greg-rowell-electrical

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Injury update

Hi everyone Just an update on my injury. I update everyone more often on my FaceBook page - https://www.facebook.com/greg.rowell.electrical , so please "like" that page for regular updates... I am doing small jobs only, but am referring all other work to.

Hi everyone. Just an update on my injury. I update everyone more often on my FaceBook page – https://www.facebook.com/greg.rowell.electrical , so please “like” that page for regular updates. Since the middle of last year, I have struggled with a serious injury to my right elbow. It turned out that I had torn a tendon and my injury was becoming worse than expected – whoops! Oh dear, tear number…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Asbestos testing

Does your house contain asbestos? I am trained in asbestos removal (I can legally remove up to 10 square metres), I am careful, aware and cautious. As a licensed contractor, under SafeWork legislation, I am required to be. I was recently asked to carry out some renovations on several bathrooms. I raised the likelihood of the rooms containing asbestos with the owners. I carried out some tests,…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Covid-19 in NSW

I apologise for not updating my current information before this. Construction work in NSW is now allowed to resume (late July 2021) but with significant restrictions. Work at occupied premises is now entirely contactless and can only occur if risk factors can be controlled. I am making more regular updates about what I can or can’t do on my FaceBook page. Most businesses have increased their…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Customers doing repairs?

So what is this topic about? It is about some interesting, but little understood legal obligations that we must all comply with. I was asked by a customer to install a specific light fitting in the false belief that they would be able to service the light fitting themselves into the future. The customer wanted to be able to change parts of the light fitting themselves if the light fitting broke…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Covid 19 and lockdown in NSW

Covid 19 and lockdown in NSW

As you all know, we are now in lockdown again. As an essential worker, I am allowed to continue to visit customers and work outside of my home. I did this all through last year. However, during this lockdown I have decided to reduce where I go, the jobs that I do, and to also reduce my hours. I will NOT be taking on any new customers, or new work for the short term. This is to protect…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

The hidden errors

The hidden stuff. What lies behind the work that you just had done? Is it good or bad? Would you even know the difference?

I thought that I would share some photos, and a description of some hidden errors. Most customers never see what is behind a switchboard, and fewer would know what errors might lie behind the panel – if not told. So here are some photos, and a description of what I found in what seemed to be a reasonable switchboard – on the surface A fairly innocuous looking load centre in a switchboard – or…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Semi-Enclosed Rewirable Fuses

There is a lot of misperception in the industry as to whether the old ceramic fuses are still legal to remain in your switchboard. The below article references clauses within Australian Standard AS/NZS 3000:2018 that guides all electrical work across Australia. Some minor variations occur in different states and territories, and this would need to be clarified within each state. This document…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Downlights - Changing over to LEDs

Downlights – Changing over to LEDs

I wrote an article on my FaceBook page a little while ago about downlights and requirements. https://www.facebook.com/greg.rowell.electrical/posts/544638732748180

Well, this article is a follow up from that, and I refer to the Wiring Rules – AS/NZS 3000:2018 Amt 1

There are a lot of contractors offering cheap change overs from halogens downlights to LED down lights.

Is it a good idea, or…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

The pot!

Well…. this was an interesting find!

Yep it is a pot, but hey… what are those wires coming out of it?

What an interesting find. Yep it’s a POT. But what are those wires coming out of it? Holy Moly, there is something electrical in this thing!

I’ve come across all sorts of things in my electrical career, but never a POT with wires coming out of it!

Initially I thought this must have…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Appliances and Warranties

Following on from my most recent article on home owners doing their own electrical work, I wanted to write about appliances and warranties.

Illegal wiring by home owners

In that article I specifically wrote about dangers, hazards, and risks; what else might you need to think about when it comes to installing fittings  or appliances yourself?

If you install the fitting or appliance…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Appliances and Warranties

Following on from my most recent article on home owners doing their own electrical work, I wanted to write about appliances and warranties.

Illegal wiring by home owners

In that article I specifically wrote about dangers, hazards, and risks; what else might you need to think about when it comes to installing fittings  or appliances yourself?

If you install the fitting or appliance…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Illegal wiring - by homeowners

Illegal wiring – by homeowners

I wanted to comment on the increasing tendency for homeowners to do their own trade work – and yes, I have commented on this before.

Are you taking risks by doing trade work yourself. Paying a lot of money for a tradie just seems to much, when you can buy the product at Bunnings yourself… but often results are bad, really BAD!

Just the other day, I came across a light fitting that had been…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

New switchboard and kitchen

New switchboard and kitchen

Very proud of the outcome of this long drawn out, and complicated job.

The customer had requested electrical work for a new kitchen, but it wasn’t that simple. A quick investigation of the switchboard showed that the electrical system was overloaded by factor of 2. A new kitchen just wasn’t going to happen that easily… unfortunately.

The simple kitchen reno, wasn’t that simple…

The…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Retailer contractors

Home owner advice!

Have you been told by a retailer “we have installers who can install your appliances for you?”

Have you been encouraged by cheap or fixed prices to go ahead?

Maybe this helped you make a decision on your purchase and saved you the hassle of finding someone else to install your appliance, sink, toilet etc.

But…

Retailers such as appliance shops, tile and…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Renovations/Additions

I got asked by a customer this week if I could do the electrical renovation in their new kitchen.

On looking over the switchboard, I found a host of problems. This ultimately meant that the customer needed to upgrade their switchboard and consumer mains (overhead cables from the street, and cables from the house attachment to the switchboard) before any further additions are made.

Why?

N…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Testing

Did you know that at the completion of every addition or alteration to your electrical system, there is a comprehensive set of tests that are mandatory?

Have you seen your electrical contractor spend up to an hour with a meter in their hand – something like this?

Just one type of installation tester that an electrician can use Mandatory verification process

Section 8 of the Wiring…

[greg-rowell-electrical]

Main switches and overloads

Main switches and overloads

I often tell my clients that they have to upgrade their main switch. But why is that? The following article gives an overview of what a main switch does, and why it needs to be replaced.

Consumer Mains and Overloads

Main switches are often overlooked by electricians, but it has serious consequences if it is.

What is a main switch. This is what they could look like on an old switchboard.