I've never had to call a sparky out to do jobs around the house, but we have a few power points which need their plates (including switches) replaced. How much should I be expecting to pay? I understand it'll be call out fee + charge per power point? Do I supply my own plates? Living in south-west Sydney if that makes a difference.
NSW Electrician for Changing Plates (and switches) for Powerpoints
Munki on 18/10/2018 - 11:57
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What if he doesn't have facebook?
Then sign up to Facebook ? It’s not hard…
Get a quote for labour and parts. If the parts price looks ridiculous, tell them you'll supply (make sure it's AU approved. Middy's/Bunnings/mitre10 will do). Labour includes consumables unless otherwise stated so don't get conned into paying for solder.
Since when is solder required when changing powerpoints? Lol
Direct swap, probably never but I'm just giving an example. Ie. Don't let the electrician add in cost of duct tape, labels just because OP wants to supply their own plates.
I did have to use solder on my job. Uncrimped a mega rats nest of wires and couldn't get it to hold together with duct tape alone so I soldered it whilst it's held in a vice then duct tape over. That's when solder is applicable. ><
Solder (and duct tape for that matter) is NOT a mechanical joint. I very much hope you used more than just solder and duct tape.
@pjetson: No extra apart from cable tie over the duct tape and the crimp on the connectors.
Still better than the way the electrician left it, solely crimped against the connector. Barely pulled the socket out of the wall before the wires burst forth with bountiful copper.
Should I leave my house? :(
Should I leave my house?
Yes. Mains wiring must be joined using screw terminals, not solder and duct tape.
And, for that matter you cannot use screw terminals on soldered joints - solder is too soft.
I assume (I'm not a licensed electrician) that there are rules about this sort of thing, because what you have done is not safe.
Yes. Mains wiring must be joined using screw terminals, not solder and duct tape.
The screw terminal was used. What I meant was there was multiple cables into the terminal, something like 3 separate 10amp cables. I secured all three together before jamming it into the terminal. The solder wasn't at terminal tip of the cable, only to keep the vine from unfurling.
I assume (I'm not a licensed electrician) that there are rules about this sort of thing, because what you have done is not safe.
I assumed this too but the certified electrician left the mess for me. Prompted me to look because the plate wasnt sitting perfectly flushed to the wall.
@pjetson: Here's some photos of the before scenario to give you nightmares. Haha. It's not 3 cables, it was 5. Shame I didn't take an after before shoving it back in.
https://i.imgur.com/IH4OLAe.jpg
Ps. Also didn't help that the previous owner painted over the cover plate -.-
@[Deactivated]: Yeah, that's definitely not the ideal scenario. While others would disagree, I'd probably have pulled out the soldering iron for that one also. Either that, or just shoved the entire thing back in the wall and pretend I'd never seen it! xD
we use solder and electrical tape for the earths on switches but nothing more
I've used https://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/ for a bunch of tasks around our place, always had good results, and they only let qualified trades apply for jobs on there (unlike airtasker etc, where you can get a 'handyman' who may or may not know what they are doing).
Bunnings + YouTube.
Cheers guys I'm gonna have a look around. Will make a post on a community page on FB as well as mr626's suggestion.
I'd totally be game enough to do it in my own, but not risking voiding insurance…
Your insurance would only be void if your house burnt down and the insurance company could prove that a) the powerpoint in question caused the fire, and b) that you had self-installed the powerpoint. The only way they could even come close to doing that, would be to trace you back to this post on OzBargain :D
OR…Everything I have posted thus far indicates I am not willing to break insurance policy to get it done myself…
wink wink
Exactly ;)
Post this question on a local area Facebook page or similar. I've found I get good results that way for these types of services.