Hi People,
Last week, I had a called an electrician to install a new power point in my house, when he is done that, he checked the meter and mentioned that my meter is at risk as it doesn't have the RCBO's (circuit barkers) and this can cause a fire. He said, 6 RCBO's are needed and each of them will cost me $100 (suppy & installation). So total $600.
I am not sure if this is really needed, any suggestions from experts in this field ?
Thanks for your help
Thanks for the details mate
circuit barkers
Careful of those barkers, they'll keep you up all night..
Woof.
Upload a pic of your board (without meter identification numbers) this will give more clues.. RCBOs (rcds) are very important, esp if you are still using rewireable fuses. Price would seem fair if you have an old board (maybe asbestos) that needs bringing up to spec
You may just be able to buy some and fit them yourself. I replaced all the wires fuses when I originally moved in. You can pick the, up for approx $15 each at Bunnings, but probably depends on your board.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?q=circuit%20brea…
Wiring your circuit board is only for licenced electricians. Not negotiable.
Unless you get the retrofit breakers that will fit into the slot left by removing the porcelain fuse carrier. You don’t need a license to fit those types.
Also note that the retro fits are just breakers, not RCD or RCBO.
There is no legal requirement to change them. The $600 does it include a circuit breaker box for the breakers? If no then as above check if you can do it yourself.
Also do yourself a favor and use the ones with an RCD in them as they may save a life if the RCD is needed. Also spend the little bit more and use the RCB CB on the light circuit in case you get zapped replacing a light fitting.
If no then as above check if you can do it yourself
Pretty sure unlicensed electrical work is illegal in all states of Australa.
There are circuit breakers you can retrofit into some existing fuses. This is not illegal. as I said 'If no then as above check if you can do it yourself."
yes there is, if the circuit is altered it needs to be brought up to standard, so the circuit with the new powerpoint is required to have an rcbo
The electricians I have used over the years have not cared about it when fixing one or two power points, but when I did a reno on the kitchen and replaced the old cabling for the power circuit and lights in the kitchen and sun room it mattered.
Requirement for installation of RCDs with alterations to installations or replacement of switchboards: RCD requirements are applicable where switchboards are altered or replaced. In an alteration, RCDs are required for final subcircuits. RCDs are also required to protect socket-outlets added to an existing circuit, in accordance with the requirements for new subcircuits, in the part of the installation in which they are located. Where socket-outlets are added to an existing circuit and RCD protection is required, the RCD protection only needs to be fitted at the origin of the additional wiring. Where all circuit protection on a switchboard is replaced, additional protection by RCDs are required for the final subcircuits supplied by that board.
Repairs exemption: Where a single item of electrical equipment (e.g. a socket-outlet or light) which is not RCD-protected is replaced with an equivalent item in the same location, an RCD can be installed on the affected subcircuit, but is not mandatory.
"at risk" is a bit vague and threatening, although they are defniitely worth getting.
For those too lazy to search, RCBOs are Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Overload Protection. Basically a Circuit Breaker and Safety Switch in one device.
Previously to the current practice, Safety Switches (Residual Current Circuit Breakers - RCCBs) were installed to protect users (you) from receiving an electric shock. They do this by measuring how much current goes out on the active to how much comes back on the neutral. If there's an imbalance, it trips itself as it's probably going back via earth, which it gets to via your body when you shove your knife in the toaster that's still on.
Safety Switches (RCCBs) however were typically installed with your 2 x power and 1 x lighting circuit running through the one switch, which means that if any of those three have a leakage event (current from the active "leaking" to earth - leaking as it's quite a small amount of current: 30mA is what the devices are set to trip at), then it trips and as you have both power and your lighting circuits through the one switch, you lose all three.
With an RCBO, you only lose the circuit that had the leakage event - so if someone knives the toaster, the lights don't go out (unless you had a really bad electrician wire your place). You also get that same leakage protection on any other circuits RCBOs get installed on.
Hope this helps. Please note that I am not an electrician. I work in the industry, so I understand a fair bit, but don't know the ins and outs of the trade nor all the specifics of their regulations.
Nice explanation 👍. Saved me a search 😉
Yeah, I won't knife a toaster now
.
I dunno, some frakking toasters are out to get you…
Thanks for your help
Image of your meter box? We'll all qualified sparkies here and can let you know what you need.
My understanding, and a google query, says RCBOs are required on NEW installations in NSW, but you are not required to upgrade old installations. As the electrician said they do reduce risk.
You are required to upgrade old installations if you do some amount of work, but I do not know what it is.
They do reduce the risk of fire if the wiring is old, but how mush is the question. If you install ones with RCD then it reduces the risk of electrocution allot (not impossible if you are fixing electrical quipment)
Thanks for your help
$100 each is a bit rich - for the electricians out there, what exactly does it entail (other than swapping out the existing breakers with the RCBO?
If they're just swapping out, they certainly don't cost $100 per RCBO, and they don't take an hour each.
If it were up to me, I'd ring around to get some different quotes, $300-400 is probably a reasonable figure imo including the call out fee, hourly rate and the parts
It depends on what is there currently.
If they're old porcelain fuse holders, then a modification is required for physically mounting the new breakers. May also need new terminal blocks if existing ones are full (RCDs need earth and neutral connections, whereas other protection devices only require an active), maybe some other gear needs to move to make room, you get the idea. They should also test the trip time with an expensive gadget and probably submit paperwork to the supply authority.
Ah yes - thanks for that clarification.
So $600 may not be too bad after all of its a decent amount of work.
Thanks for your help
Thanks for your help
Hey guys,
I have installed new downlights ( 6, 2 pendants and 1 fan) Do I need to upgrade my current Safety switches and add RCBOs? The electrician is saying its a mandatory thing as I am doing alteration to current setup.
models of current Safty Switches are
Hager Brand,
ADA910T
ADA916T
ADA920T
and
MSN150
Please help
Very worthwhile having: https://au.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=ideas-an…