Thread: Class 2 licence Sparky

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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

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

Tony

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

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

Edit

Originally Posted by tony

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

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

Originally Posted by seqfisho

Edit

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

Originally Posted by seqfisho

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

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

Tony