Thread: Install 15amp outlet

Cost will vary greatly depending on what is currently installed and how far the supply for the new point has to come.
A 15A outlet has a larger earth pin and will have '15A' written on the switch. The larger earth pin is so that you can't plug a 15A appliance into a 10A outlet.

You'll need to consult an electrician HS, as the 15 amp points are usually on their own dedicated circuit. I would imagine that its generally unacceptable to just run another point off an existing circuit, which are usually 10 amp. As Archer has said, the cost can vary significantly depending on the site circumstances, so there's really no "average" price applicable.

If you have a sub-board in your shed the cost will be less provided the sub mains are big enough to accommodate the extra circuit than if your sparky has to run a circuit from the main switch board on the house.

Originally Posted by Barry_White

If you have a sub-board in your shed the cost will be less provided the sub mains are big enough to accommodate the extra circuit than if your sparky has to run a circuit from the main switch board on the house.

Which is a good idea anyway if you can afford it. I know from previous posts HS that this could be getting bigger than Ben Hur and you were looking for a low cost solution, but a sub-board lasts forever and introduces heaps of convenience. Fortunately a mate of my nephew is a sparky and I had him install a sub-board in the workshop. It makes it a lot easier to accommodate ever changing requirements which always seem to pop up. The thing with a sub-board is that it can introduce a dedicated 50 or 70 amps, or whatever you can get, in the workshop, and that eliminates juggling things around on the main board.

I had a 15amp outlet installed with safety switch/ circuit breaker in the meter box for $434.
My meter box is on the other side of our house, about 20 metres away.

For comparison,(in Adelaide, but would not think that Melbourne rates would be much different):

20m of 6mm cable from the house to the shed (conduit provided by me)
32A sub-board for the shed with safety switch, 2x20A power lines 1x10A light line
2x2 fluoro lights in the ceiling
6x2 powerpoints
hardwiring of 2 appliances

total $1000 inc. GST (one solid day's work for 2 people).

As Rookie said, this gives more flexibility, and you can run a lot with 32A (even the air conditioner!).

The rewiring of my shed was done in stages, & the first stage was a sub board & 1 x 15A Plug on it's own circut. For a week, I only had 1 outlet in the shed, but when the we came to do the 10A run, we had the 15A run live while the 10A run & Lights were dead, allowing us to work safely while still having power in the shed. I have 1 x 15A run, 1 x 10A run, a light run & a spare breaker just in case the future require it.

As part of my shed overhaul, I have built in large condiut sections, so If I need another power point or another circut, it is a simple job for a qualified person, therefore, reducing my cost.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...0&d=1189239015

I still need 2 more power points on the back wall of my shed, 1 for my compressor & the other for my Drill Press, but I haven't started the back wall yet. When I do, I will include my Conduit in the frame up as I have with the rest & having the powerpoints put in will be a 10 minute job.

Steve

Originally Posted by chalkeroochy

I had a 15amp outlet installed with safety switch/ circuit breaker in the meter box for $434.
My meter box is on the other side of our house, about 20 metres away.

My son-in-law provided a separate fuse box in my workshop
where I have about 8 handy power points. However the other
day it became necessary to replace a double power point
on the wall with a 15 amp double power point so I could use
my caravan connection in it to test the van out.

Imagine my surprise when I went to an electrical retailer
and the double power point, 15 amps, cost $45.00. The
salesman claimed they are normally about $75.00 but he
gave me a cash rate.

Allan

________________________________________

I am not at all worried about dying
... but just hope I am not there at the time.

Never under estimate the power requirements in a shed. Get a sub-board with circuit breakers and an earth leak detector. When you do something stupid that trips the detector or a circuit breaker your other half will thank you though she won't even know it has happened as the house power won't be affected. We have two sub-boards and they have saved us money because as our power needs change the changes can be done from one of them.

I also got 3x double fluoros with diffusers, 1x extra 15amp, 3x double 10amps all in conduit to the workshed & a 10amp to the laundry for $412 extra.

The $434 was the price for 1x 15amp on it's own.

I paid $846 all up

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

For comparison,(in Adelaide, but would not think that Melbourne rates would be much different):

20m of 6mm cable from the house to the shed (conduit provided by me)
32A sub-board for the shed with safety switch, 2x20A power lines 1x10A light line
2x2 fluoro lights in the ceiling
6x2 powerpoints
hardwiring of 2 appliances

total $1000 inc. GST (one solid day's work for 2 people).

As Rookie said, this gives more flexibility, and you can run a lot with 32A (even the air conditioner!).

You got a bargain at that price

Originally Posted by nev25

You got a bargain at that price

Yes, my sparky is honest, which makes him very hard to get, it was 6 months before he gave me another 1/2 day work. (total for the 1+1/2 was $1560, maybe my ballpark division was a bit off, but not by much). Still, once the apprentice's pay and materials are taken off, he likely made about $700 a day. That's almost how much the average Australian worker makes in a week.

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Yes, my sparky is honest

Hey I'm a Sparky What are you trying to say

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

total for the 1+1/2 was $1560,

Thats a bit more like it

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Still, once the apprentice's pay and materials are taken off, he likely made about $700 a day.

My calculations he was earning around $80 an hour including GST and the apprentice was getting some of that

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

That's almost how much the average Australian worker makes in a week.

Yeah but does the average worker have to payout for insurances, work-cover, Licenses, advertising, etc etc


As I originally say you got a bargain

Originally Posted by nev25

Yeah but does the average worker have to payout for insurances, work-cover, Licenses, advertising, etc etc

Don't forget travelling time and costs - it never ceases to amaze me that people think you spend your entire day actually working at that rate...yeah I can move across Brisbane at the speed of light AND not get a speeding ticket...