Thread: Ouside powerpoint

Originally Posted by ger

Hi
I have a twin powerpoint outside the house.
1] Is it OK if I purchase a powerpoint with 4 outlets to replace this & can it be wired to a twin powerpoint cable?
2] Will it overload if all 4 outlets are used?

Thank you.

Excuse me but I've cleaned up your first post a bit so that it is more understandable.

In answer to your questions;

1] Yes.
2] This depends upon what you plug into this 4 gang outlet. The cable should be 2.5 square millimetres & the associated circuit breaker should be no bigger than 20 Amps. This means that you can load the 4 gang GPO to 20 Amps but be aware that each outlet is rated at 10 Amps (2 400 Watts).

Attention mods - why does this forum engine use the American spell checker? Can it be changed to "real" English?

Is the existing gpo a weatherproof unit? If so, how will the new one be weatherproofed?

OH YEH BABY! a Spelling nazi who uses red, AND an electrical DIY in one thread. Does it get any better than this.

Yes it does.


Elektradude then has a shot at Neil and the Admin.



I've gotta duck out and get the popcorn ready for this.

Originally Posted by outback

OH YEAH BABY! A spelling Nazi who uses red AND an electrical DIY {insert appropriate noun here}<insert appropriate="" noun="" here=""></insert> in one thread. Does it get any better than this?

Yes it does.


Elektradude then has a shot at Neil and the Admin.



I've gotta duck out and get the popcorn ready for this.

I wasn't having a "shot" at anyone...I asked 2 questions.

Originally Posted by ger

Hi
I have a twin powerpoint outside the house
Is it OK if I purchase a powerpoint with 4 outlets to
replace this can it be wired to twin
powerpoint cable
will it overload if all 4 outletts are used


Thank you

The registered electrician who does the job will be able to answer all your questions but basically yes you can replace a twin outlet with a four point outlet. Being an outside point you must consider the weather protection rating of the new outlet.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

The registered electrician who does the job will be able to answer all your questions but basically yes you can replace a twin outlet with a four point outlet. Being an outside point you must consider the weather protection rating of the new outlet.

The REC will also do a Maximum, Demand Calculation to determine if it can be done

It is the combination of volts and Amps that kill you...not just the Amps.

Your advice is wrong. The answer to 1] is no, you cannot as it is illegal to do your own wiring in this country, but a licensed electrician can do it for you.

Originally Posted by silentC

Your advice is wrong. The answer to 1] is no, you cannot as it is illegal to do your own wiring in this country, but a licensed electrician can do it for you.

Since when has this practice been illegal? Please explain. Of course, doing your own wiring may void your home insurance in some circumstances.

The answer given to the OPs point 1] was about whether it can or cannot be done & not who can do it.

Since when has this practice been illegal? Please explain.

Well, in NSW, since the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 made it so. There is a similar act in Vic I believe.

Is it OK if I purchase a powerpoint with 4 outlets to replace

If you want to be pedantic, there's nothing to stop him buying it, but my reading of that question implied that he intends to do it himself.

Below are excerpts form the HOME BUILDING ACT 1989 & the ELECTRICITY (CONSUMER SAFETY) ACT 2004.

The ELECTRICITY (CONSUMER SAFETY) ACT 2004 can be downloaded from here;

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/n...esa2004309.txt

and the HOME BUILDING ACT 1989 can be downloaded from here;

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/n...hba1989128.txt


It appears that doing electrical work in your own residence has been conditionally illegal since 1989.






HOME BUILDING ACT 1989 - SECT 14
Unqualified electrical wiring work
14 Unqualified electrical wiring work

(1) An individual must not do any electrical wiring work (whether or not it is also residential building work), except:

(a) as a qualified supervisor (being the holder of an endorsed contractor licence, or a supervisor certificate, authorising its holder to do that work), or

(b) as the holder of a tradesperson certificate authorising its holder to do that work under supervision, but only if the work is done under the supervision and in accordance with the directions, if any, of such a qualified supervisor.

Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units in the case of a corporation and 200 penalty units in any other case.

(2) Despite subsection (1), an individual may do electrical wiring work even though the individual is not such a qualified supervisor or holder, but only if such a qualified supervisor:

(a) is present at all times where the work is being done by the individual, and

(b) is available to be consulted by, and to give directions relating to how the work is to be done to, the individual.

(3) A qualified supervisor who is supervising any electrical wiring work being done by an individual as referred to in subsection (1) (b) must:

(a) give directions that are adequate to enable the work to be done correctly by the individual performing it, and

(b) personally ensure that the work is correctly done.

Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units in the case of a corporation and 200 penalty units in any other case.

(4) A qualified supervisor who is supervising any electrical wiring work being done by an individual as referred to in subsection (2) must:

(a) give directions that are adequate to enable the work to be done correctly by the individual performing it (which, unless the qualified supervisor considers it unnecessary, must include directions requiring the individual to advise in detail on progress with the work), and

(b) be present when the work is being done and be available to be consulted by, and to give directions relating to how the work is to be done to, the individual, and

(c) personally ensure that the work is correctly done.

Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units in the case of a corporation and 200 penalty units in any other case.

(5) This section applies to an individual acting in the course of his or her employment by the Crown.





ELECTRICITY (CONSUMER SAFETY) ACT 2004 - SECT 30
Inspection of electrical installations
30 Inspection of electrical installations

(cf 1946 No 13, s 25 (1) and (4); 1987 No 68, s 19 (4))

(1) An authorised officer may enter any place at any reasonable time for the purpose of inspecting any electrical installation in the place.

(2) An authorised officer may require:

(a) any person who claims to be an authorised electrician to produce for inspection by the authorised officer, within such time as the authorised officer specifies, the person’s licence or other authority to do electrical wiring work, or

(b) any person who appears to the authorised officer to be doing electrical wiring work to satisfy the authorised officer, within such time as the authorised officer specifies, that the person is not prohibited under the Home Building Act 1989 from doing that electrical wiring work.

(3) If the Director-General believes on reasonable grounds that there are in any place documents evidencing conduct in connection with an electrical installation in contravention of this Act or the regulations, an authorised officer may, with the written authority of the Director-General, enter the place, inspect any documents and make copies of them or take extracts from them.

(4) An authorised officer may not exercise the authorised officer’s functions under this section in relation to a part of any premises being used for residential purposes except:

(a) with the permission of the occupier of that part of the premises, or

(b) under the authority conferred by a search warrant issued under this Act.

Note: Section 42 enables authorised officers to obtain search warrants to search residential premises in certain circumstances.

Good, so I take it you're satisfied that advising someone to put in their own powerpoint is irresponsible and the best advice to give them is to enlist the services of a licensed electrician?

Originally Posted by silentC

Good, so I take it you're satisfied that advising someone to put in their own powerpoint is irresponsible and the best advice to give them is to enlist the services of a licensed electrician?

I fully agree but it sort of makes this site a little redundant with regard to electrical DIY work.

Well, I don't know. I guess there are plenty of questions that can be asked and answered without actually encouraging anyone to do something that's not legal. There are also others here who believe that it's OK to tell people how to wire things up etc. - I'm not one of them but they're allowed their opinion. So people should ask away, and then make up their own minds based on the information provided. If that information includes a) how to do it and b) the fact that it's illegal, then the person has all they need to decide what to do.