Thread: Electrics & Plumbing - What Am I Allowed To Do?

Go easy there Bob

Originally Posted by silentC

Go easy there Bob

Good idea. I've had my tablet and now I'll have a lie down.

Originally Posted by silentC

You guys just don't get it at all, do you?

.

nup. .and its so stagggggggggering that I don't.

So I'll call a pro for know on. Pay the $100 up front fee etc everytime some kid puts too much toilet paper down the toilet, or I need a light bulb changed. Better to be safe than sorry.

Why is it legal to change a light bulb yourself ? Couldn't I die when I take the light bulb out then accidently slip my finger in the socket . jeeeeesus. I COULD DIE Light bulb changing should be illegal too. I mean we're not even told on the light bulb packets NOT to stick your finger in the socket! At least they could tell us to turn off the mains power first just to be on the safe side.

Just as there's people out there who arn't capable of changing switches in walls, there would be people who can't change light bulbs. WHO SHOULDN'T EVER DO IT ! So, I definetly reakon light bulb changing should be illegal by anyone other than a fully trained electrician. So, we can ensure that those people will never ever miss their nose and accidently lodge it instead in that light bulb socket.

I'm going to stop jaywalking too uno. Its illegal. And uno what, when my cars accross the road, instead of doing what I normally do and just cross the road to get to it, I'm going to walk 2 blocks to find a zebra crossing (so its safe to cross), cross, then walk back those 2 blocks to my car. That way I can be certain that I won't get hurt, and most importantly that I don't break the law.

See, you still don't get it do ya? You haven't understood a word I've written. You're still arguing as if you think I'm saying the laws, such as they are, are wonderful.

I couldn't give a rats what you do. Jaywalk, do your own wiring who cares? I do all of the above and more. What I'm objecting to is people coming on here advising others to break the law. Dumb.

Originally Posted by silentC

I do all of the above and more.

whhhaaaaaaat ! you jaywalk.

Shyte yeah. I live in a country town. Everyone does it, don't they? No-one ever gets booked, it's just a dumb law that nobody ever gets fined for

BTW I rang a guy from the Dept of Fair Trading in NSW about this topic a couple of months ago and he told me that householders quite often get busted and fined. His words "happens all the time". I have no stats on it, just passing on what he said...

I met someone who got fined for jaywalking once too.

Originally Posted by silentC

I met someone who got fined for jaywalking once too.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought jaywalking is when you choose not to use a proper crossing that is within something like 50m(?) of where your are. If there was no nearby crossing within that distance, you are allowed to cross the road - with care. So just maybe you are not jaywalking?

Crossing at a light controlled pedestrian crossing when the little man is red.

Originally Posted by silentC

I met someone who got fined for jaywalking once too.

So, why do you risk it yourself ? its breaking the law, and what you've just said is encouraging others to think that its ok.

Originally Posted by silentC

BTW I rang a guy from the Dept of Fair Trading in NSW about this topic a couple of months ago and he told me that householders quite often get busted and fined. His words "happens all the time". I have no stats on it, just passing on what he said...

yeh, I agree that no doubt it happens. but I betya, your chances of getting in trouble with the law would up there with say your chances of getting hit by lightning or whatever.

I agree that encouraging people to break the law is probably not a good thing, so I can see your concerns, but as you'd know, you'd have to be a mug to follow it sometimes. Better IMO, to focus on attaching those switch wires right. Gota keep your mind on the job eh. Don't want to be distracted by any thoughts of getting caught.

Originally Posted by silentC

Crossing at a light controlled pedestrian crossing when the little man is red.

Yep - that's a no no.

I saw someone caught by a cop controlling a major intersection in Melbourne one time. The cop told him to go back to the side he started from. The guy argued that it would be shorter and quicker to continue to the other side. I liked the cop's response "Continue across and I'll give you a ticket, or go back and consider it a warning". Good old seat of your pants diplomacy!

So, why do you risk it yourself ? its breaking the law, and what you've just said is encouraging others to think that its ok.

Have you not read my signature line? Hmmm??

Look, all I'm saying is that every time we get one of these threads, as far as I'm concerned the reply should be "get a sparky" because that's the responsible thing to say, I reckon. If you want to have a debate about how things should be, I'm all for it. I agree. I wish I could go to TAFE and do a course and get a bit of paper that says I can wire my own house.

If it was a thread about jaywalking, I would say "it's illegal to cross when the little man is red and you can be fined for doing it" end of story. I'm not going to say "but if you want to do it, I'll tell you how to get away with it" or "don't worry, you wont get caught, I do it all the time".

The chances of someone getting hit by a car are probably somewhat higher than getting electrocuted I suppose, but still, it's illegal and things can go pear-shaped, sometimes quite badly.

Originally Posted by silentC

See, you still don't get it do ya? You haven't understood a word I've written. You're still arguing as if you think I'm saying the laws, such as they are, are wonderful.

I couldn't give a rats what you do. Jaywalk, do your own wiring who cares? I do all of the above and more. What I'm objecting to is people coming on here advising others to break the law. Dumb.

I've resisted and not posted on the IQ thread or the religion one but I can't do it any longer.

What you don't get is that doing it is illegal but discussing it is not. I can tell you all about it, and it wont be illegal. Our NZ friends could even legally act on any information given.

This perpetual argument is somewhat tiresome, but suffice to say that we (those who don't mind discussing electricity) realise that to do your own wiring is illegal (even running the wires). How is giving someone the knowledge on how it all works "advising" them to break the law. It's not, the information is readily available without breaking the law. So discussing this information cannot be said to be illegal.

Tell me silent, if I post this:

Red or Brown Wire = Live, Active or Positive

Black or Blue Wire = Neutral or Negative

Green/Yellow Wire = Earth

Have I just advised someone to break the law? You've told us before how you picked it up so what is posted here (on this forum) that is so objectionable.

Perhaps we should all preface our comments by saying "if you were in NZ you could do this legally..."

Or is it just that you like to fish Silent?

Well, uno, you can do what ever you like ... not as if you'll ever really get in trouble with the law.....its just a matter of whether or not you'll do it right and not kill yourself.

Doing it for yourself well why not.

As far as changing sockets well if you know how why not.

I feel if you know what you are doing do it

So, IMHO, if you have the experience then do it.

Do it correctly and there are no problems.

I've resisted and not posted on the IQ thread or the religion one but I can't do it any longer.

If you've got something to say, don't hold back. I promise I wont cry.

Yep, that's encouraging someone to break the law as is telling them to do the grunt work by running wires etc. That's not the point I'm making. I think you know that, but perhaps I shouldn't have used that quote to make the point.

You said that the blanket answer to these questions should be "get a sparky". That is the part I disagree with. For mine, we should be able to discuss the issue then let the person decide for themselves what they are going to do.

Not all of us need the cotton wool approach.