Thread: Testing Lamps

yes

Bugger.

I thought I might.

Would an electrician be able to do the testing and sign for it. Or would I have to get an electrical testing company (that does test and tag) to do the job?

Any idear's on the cost, it might not be worth doing if the cost is to great.

Regards Jamie

Any sparky can do it, but some might be funny about putting their name (and insurance, repuatation, etc.) on someone elses work.

I know I sure as shoot wouldn't put my name on someone else's wiring that I didn't watch them do.


However, since these things plug in, the regulations with it might be different. If the wiring is fixed, then a sparky has to do it.

Best call the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector and ask them about it. You might be able to get a license to do them yourself without too much trouble but I could not say for sure.

If you're just running flex up a stem and fitting a plug and switched fitting to the ends, it's a simple matter to leave the covers (for the plug and fitting) undone but in place on the cord so the sparky can check it out without dismantling. It only takes a couple of mins to put 'em back in place and call it "finished" after it's been ticketed.

If the switching is seperate, well... then things can become complicated.

Just as a guide, we've an old (as in past retirement) family friend who did a batch of some two dozen assorted items for me for $50, as well as certifying some ext. cables, etc. for use on-site. This bloke is meticulous and won't ticket anything that doesn't meet his standards. He's also a bit of a penny-pincher and "mates' discount" isn't in his vocabulary... but I believe it was a fair price anyway. I still think I should've charged him for the cuppa though.

Any sparky can do it for you, and any test and tag company can do it. The only difference is the t&t group can't take it apart.

If you plan to do a lot of lamps it might pay to do the t&t course at your nearset tafe. it's a few hundred dollars, but you'll be able to do yours and other peoples leads.

Tests that need to be done are insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity and just a visual on the lead and plug. They're simple enough to do, but the equipment needed for them is expensive.

If you have them tagged, a good price would be about $5 per lead, particularly for a large batch. Expect more for one or two items.

If you buy a ready made lamp lead, ie 3 pin plug at one end and a bulb socket at the other, and you don't need to pull it apart to feed it through the lamp base, then you won't need to separately test it.
Fletty

Yes thatirwinfella is right Any sparky can do it for you, and any test and tag company can do it.

Thanks
Lilindo