Class 2 licence Sparky

[tony]

Hi All

Do we have any class 2 licence sparkies on the forum close to

Campbelltown? who would like to do some electrical work at cost price or

in trade of the use of a workshop and mechanic.


Thanks

Tony

[Vern]

Whats class 2?
I'm an REC but sorry i live know where near you:(

[rovercare]

Whats class 2?
I'm an REC but sorry i live know where near you:(

Was thinking that myself, just thought it was a NSW thing:confused:

[tony]

Apparently in NSW you need to have one of these to work on the live

side of the power pole, I would like to put 3 phase into my workshop

but the quotes I've been getting seem out of this world. the sparkie only

has to run the cable about 20 meters from the pole (at the bottom of the

drive way) to the house fuze box, as I already have 3 phase cable from

the house box to the workshop and they still wont thousands of dollars:twisted::twisted:

[Vern]

Well in vic, the cost would be in new mains upgrade, new meter upgrade to 3phase, and switchboard upgrade aswell, plus double truck appointment, inspection and certificate. to me that adds up to atleast $1.5k plus depending on overhead or underground supply.

[tony]

Well in vic, the cost would be in new mains upgrade, new meter upgrade to 3phase, and switchboard upgrade aswell, plus double truck appointment, inspection and certificate. to me that adds up to atleast $1.5k plus depending on overhead or underground supply.


Hi Vern I wish I'd had a quote as low as that...a few questions for you

if you don't mind:angel::angel::angel:

Why would I need a mains upgrade,,,all I wont is a line from the pole to a 3 phase meter in the box

cost of a meter ? 200-300 bucks ?

why would I need switch board upgrade....

cost of 20 meters of 15amp 3 phase cable above ground installation?


Tony

[Vern]

Going buy what you've said, you only have single phase coming in from the street, so your incoming mains need to be upgraded to 3 phase. I'm assuming by the pole, its the supply pole on the street?, so you have an over head supply? If so you need to upgrade tha mains fuse box and bracket to a 3 phase one(bracket and box on the house where the aireal cable connects to.) Then from there you need upgrade your consumers mains to 3 phase to you meters (meters need to be changed to 3 phase, and possibly the meter panel) Then you need to upgrade your main switch to a 3 phase one. And if you don't have room in your switchboard then that will need to be upgraded aswell.
Supply authority should pay for the incoming mains to the mains fuse box, the rest is up to you.
My $1.5k price is being very very generous, as is going buy that you don't need to upgrade the switchboard and meter panel.

[tony]

Going buy what you've said, you only have single phase coming in from the street, so your incoming mains need to be upgraded to 3 phase. I'm assuming by the pole, its the supply pole on the street?, so you have an over head supply? If so you need to upgrade tha mains fuse box and bracket to a 3 phase one(bracket and box on the house where the aireal cable connects to.) Then from there you need upgrade your consumers mains to 3 phase to you meters (meters need to be changed to 3 phase, and possibly the meter panel) Then you need to upgrade your main switch to a 3 phase one. And if you don't have room in your switchboard then that will need to be upgraded aswell.
Supply authority should pay for the incoming mains to the mains fuse box, the rest is up to you.
My $1.5k price is being very very generous, as is going buy that you don't need to upgrade the switchboard and meter panel.


Clear as mud Vern...why do I need to do that the 3 phase is only going to the shed...so from the power pole to a meter through a circet braker to the shed simple...I would have thought...the orignal house power is not touched so why all the upgrades???

confused

Tony

[dobbo]

Having a single phase house supply and a seperate 3 phase shed supply will generate two seperate electricity bills and accounts. Going via the houses meter box will ensure you only get the one bill. It does sound like your house is on single phase power supply, therefore you can't get a 3 phase shed from this meter box.

[rovercare]

You'd require 2 sets of meters etc, so basically you have to upgrade the mains to the house, to 3 phase, meters, then most likely switchboard as Damien said, sorry but it ain't gonna be cheap, supply authority visits 2 @ $150/hour is just the start

Only other option is a 3 phase convertor

[tony]

Having a single phase house supply and a seperate 3 phase shed supply will generate two seperate electricity bills and accounts. Going via the houses meter box will ensure you only get the one bill. It does sound like your house is on single phase power supply, therefore you can't get a 3 phase shed from this meter box.


You'd require 2 sets of meters etc, so basically you have to upgrade the mains to the house, to 3 phase, meters, then most likely switchboard as Damien said, sorry but it ain't gonna be cheap, supply authority visits 2 @ $150/hour is just the start

Only other option is a 3 phase convertor


Is it me :eek: or am I just looking at it too simply...all I wont is 3 phase cable from the power pole out front to a 3 phase meter in my switch box OK so I will get two power bills so what....I don't wont to change -upgrade anything els why is that so hard (read expencive)

Tony

[Vern]

Because it is. Basically what you want is to double everything up, 2 sets of mains, 2 mains fuse boxes, 2 meters, 2 switchboards etc...
It doesn't work the way you think, may'be in a third world asian country you can just piggy back what you want but the supply authority here doesn't allow it.
Cheapest way to do it is as i said.
1 set of 3 phase mains, 1 3 phase meter, 1 3 phase main switch at your existing switchboard (all existing house circuits can be split up over this and a 3 phase isolator can be installed to supply your shed from here).
Also to add another meter to your existing meter panel might not work, they have certain size panels that take 2 meters and although yours physically looks like there may be room, you will find that it may not be the correct panel for what the supply authority wants, but by changing your single phase meter to a 3 phase one, 9 times out of ten it will fit your panel.
So what you need to ask your local sparky for is a 3phase mains upgrade from single phase.
clear as mud.;)
Oh and the aerial mains that come from the street (pole)to your mains fuse box, you don't have to pay for, thats all part of a new connection from the supply authority, you just pay from the mains fuse box, to your meters, to your swithcboard.

[seqfisho]

Why is it so expensive?

The sparky needs to to pay around $1500 a year in liability insurance

He needs to pay about $500 a year for his contractors license

He needs to run his vehicle and replace damaged tools and also meet WHS and regulatory requirements

He needs to pay for advertising and all the financial costs of running a business

He needs to guarantee his work and sign off against it to the supply authority regulations

He needs to insure that your person and property is safe against damage and injury

He also needs to eat and support his family

Thats before he even thinks about employing anyone

[tony]

Why is it so expensive?

The sparky needs to to pay around $1500 a year in liability insurance

He needs to pay about $500 a year for his contractors license

He needs to run his vehicle and replace damaged tools and also meet WHS and regulatory requirements

He needs to pay for advertising and all the financial costs of running a business

He needs to guarantee his work and sign off against it to the supply authority regulations

He needs to insure that your person and property is safe against damage and injury

He also needs to eat and support his family

Thats before he even thinks about employing anyone


Yer, Yer. Yer. I know all that, point taken I just dont understand why I should have to pay it all for the next 2 years....

All I wont is a bit of cable and a meter I dont wont or need there first born:angel::angel::angel:

Tony

[81stubee]

Tony,

What do you need to run? Is it a 3phase motor?

Modern 3 phase Solid State Converters are much more efficient and reliable these days and fairly cheap, probably less than upgrading the Mains/Meters etc. I looked at these a while ago for Dad. All his engineering equipment is up on a farm in a shed that only has single phase power. The problem is that the existing mains are so old that they would barely take 20A and I wasn't going to sign off on a 50year old switchboard exposed to the weather.

What do you need to Run?
What size/rating are the cables to your shed currently?

Google is your friend (just run by your local sparky b4 you do anything).

Stu

[tony]

Hi Stu

Yer its a motor I wont to put a hoist in the shed, and theres plenty of good 3 phase hoists but not meny single phase ones

I'm looking at the inverter 3 phase as well at the moment it may work out a lot cheeper than the hard wire...can you recomend any good sites for these with prices?

Tony

[seqfisho]

Edit

[seqfisho]

Yer, Yer. Yer. I know all that, point taken I just dont understand why I should have to pay it all for the next 2 years....

All I wont is a bit of cable and a meter I dont wont or need there first born:angel::angel::angel:

Tony

Have you tried a couple of sparkys to see if the price is average

They guy may not want the work and be pricing it so you dont go ahead

It also may be a very fair market price

3 different quotes should give you an idea

Maybe his price is a reflection of your attitude:p

[tony]

Edit



Why the edit?? I got a very thick skin....


Have you tried a couple of sparkys to see if the price is average

They guy may not want the work and be pricing it so you dint go ahead

It also may be a very fair market price

3 different quotes should give you an idea

Maybe his price is a reflection of your attitude:p



First off my attitude is fine, I hate electrics know very little about it and don't wont to know much...so man comes to give quote I say hello this is what I wont how much it going to cost me ...very civil and very nice (you don't wont to **** someone off who's gonna be giving you a bill)

4 men come, me very nice all time, 4 different quotes lowest being for 3 1/2 grand now call me stupid if you like but thats an awful lot of money for 20 m cable, meter box, 2x circuit breakers and one out let in the shed.

suffice it to say I ain't getting a hoist and am really upset my son's just finished a motor mechs apprenticeship he should have been a bloody electrican....he could have retired in 2 years and supported me in the manor I have become accustomed too

I hope none of you sparkies out there take this to hart....I know you gotta get the money from somewhere to keep your RRS & D3's running:angel::angel::angel:

Tony

[Bigbjorn]

Just keep an eye on the machinery and engineering equipment auctions. You will find a 240v item one day. Take this as gospel, 240 volt machine tools and items like cable hoists have much better resale value than three phase equipment and are much easier to sell. Why? There is a bigger market. There are far more home hobbyists than factories and workshops.

[seqfisho]

Edit was a double post

And you cant delete your own posts

At $3.5K for the cheapest quote seems like the job is bigger than you describe

[tony]

Edit was a double post

And you cant delete your own posts

I thought you were geting up me for the rent

At $3.5K for the cheapest quote seems like the job is bigger than you describe


Glen the power pole wait a mo I'll go and pace it out....bugger your right its 25 meters not 20 as I have said, from the house box...and the'v all said they would run it as per existing ie over head.

the cable from the house box to run 3 phase is allready in and up to the shed (only carring 240 at the mo..)

you can bend me over the apple barrell but I aint paying those dollars to get me hoist (just because SWMBO says I carnt ) has nothing to do with it..

All may not be lost hang on tight me lads one for the king an one for yourself

3 phase converter $995 I may get me hoist after all

T

[Vern]

At those qoute prices, there must be much more in it than you describe.
Typical customer, no idea:p.

I'd get the inverter (converter), ring around, pretty sure you can get them cheaper than that, last one i bought was around $660 + gst (trade)and rated at 4.7 amps per phase. so when looking for a hoist, make sure its electric over hydraulic (i think they all are, dunno though), will use less amps.

[rovercare]

I'd just put a single phase motor on it for a few hundred bucks:D

[Vern]

yeah that to:)