the zones where cabling is permitted, I wouldn't worry about it just applies to new circuits. The wires to the light switches don't have to be in conduit, just makes for a better job, you can just render it in also.

Cheers
Pulse

[Ivan in Oz]

Looks like I'm out on my own here.
Mostly.
I like my power points [GPOs] just below 1200mm
and
my Light Switches just above 1350 or 1200 depending on height of Wall.

Do you have your light Sw Horizontal or Vert.?
I've seen a lot of both.

[GraemeCook]

Its in the AS3000 (Wiring Rules), thay have a nice drawing of the zones where cabling is permitted, I wouldn't worry about it just applies to new circuits. The wires to the light switches don't have to be in conduit, just makes for a better job, you can just render it in also.

Cheers
Pulse

Thanks for the above, Pulse. Looks like I am OK - all the wiring looks pretty good. However, I'll still have a read of AS3000 just in case.

Cheers

Graeme