Re: Changing Plugs
 

I've changed all our plugs and we're still alive. Don't pay anyone to do it, just change them.

The law only states that you can't do electrical work around your house and you need a sparky in (eg installing a shower). This is what it's for.

Hope this helps! :beer:

Re: Changing Plugs
 

We had to get a Plumber to do ours !!
Sorry, sorry, sorry... But I just couldn't resist :D

Not many Electric showers in Australia ;)

Re: Changing Plugs
 

The Above statement is incorect!
You cannot legally change your own plugs in Qld. Yes everyone does it but it is still against the law. Just the same as speeding, failing to stop at stop signs, overloading your car and loads of other laws people break everyday. This topic has been discused many many times on the forum and I've read loads of silly and downright sarcastic posts upon the subject. Some U.K appliances are simply too big to plug into the 10 amp sockets we have here, quick boil kettles and washing machines/dryers to name a couple.
The legislation is here for anyone who's interested:

"What is electrical equipment?

Electrical equipment is more than just appliances. There are two main types found in a home or small business - electrical accessories and fixed wired electrical appliances. The following lists give an indication of the types of products.

Electrical accessories

Fixed wired electrical appliances

junction boxes
light switches
light fittings without a cord
power points
plugs
cord extension sockets
flexible cord
ceiling fans
some light fittings
split system air conditioners
stoves and ovens


What should I do?

It is not against the law to purchase electrical accessories or fixed wired electrical appliances, but a licensed electrical contractor must install them.

Electricians or electrical contractors can be found in the Yellow Pages, the classified sections of local newspapers or by contacting an electrical industry association."

Just for the really cynical heres the link

http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/electricalsafety/index.htm
http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/electrical...ctricity/home/

Re: Changing Plugs
 

That's one nanny state law that really needs to be broken.

One more reason to choose WA over Qld.:)

Re: Changing Plugs
 

I don't see what the problem is. You would have to be doing something pretty weird to get water into a wall socket. I mean, it's not as if this is easy to do in the first place. :confused:

As for touching the switch with wet hands - in my experience, switches are usually surrounded with waterproof plastic, and the wiring inside is insulated with same. How much water can you get into a waterproof switch by runninng your finger or thumb over it for less than two seconds? :confused:

Re: Changing Plugs
 

One of the biggest differences I have noticed between Aussie plugs and British ones is that British ones are designed to be taken apart and have a little screw in them for the purpose - but Aussie ones are not.
It goes without saying that dismantling a piece of hardware which was never supposed to be dismantled in the first place, is a project replete with potential disasters.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Not a good comparison there Vash. You show a retrofit U.K plug and a moulded aussie one. The U.K has for a while now been slowly changing to moulded unbreakable plugs just as Australia still sells retrofit plugs

Re: Changing Plugs
 

The UK might be changing over, but retrofit is still the most common here. Back home, it seems that the reverse is true.

I've used nothing but retrofit plugs since coming to the UK; in Australia, I used nothing but moulded unbreakables.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Strange when we left three yrs ago all appliances had to be sold with a moulded unbreakable plug fitted. Has that changed again?

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Still true for new appliances

Re: Changing Plugs
 

The Aussie plug in your photo is from a new appliance. The ones you fit yourself have a rubber sleeve that you screw on from the back. The ones in the supermarket that are shallower and point the lead downwards or to the side to fit behind furniture are similar to UK designs with the screw between the pins for taking it apart.

<edited for clarity>

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Where did you get the drugs you're smoking?

As far as I know, it has never been legal to rewire your own house. You could however smaller jobs, like moving a socket, or light fitting were ok. Now you have to be ceritified for any electrical work you do, even moving a socket! It's called a Part P and it came into effect late last year!
And as for commercial premises, you'd never get the work if you werent certified. Ever heard of the 16th Edition? Well it's a very large book full of all the electrical standards.

Your insurance would never cover you if the electrics were installed be a cowboy

Re: Changing Plugs
 

I've known quite a few people who have just about re-wired a house in the past (UK). I am sure it used to be legal, or at least NOT illegal :)

Sensible ? debatable ;)

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Quite true if done a bit at a time over the course of a few yrs i.e as each room was redecorated it would be entirely possible to do a rewire. You'd just need a sparkie to connect the fuse board to the tails.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Aren't they the ones that we brought here and just cut the plug off altogether and stuck an Aussie plu on the end??

ermmm - allegedly

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Over here in the UK, it is now law that to work on your own house you must have a ' part P' this is an exam you must sit to get it, then and only then are you allowed to do anything electrical in your own home, and that does mean changing a plug.

I recently past my !6th Edition. I install Air Conditioning and I have to install socket's, I can do this in offices, shops and even in my mums house, BUT I am still not allowed to change a plug in my own house, because I haven't got Part P. !!!!!!!!!!

Re: Changing Plugs
 

No comment :o

Re: Changing Plugs
 

When are you coming South next - we owe you beer and food.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

There's barriers across the Bruce that stop us feral's from venturing to far south. Could be a while as I've got a fishing weekend next weekend and a fishing comp the one after.
I'll get back to you when I've consulted the oracle [soon as she's off the dunnie]

P.S
Just noticed bloody daughter has changed my avatar and sig this arvy :mad:

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Tell me where the comp is and I'll kit up, sink a few full cylinders and keep filling your hook up. Might look a bit odd when they come up ready gutted mind you :cool:

Re: Changing Plugs
 

It's way ooop Norf on the Dam at Eidsvold about an hour from Mundubbera

Re: Changing Plugs
 

not entirely true!

if you aren't registered then you are allowed to carry out maintenance i.e. change a plug top, light switch, socket, pull switch or even a shower in a bathroom (so long as it's the same or lower rating).
you could even completely re-wire your house still so long as you comply with the requirements of part P; namely that you notify the local area building control before you start and on completion of the work in order that they can send someone to come out and test and inspect your work. for this they will charge you, this seems to be around the £100-150 mark, although i don't know for sure as i work for a registered company.

failure to notify then you could be liable for prosecution under part p of the building regs.
a link to IEE discussion forum discussing exactly that is posted below.

http://www.iee.org/Forums/Forum/mess...&enterthread=y

hope that clears things up for you.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Hmm, thinking about it a bit more, and recalling ages back, I also knew people who did rewires to bypass the electric meter :D

Pretty sure that one did come under the "illegal" heading though ;)

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Not quite true, have a look at this:

http://www.partp.co.uk/consumer/consumer_doesit.asp

Re: Changing Plugs
 

I'm not an expert at all but I do have a container arriving in Perth soon and it has a whole load of plugs that need changing. Here is what I have found.

For Western Australia see http://www.energysafety.wa.gov.au/en...pages/faq.html

The FAQ here tells you:

"What work is an electrical licence required for?
All electrical work requires a licence except as listed in r.19 of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. This generally means that extra low voltage (ELV - below 50Vac or 120V dc - ripple free), communications work, cords and plugs work that is not for gain or reward, supply authority work or other work considered low risk because of the nature of the work or the way it is done.

Refer to electrical installation section for more details."



If you look in the standards and legislation section at the 1991 regulations, r.19 (2) (h) exemptions you are told that you do not need to have a license:

"to the affixing of a plug, electrical appliance plug or
cord extension socket to a flexible cord used or intended
to be used to connect an electrical appliance to a plug
socket outlet through which electricity is supplied or to
be supplied at a nominal pressure not exceeding
250 volts unless carried out by a person for gain or
reward or in the course of employment;"

Re: Changing Plugs
 

Would "Gain or reward" include brownie points? <g>

Re: Changing Plugs
 

WA is the only State, that I am aware of, that actually does allow anyone to change a plug.

Re: Changing Plugs
 

If anyone is really interested in what the law says in the UK regarding The Plugs and Sockets etc (Safety) Regulations 1994 they can go to the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/index.html - you can also find lots of other regulations etc regarding consumer safety

I used to prosecute for Trading Standards and Environmental Health - Exciting bed time reading !!! :D