Thread: Illegality of repairing electrical equipment

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Normally I don't participate in electrical type of threads anymore as it is illegal to do your own wiring and repairs in Australia, and I will not aid or abet someone to break the law.

However the following needs to be corrected.




In Victoria the ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT 1998 - SECT 38 provides that a person must not carry out or offer to carry out or hold out that the person carries out or is willing to carry out any class of electrical work that, under the regulations, is a prescribed class of electrical work for the purposes of this Division unless the person is-

(d) licensed under this Division as an electrical equipment worker in respect of electrical equipment work of that class.

Electrical equipment is defined by the said act to be :

"electrical equipment" means any appliance, wire, fitting, cable, conduit or apparatus that generates, uses, conveys or controls (or that is intended to generate, use, convey or control) electricity;



Further Section 57 of the Act states:

Prescribed electrical equipment

(1) Energy Safe Victoria, by notice published in the Government Gazette, may declare that any class, description or type of electrical equipment is, from a date specified in the notice, prescribed electrical equipment for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person must not supply or offer to supply electrical equipment prescribed under sub-section (1) unless the equipment-

(a) is approved by Energy Safe Victoria and is marked as prescribed .... (etc)


Regulations under this provision made By Energy Safe Victoria are detailed here and your attention is drawn specifically to the " Appliance Connector".

From this it is clear that any electrical appliance using a cord and plug to connect to the Electricity supply is an electrical equipment which can only be repaired by a licensed person. No doubt other states are the same.

So those that thought they could repair their own appliances are wrong and it is illegal in this state. So if the appliance doesn't work take it to an authorised repairer.


Peter.

And of course you never speed and endanger anyone elses life when you do it... Never "forgot" to declare a bit of your income from the government... Electical is a funny thing - I've never seen so many people get so uptight about it - ya it's illegal but so is just about everything.

Originally Posted by Toolin Around

And of course you never speed and endanger anyone elses life when you do it... Never "forgot" to declare a bit of your income from the government... Electical in this country is a funny thing - I've never seen so many people get so uptight about it - ya it's illegal but so is just about everything here.

Hey....you cant post about things being illegal, its illegal.

Al

Yeah Toolin around, I think so too. I couldn't get over the angst associated with electricity when i moved here. In Canada we used to do anything we wanted to our own home wiring-the theory being that the consequences of screwing it up were an obvious deterrent to bodgy work.

There are plenty of books on the subject that provide enough knowledge to, with the proper mind set and tools, do a first class job of the basic things. I have wired houses and factories and industrial machines and boiler controls and rebuilt motors and phase converters and appliances. I don't feel like a criminal, but rather a productive and self reliant citizen for doing these things.

I wonder, is there a similar prohibition on doing your own brake job then driving down my street? Or flying your own aeroplane over my house? No? I guess I need to belong to a stronger guild.

The statute as quoted above does not define "connect", and thus is an example of a bad law in both concept and wording. As it stands it is too vague to be enforced, or at least so says my lawyer friend.

Cheers

Greg, (who can find no difference in the rate of electrocutions or building fires between Australia and Canada.)

Why not dig into this one as well ... it's good fun

So far I've learnt that an extension cord passes electricity (at least it does when it's plugged in an turned on) so we can't repair it ...

BUT

An extension cord isn't a hard wired device so we can repair it ourselves ...

BUT

As it requires a "special" ticket to do so we can't repair it

I'M SO CONFUSED

Are we allowed to wire up our outdoor 12V lights and irrigation controllers without the mighty "ticket" as there's no mention of voltage in the lead post on this thread???????

Interesting, does all this only mean mains powered devices? Electricity is in a hell of alot of things.... Don't change your watch battery, don't plug those speakers in, don't put that newly charged battery in your drill (it charged off the mains) don't replace a light bulb. Also the statement on the outside of electronic equipment usually reads something like "Warning no user servicable parts inside" but no legal warning as to the illegallity of opening it. Lets take a typical portable stereo..... 1)is it illegal to remove the screws and remove the cover?(no electricity involved here) 2)with the cover removed is it illegal to use a can of compressed air to blow out the acumulated dust and ants?(no electricity involved here either) 3) Can I repair or replace components on the output side if the stepdown transformer? (I know... not on all appliances...but most) this ranges from 3-12volts usually. Is it a voltage issue or is it a vague "Joe" type "Now don't you worry your pretty little head about that!" issue. If it is voltage at what voltage is the cutoff????

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Definitely in good faith as in my working life I was an Accountant with an extensive grounding in legal affairs.

That makes two of us- which means one of us is making a terrible fool of himself - bring it on!

I saw your post in the Taboo thread and IMO you are putting a wrong interpretation on that reference as I believe it applies to someone employed as an apprentice working under a licensed person in homebuilding works. That is not the same as a homeowner/occupier doing wiring work for and under the supervision of an electrician.


Peter

Thank you. If this is your understanding of the law, I have no worries at all .

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Which means I cant unplug any appliance, or flick the switch?

Al

No, it simply means that you can not wire an appliance directly to the "fixed" wiring, without a plug and socket.

Wow, 21 posts already the wires are running too hot better call an electrician

BTW who will support my push for legislating against DIY motor vehicle repairs

Originally Posted by chrisp

Peter,



I understand what you mean. But have a read of the following extract taken from the Electricity Safety Act 1998

.............

I find it vague and confusing.

Chris

That simply means that you can not work as an electrician if you are not licensed, and that the Board will check that you indeed are if you do. It does not mean that John Doe can not do electrical work for himself.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

So for instance ... using a home made lampshade is alos illegal.


Peter.

Doubt it. Reference please? Even if correct, however, this is a provision about the owner's obligation to maintain safe premises, not dissimilar to the the prohibition to light a fire in the backyard. Different issue.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

BTW who will support my push for legislating against DIY motor vehicle repairs

Ok, for what I care... I don't know the boot from the bonnet!

So as usual a group of members who don't agree with our laws, especially immigrants who come from countries where apparently it is legal to do your wiring, decided to stir again.

So like SilentC said elsewhere "Are any of my points hitting home, or am I just wasting my breath?"

As I said in my opening post normally I don't participate in electrical type of threads anymore as I will not debate the relative merits of our existing laws, I just wanted to correct an incorrect view held by some members.

So I will not participate anymore in this discussion, especially since Toolin Around feels it appropriate to question my integrity by suggesting that I endanger life whilst driving or cheat on my taxes.


Peter.

Originally Posted by Ramps

I'M SO CONFUSED

Are we allowed to wire up our outdoor 12V lights and irrigation controllers without the mighty "ticket" as there's no mention of voltage in the lead post on this thread???????

Yep. You are seeing the point. The reason the voltage is not mentioned is because you can indeed do electrical work yourself provided you do not endanger yourself and others. Using 12V it is extremely unlikely (not impossible - you can still produce a spark) that you would. An insurance company bent on ****ing you could still try to allege contributing negligence if there is a fire, for example.

Peter,

If it is any consolation, I can see where you are coming from (although I think that silentC is just a stirrer).

I am quite intrigued (connived?) by the Electricity Safety Act and its possible interpretation. Just as you can interpret it to mean no electrical work is permitted unless licensed, I can (ridiculously) interpret it to read one one can plug in any appliance unless licensed. My understanding is that it applies to fixed wiring.

I have emailed the OCEI for clarification as it seems very vague. I'll let you know what the OCEI says when I hear back.

I appreciate the time and effort you (and others) have taken to respond in the forum with your views.

Chris