Thread: Wiring the Shed

Illegal? yes

Shoddy? bit of a judgment call isn't it, without seeing what the man has done?

(I have seen shoddy work from "legal" electricians as well, but that's another story)

I really hope the next person who moves into that house isn't killed through your shoddy and illegal work

Whoa - Take it easy there Champ!!!

I take offence to that, I do good work and I think it was a really neat installation and I am certain, absolutely certain, that NO SPARKY would have used conduit as extensively as I did...............at least I managed to use the correct size conduit, the Qualified Sparky who installed the Powerpoint didn't !

Plus as mentioned, after I TESTED the Powerpoints and they showed me the correct voltage, not to sure what else could be done................

Maybe I should get the Qualified sparky back and ask him why he used the incorrect sized conduit???

Anyway, take it easy there mate - I think for piece of mind, it would be a good idea to get a Sparky Around to make sure what I have done is correct, within boundaries and all good to go, but I just cannot stand the idea that people think that this job is beyond them.

But, as stated earlier, this wasn't about saving money, still cost me around $300 (I used a lot of Conduit), it was about learning about this stuff - find it very interesting!!!

Originally Posted by aussie260z

Plus as mentioned, after I TESTED the Powerpoints and they showed me the correct voltage, not to sure what else could be done................

Testing the voltage means little. Proper testing requires insulation and earth testing and not with a basic multimeter - not that I have ever seen a sparky do this to a standard set of power points installation. Unfortunately it doesn't matter what you do ro how much conduit you use - if there is a problem you still don't have a legal leg to stand on.

If it worries you - you can always rip it all out when you sell the house

Isn't it funny that you can't install a power point in your shed but it's perfectly legal to go to Autobarn and buy your own brake pads, brake discs and wheel bearings and bang it all together and then take it to the public road.....
Makes you wonder why electricians are earning three times more then mechanics.
Have a great day!

I am all for doing everything that you can for yourself. I make my own furniture, build my own tools and jigs when I can. I maintain my own tools and I wipe my own bum.

But there is a good reason why I would never wire my own shed. I am confident that I could find out how to do it and if there was absolutely no other choice and the survival of my family depended on it then I would attempt it.

But it is not a life or death matter and I am not prepared to kill my wife, my son or my friends doing something that is not essential. The wood forums are not the place to be telling anybody else what to do. You are free to go ahead and take the chance of killing somebody if you wish. But again there is a reason why so many people in this thread have tried to dissuade you. It is not that they are pig headed or don't understand. In fact the wood forums are one place that independent, do it yourself people will be found. But they know that there is a limit to how much you can safely do yourself.

The choice to proceed is yours but I would encourage you to at least warn everybody who uses the shed, who turns on a light or who plugs in a tool that you did it yourself and that there is a danger of electrocution. That way they, like you will have the opportunity to assess the risks involved and decide what they are going to do.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

I really hope the next person who moves into that house isn't killed through your shoddy and illegal work. You do realise that it is illegal for you to perform that work and you are now liable for prosecution should anything happen in the future? I'm glad you saved a couple of dollars but i hope no-one is hurt.

I guess from your post tht you are a sparky?
Well, even Sparkies make mistakes.
I had generator changeover breakers installed in my shed at a very high cost by a local sparky.
When the house was built, the contractor sparky told me regulations had changed about a month after I had the other ones installed and different circuit breakers was now needed, adding to the cost of the house.
First Sparky submitted a form A and the setup was approved.
Second sparky has, apparently, not submitted a form A even though he wired up the whole house.
When the first sparky came back to set up 2 x 15amp powerpoints right beneath the switchboard, he said the new setup was illegal and his original one was correct and that I had to insist on a form A, then the setup would not be approved.
Now, who do you believe?
Cheers
Wolffie

I know enough about trade work to call in a sparky and a plumber.

Originally Posted by LRAT

Isn't it funny that you can't install a power point in your shed but it's perfectly legal to go to Autobarn and buy your own brake pads, brake discs and wheel bearings and bang it all together and then take it to the public road.....
Makes you wonder why electricians are earning three times more then mechanics
Have a great day!

Do mechanics work for less than the minimum wage?

Why do electricians earn more? I have a license. Every job that I do must be fully tested and written notification given to a government agency who can and do come and check out my work and can fine me and take away my license if I do shoddy work or kill someone.
I have seen that much dodgy work put in by people who think that they know what they are doing when they really have no idea.
There are five tests for a powerpoint, not just check the voltage.

Electrical work without a license is illegal for a reason - you can't see it and it'll kill you.