18
Electrical
Q&A
Your electrical
questions
answered!
Compiled by ESV’s Electricity Technical
Advisor, John Stolk
energysafe continues its regular series
featuring some of the questions that
ESV receives on a range of electricity
installation issues, some of them
relating to gas installations. Also
provided are the references to the
Acts, Standards, Regulations and
Clauses that apply to them.
Question Answer Standard Clause
If someone is putting their house
up for rent and currently has smoke
detectors hard wired but not
interlinked, is it now mandatory
to have them interlinked? No. The Wiring Rules directs you to the National Construction
Code for the installation of fire and smoke detectors in domestic
residences, including location and number required. AS/NZS
3000:2007 Clause 4.6
AS/NZS
3000:2007 Clause 2.2
No. The installation of the cables between the compressor
unit (outdoor unit) and the fan unit (indoor unit) of a split system
air-conditioning unit is ‘electrical installation work’ similar to the
cable between the isolator and the compressor unit and must
be installed by a licensed electrician. Electricity Safety
(Registration
and Licensing)
Regulations 2010 Regulation 5
Does a body protected area need
to be inspected and signed off on
a new install? Yes. A body protected area is prescribed electrical installation
work and is required to certified by the installing licensed electrical
worker and be inspected by an appropriately licensed independent
electrical inspector before the area and equipment is used. Electricity Safety
(Installations)
Regulations
2009. Regualtion 238
Different circuits on different phases
on the same switch plate – what’s the
clause that says Yes, No or you must
use a shroud? The Wiring Rules do not prevent the installation of different
circuits or circuits from different phases being connected to
different switches on the same switch plate. AS/NZS
3000:2007 Clause 3.2
Not sure if it is an AS/NZS3000 or
a lift code regulation, but what’s the
go with emergency stop buttons –
thought they had to be push/twist
type and a contrasting colour? Means shall be provided for emergency switching of any part
of an electrical installation where it may be necessary to control
the supply to remove an unexpected danger. Devices for
emergency stopping shall:
The National Construction Code would only apply to new
buildings or buildings being altered not existing buildings.
Additional information is available from the VBA.
I have a client with an apartment
(older type) with 1x light circuit and
1x power circuit. They want me to
install two 2.6kW AC units and there
is an existing AC unit – can you install
two on the same circuit, even if there
is only one circuit in what can be
described as a dog box?
The Wiring Rules do not prevent multiple air conditioning units
being connected to the same final sub-circuit. That is, if the circuit
has the current carrying capacity and does require the electrical
installation to be divided into circuits to avoid danger, allows for
maintenance work and capacity for alterations/additions without
interrupting supply to other parts of the installation.
The manufacturer’s installation instructions may prohibit multiple
units being connected on a single final sub-circuit.
If not, can you please cite the ruling?
Can a fridgy run internal cable from
indoor to outdoor units of AC, and
power cable from isolate switch to the
AC? Or, this is an electrician’s job?
Please advise the clause in AS/NZS
3000 so I can show the owner.
Electricians are required to lock out tag out (LOTO) and test
and isolate the supply before working on electrical equipment.
1. Be capable of breaking the full-load current of the relevant
parts of the electrical installation, taking account of stalled
motor currents where appropriate; and
2. Be manually operated directly interrupting the main circuit,
where practicable. A device, such as a circuit-breaker or
a contactor operated by remote control, shall open on
de-energization of the coil, or another technique of suitable
reliability shall be employed; and
3. Be provided with means of operation capable of latching
or being restrained in the ‘OFF’ or ‘STOP’ position; and not
re-energize the relevant part of the electrical installation upon
release of the device; and where danger is likely to occur,
require to be reset manually before the electrical equipment
can be started.
AS/NZS 4836:
2010
AS/NZS
3000:2007
Clause 6.3.3