electricalforum.nz

Jamie, are you using a different test instrument to what you usually use? Line testers will pick up on transients where as other instruments I have will not show anything. I have found this to be the case on pretty much all brands of RCCBs and RCBOs. Next time I am going to reverse the line and load...

I have noticed this too and various different brands of RCCBs and RCBOs, all showing different voltages depending on what brand. When I test I use a pair of analogue duspoles, when both motors are engaged the voltage drops to zero and the motors do not operate. I always thought the voltage was due t...

Found this:

AS/NZS 3000:2018 1.7.2 f Live conductors shall not be insulated or sheathed with green, yellow or green/yellow combination colours in installation wiring.
Exception: In New Zealand only, there is no restriction on sheath colour

But I think this applies to outer sheathing only?

Did a pre-sale assessment on a property, and found new looking lights, switch and 1.0mm² 2C+E tps cable connected to the old 60 series socket circuit, all under the house. Circuit is on a SERF. Although we are allowed to extend an existing lighting circuit without RCD protection, I think that there ...

Hi AlecK "the governing rule is that G/Y can't be re-purposed - can only be used for earthing functions. In fact G/Y can't be used for other purposes even if colour is not the chosen method of ID." Was there an overlap period when 2C+E TPS was produced with G/Y insulation alongside the allowance of ...

From the PDL rep, "In answer to your questions about the PDL647, that product actually had its ratings changed about a year ago, now only rated 40A @250VAC so no specific 415V rating on it the only 2 pole switch option we have like that which is 415V rated would be the C2031D32-WE in the C2000 serie...

"a contact separation in all poles that provide full disconnection under overvoltage category " If your isolation device only has one pole then that is all poles of the isolation device. If it has three poles and all poles have the required spacing between contacts then that also meets "a contact se...

I could , but it would look better and create less confusion if there was a single switch. Another way would be to have a contactor in a box in the back of a cupboard.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with painters that are allowed screwdrivers? Arrived at a job to do my fit off only to discover the painters had a screw driver and had unscrewed all the sockets and switches in the rest of the house, away from where I have been working, leaving exposed live par...

My point was Alek that if there is no continuity of the earthing conductors with the installation Earth then the RCD would not trip until there was. People seem to rely on RCDs instead of actually testing earth continuity with the circuit neutral disconnected. I pointed out to another electrician to...

Is anyone aware of a two pole range switch that is rated for 400V between poles? All the ones I have looked at are 250V. Pdl has also lowered the amperage rating of their 600 series version from 45A to 40A, but it has always been 250V. Voltex have a new one but apparently an error was made on the te...

With single strand I twist for screwed terminals and allow the twist to extend back up the cable so the insulation is also slightly twisted 10-15mm. I find it gives the cable a bit more support and prevents breakage. For clamped terminals I twist single cores together if there are more than two as s...

I'm based in Nelson and Steve is probably one of the best electricians in Nelson. I find it hard to believe that he didn't test and pick up on this. A $60 plug in socket and see would have picked up the fault immediately and takes 5 seconds to run it's tests. I was talking to an inspector that spoke...

Yeah I know what the standard states, would I install a switch like this where half the plate is on tile and the other on the door frame? No! It lets condensation on the tile run down behind the switch and there was next to no room behind the switch because of the framing. Damp wood touching the bac...

It's not there now, I switched it around last week.
Previous owner was a DIYer and the son did the wiring, who is apparently an electrician.
So they did the bath and switchboard.

What about being able to operate light switches whilst in the shower with the door ajar? The diagrams in AS/NZS 3000 show the door hinged along the edge, but they rarely are hinged this way. The hinge point is always 150mm in from the edge allowing a hand to slip out side the shower. I didn't instal...

Does this qualify as a damp situation?

Got called out to one of my customers who had been smelling a cigarette like smell over the previous two weeks. Client wondered if there was faulty wiring, as he had cowboys put a new switchboard in and remodel the bathroom before he employed my services. Cowboys COC stated main earth under house be...

You also see the same thing with caravan plugs and DIY 10A adapters, without overload protection. One other point about 15A plugs on welders is that they are often used with an extension lead, if used correctly it will be a 15A rated extension cord and quality 15A extension cords are almost always h...

Hi Greg
Please don't call me a dinosaur but how do you upload images for a post?
What is the easiest way for multiple images?
Thanks

Hi Aleck, I'm not arguing against the testing of the appliances if requested, I had always visually checked the above mentioned whilst conducting test tagging, I am taking issue with the council deamnding the above appliances be test tagged due to my friends retriring at the expiry of their lease at...

I like the look of their analogue insulation resistance and continuity tester. Half the price of a Kyoritsu analogue tester.

Thanks for the advice guys. Yes they are clothes dryers and I have read the bit about equipment that is pulled out for cleaning etc. so the cord is moved, but what about the gas water heater with the standard plug on it? Is it appropriate to affix a tag to it when 3760 declares it not covered under ...

I have been requested by a campsite manager to test and tag a gas water heater, a hard wired gas dryer and two hard wired electric dryers. As far as I know AS/NZS 3760:2010 A1+A2 marks these items as not covered under that standard. The gas water heater is fixed to a wall, the water pipes and the ga...