Basic home wiring

[bishfactor]

hi guys, i'm looking to install a basic double plug socket under my weatherboard house for use in my cellar/"workshop". there are some lengths of white, triple-cable electric cable serving the sockets in the rooms above. they run along the joists and bearers for the floors above, then pop up through the boards into the skirting. how would i tap into these cables to install the double plug socket, without altering the whole house circuit? my chippy mate said it's easy and he has done several in his home but i'm really after a pictoral type plan for this task. i have bought a socket but am yet to buy the cables...any thoughts welcome.

[Vernonv]

Hi bishfactor,

Unless you know what you are doing, it's probably safer to get a sparky in.

It would be safer for yourself and current and future occupants of the house.

[Gra]

call a sparky electricity hurts

[stolar]

It is easy as anything if you have done it before. On the other hand if you have not doen it before maybe you should do some research first.
There are wiring regulations that you shoudl be aware of before you start any electrical work.
I'm all for DIY if, and only if, you are 100% sure that you know what you are doing.
I did my wiring but I am electrical engineer so I understand electricity. Because I understand the importance of doing it right, I bought and read through the Australi/NZ wiring regulations. Only then did I undertake the design of my house wiring layout. In the end I did get sparky to do some final work, in particular the switch board.

So my advice is, unless you are prepared to lear how to do it right first, do not attempt to "do it yourself". For a single socket it may be cheaper and easier to get someone else to do it.

[bennylaird]

If you have to ask how to do it then you shouldn't be doing it. Too dangerous and you leave yourself open to litigation. ie if you have a fire they will void your insurance if they can find a loop hole like a DIY powerpoint.

[silentC]

Not to mention that it is illegal to do your own wiring. The fine is something like $5,000 if you get caught.

[Pulse]

Not a lot of positive advice here eh...

Lets say someone wanted to do add an extra powerpoint, usually they would either run it from an existing powerpoint (so that three twin and earth cables terminate there) or they would add a junction box with screw terminals. The connector with two screws is for the earth wire as per regs. So in the junction box three reds are joined, three blacks are joined and three earths are joined. The sheath (white outer insulation) should be intact wherever the cable is visible. That pretty mush explains how someone would do it. Note that 2.5mm2 cable is the minimum for power points.

But my advice is get a sparky. The actually wiring is simple but the problem is that you need to know how many power points can be supplied by one circuit, what mechanical protection the cable needs and protection from weather etc. You should also check the earthing and polarity of the house wiring.

The pity about Australia is the fear of electricity perpetuated by everyone. There is a complete lack of information for the DIY market. Power points are available in Kmart, Big W and every hardware store. My bet is most aren't being installed properly. The solution is either:
1. restrict sale
2. give people information to do it safely themselves
No one is happy paying someone $150 to screw in a powerpoint they know costs $10.

Anyway good luck with your moral dilemma.

Cheers
Pulse

[silentC]

The pity about Australia is the fear of electricity perpetuated by everyone.

It's not a matter of fear. Whether you like it or not, legislation in Australia prohibits an unlicensed person from completing electrical work. I think it's a bloody brilliant idea to make it illegal for any idiot to do their own wiring, but that's beside the point.

For the same reason, I don't think it's a brilliant idea for people who DO know what they are doing to give advice on this forum because a) you don't know anything about the person you are giving the advice to - how do you know they're not a 15 year old kid? - and b) you don't know how many people are going to read it and try to apply it to their own situation.

It's not like you are down the pub telling your mate how to do it. How would you feel if someone reads your advice, gives it a go, and electrocutes themself?

I know enough about wiring to wire up a socket or a light or a plug but there's no way I'm going to tell anyone how to do it if they don't already know.

[Bleedin Thumb]

On ya Silent, well said, people have to be careful when giving advise that may lead to harmful accidents.
Electrical
Chemical
Structural
Just because you know what your doing doesn't mean that you should encouraging others to do the same.

[bishfactor]

jeez guys! the floodgates opened up there. whilst neither a "bloody idiot", nor a 15 year old kid, i totally appreciate where you are all coming from with regard to safety concerns, and the risk of the "have-a-go-hero" enthusiast tackling electircal issues. i shall call my friendly sparky and take it from there. adios.

[silentC]

Sorry bishfactor, not suggesting that you are an idiot or a 15 year old but you could be

I reckon the best advice anyone on here can give when it comes to doing something that's illegal is "don't do it".

Pulse does have a point, in that a lot of people on not being able to get the right advice will go ahead and do it anyway and possibly stuff it up or worse. Maybe they should restrict sale of points and light switches etc in Bunnings. It's like leaving the key to the drinks cupboard on the table and telling the kids not to drink. Still, we have to work with what we have...

[pharmaboy2]

Pulse, agree.

Good thing, the only advice you provided was to seek out a sparky, plus provide a a short hypothectical situation.

Keep in mind in this once great nation and bastion of freedom, its also illegal to change a tap, connect storm water to drain pipes, screw down a sheet of colorbond and do 41kmh outside a school an hour and a half before the school opens on a day when its closed!!! But fortunately, we are all allowed to purchase and use apower saw above our head, a 3 phase welder without experience, P platers buy cars capable of 280kmh, and DIY shows encourage the use of a chainsaw for carpentry.....

ah, its a consistant world we live in........

[Eddie Jones]

Maybe, as a compromise, consult a sparkie, buy the cable he recomends then run it yourself. Nothing illegal in that, PROVIDING a licensed sparkie approves your wiring and connects both ends. Save you some folding stuff AND legal.

Eddie

[silentC]

ah, its a consistant world we live in

Agree, it's an inconsistent world we live in but that doesn't change the facts. Hypothetically, any mug can run wires and it doesn't take too much nous to work out how many powerpoints your wiring can handle. Hypothetically, half of the members of this forum, if not more than half, have done or will in the future do their own wiring. That doesn't mean that you should encourage people you've never met to do it.

If you feel that strongly about how it's messing up our once great nation that people can no longer lawfully install as many powerpoints and lights on a circuit as they think they need without really knowing what they are doing, why don't you lobby the government to change the legislation? And while you're at it, get them to put flashing lights on the 40km school zone signs so we know when we need to slow down.

[MurrayD99]

Hmmmmm. Probably not. Aiding & abetting. Taken in for questioning....