Higher current single phase 240V?

[jazzaD1]

Does anyone know what is involved in getting a 32A or higher single phase supply added to a garage? It is currently powered so this will be more of an upgrade if anything

[Homestar]

That's a lot of power, what are you planning to run? You would need to run a bigger cable back to the main switchboard and instal a larger circuit breaker at the main board for it.

Not sure what power you already have - does it run out of a sub board in the garage? If not, you will need to put one in there to break the 32 amp supply down to the final sub circuits or power and lighting that you need.

If your current cable (bad pun I know) is quite small and it is run underground in a conduit, then the bigger cable may not fit in the existing conduit and you may have to dig a new trench and start again...

Would be easier if I had a look - I'm up your way a fair bit or work. Happy to drop in one day and assess what you have and what you may require.

Cheers - Gav

[rovercare]

Does anyone know what is involved in getting a 32A or higher single phase supply added to a garage? It is currently powered so this will be more of an upgrade if anything

It depends on what cable has been run, does it have a sub board? If it has 6mm cable feed from main switchboard you can get your 32A, if it's just tacked on a power circuit from the house 20A is it, you'll need to run new sub mains from main switchboard

Why for?

[Mick_Marsh]

32A is a large supply. I think a typical house supply nowdays is 40A or 50A.
Give an electrician (or Gav) a call.
This could assist where to go next.
Western Power: Upgrading your power supply (http://www.westernpower.com.au/residents/connections/upgrading.html)
Who is your energy retailer?

[Psimpson7]

I had a switched Clipsal 56C332 (i think) 250v 32a 3 round pin socket fitted in my garage, on its own circuit breaker, by an electrician. (handily main fuse board was on outside wall of garage)

The socket was ludicrously expensive from memory. I think the socket, plug to suit for the welder (as the 32amp plug it came with had a different pin configuration), circuit breaker, and wiring, and about 90 minutes work was over $700.

He did do a good job though.

I think the plug I used was a 56P332.

There are a few on ebay at the moment so it may well be worth looking at those aswell.

[Hall]

Should make the cost back once the crop is sold :angel: Or it`s going to be a decent man shed being set up. :)
Cheers Hall

[Vern]

How far from the main switchboard to the shed, you'll be surprised how short a distance a cable can be run before volt drop takes affect.

[jazzaD1]

it is to cater for a cnc plasma cutter table, and a small biodiesel processor down the track

the main board is in the hallway at the front of the house, and the sub-board in the garage is 20-25m from that

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/mg7r.jpg/)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/onpp.jpg/)

[digger]

it is to cater for a cnc plasma cutter table, and a small biodiesel processor down the track

the main board is in the hallway at the front of the house, and the sub-board in the garage is 20-25m from that

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/mg7r.jpg/]https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/onpp.jpg/]http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/162/onpp.jpg



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/mg7r.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)


MMM plasma cutter table sounds very cool toy, so soon you can pump us out metal "red rat" stencils in metal ?? :)

(if so prepare for a heap of REMLR typr mates to start popping up from nowhere............ mate !! )

[Vern]

You better be sitting down when your Sparky arrives. Looks like old cotton wound cables, mains coming in look to be about 6mm2, rewirable fuses, all nasty stuff, I bet its even split still conduit in the roof.:( . Looks like a 6mm2 neutral on the second switchboard, hard to say, could be 4mm.
I have a a feeling you are up for new mains and switchboard first, and a possible re wire:(:(:(

[jazzaD1]

You better be sitting down when your Sparky arrives. Looks like old cotton wound cables, mains coming in look to be about 6mm2, rewirable fuses, all nasty stuff, I bet its even split still conduit in the roof.:( . Looks like a 6mm2 neutral on the second switchboard, hard to say, could be 4mm.
I have a a feeling you are up for new mains and switchboard first, and a possible re wire:(:(:(

uh oh! this may be more expensive than first thought!

[jazzaD1]

maybe a diesel generator will solve the problem
AGR Machinery | Genpower 8KVA Diesel Generator (http://www.agrmachinery.com.au/buy/genpower-8kva-diesel-generator/DSLGEN-6500S)

then I could source a 3-phase plasma cutter, and run everything else from the mains

[Mick_Marsh]

You might be able to get the supply upgraded to three phase and run it straight to the shed. They might not have to look at the house.

[flagg]

I spoke to two sparkies about getting 2x 20a in my workshop. Both said full rewire and sorry but too busy... It seems it really isn't work that anyone is interested in when there are complete houses to be done or other more simple work.

[Hall]

We used to have a switch board like that, with a cast iron switch for the main power. Our house has farm power as in two phase four hundred volts. Was a couple of big porcelain fuses for the four hundred volts. Found when the board was replaced a house circuit coming of the four hundred volt fuses. :eek: Was not cheap to get replaced.
Cheers Hall

[Homestar]

Hmmm. Not pretty.... Still happy to have a look and advise what would be required, but as mentioned, could be a full rewire. Doesn't look like anything has been done to that board in decades.

Even if you don't look at doing it now, I would start saving and look to do it at some stage. If there is split conduit still kicking about, it is a potential death trap. At the very least I would be looking to see if you still have a solid earth on the house. If the old gal pipe has ever been replaced to the house you may not have an earth at all. I have come across this on more than one occasion in houses that old.

PM me if you want me to have a peak.

[jazzaD1]

Hmmm. Not pretty.... Still happy to have a look and advise what would be required, but as mentioned, could be a full rewire. Doesn't look like anything has been done to that board in decades.

Even if you don't look at doing it now, I would start saving and look to do it at some stage. If there is split conduit still kicking about, it is a potential death trap. At the very least I would be looking to see if you still have a solid earth on the house. If the old gal pipe has ever been replaced to the house you may not have an earth at all. I have come across this on more than one occasion in houses that old.

PM me if you want me to have a peak.

there is a separate circuit that has been put in for the split system air conditioner that was installed in the past 6 or 7 years, other than that, it all looks original i guess

i'll pm you after i get back from holiday in a couple of weeks, i'd really appreciate some advice

[Hall]

When we had our fuse board replaced the electrician said that the old cloth wiring was ok so long as it was not exposed to sun light as the rubber was not uv stable. He also noted that there is nothing wrong with the old steel conduit. He did do a thorough check of the wiring and we got the safety certificate. Did from memory get a bit of wiring from the( also replaced )junction box to fuse board. In our case it was the junction box that failed and when the electrician came to replace it he could not unless we replaced the fuse board as well as he could not sign of on the job with the old board still in use. So junction box is also some thing else you may need looked at.
Cheers Hall

[Homestar]

When we had our fuse board replaced the electrician said that the old cloth wiring was ok so long as it was not exposed to sun light as the rubber was not uv stable. He also noted that there is nothing wrong with the old steel conduit. He did do a thorough check of the wiring and we got the safety certificate. Did from memory get a bit of wiring from the( also replaced )junction box to fuse board. In our case it was the junction box that failed and when the electrician came to replace it he could not unless we replaced the fuse board as well as he could not sign of on the job with the old board still in use. So junction box is also some thing else you may need looked at.
Cheers Hall

Depends on the conduit. Solid screwed steel conduit can be fine, but not often found in a domestic residence. We are talking about the old split conduit, which is dangerous and illegal as it carries no earth wire - the conduit is used as the earth, and it rusts and doesn't provide a good (or any) earth path for any fault current.

The regulations also require that certain wiring is removed and upgraded to modern standards and all old wiring to be removed. That includes RCD's being installed that are proven life savers.

At the very least on Jassa's place I would be looking to replace the switchboards, but if the existing cables don't carry an earth and/or have woven insulation, then that will need replacing as well.

What one Electrican is prepared to do compared to the next can be very different. It depends on their point of view and their interpretation of the regs - which can be taken in various ways at times, but there are certain cut and dried regs that cannot be mis interpreted.

Leaving split conduit in situ with powered wires still in them is negligent IMO...

[Vern]

Hmm my post didn't work, will re post again after work.