Hi Peter,
"If the Air con does not come with a correctly attached flexible cable & Plug ,only a LICENSED Electrician can fit a flex cable & plug Ensuring that the cable is fitted & restrained in an approved manner to the air con
A rule/ Regulation that has existed for a loooooong time"
The information came from a fully licenced electrician who is also a licenced fridge mechanic and gas fitter for both household and RV, so he can read and remember more than one line of the standard The only air con that can be fitted and use a flex lead that plugs into a power point is one manufactured overseas where such things are legal. If it didn't come with a flex lead and plug from the manufacturer no one is allowed to fit one to make it a plug in unit whether they have a licence or not, it must be hard wired. Apparently that loophole is only there to allow the half electrical licenced air conditioner installers to install the smaller air conditioner units that draw less than 2400w max. When the same electrician/air conditioner installer fitted the latest addition to our house (5 air con units now :lol:) he removed the flex lead and plug and installed a switch close to the outside unit instead .... why, because that is the way it is supposed to be done ..... can't argue with work ethics like that eh
T1 Terry
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Ok Guys, there is NO seperate aircon switch. The plug and play goes from the master switch into a single power point for the microwave, then out from that single power point and hard wired to the aircon.
Hi Peter, "If the Air con does not come with a correctly attached flexible cable & Plug ,only a LICENSED Electrician can fit a flex cable & plug Ensuring that the cable is fitted & restrained in an approved manner to the air con
A rule/ Regulation that has existed for a loooooong time"
The information came from a fully licenced electrician who is also a licenced fridge mechanic and gas fitter for both household and RV, so he can read and remember more than one line of the standard The only air con that can be fitted and use a flex lead that plugs into a power point is one manufactured overseas where such things are legal. If it didn't come with a flex lead and plug from the manufacturer no one is allowed to fit one to make it a plug in unit whether they have a licence or not, it must be hard wired. Apparently that loophole is only there to allow the half electrical licenced air conditioner installers to install the smaller air conditioner units that draw less than 2400w max. When the same electrician/air conditioner installer fitted the latest addition to our house (5 air con units now :lol:) he removed the flex lead and plug and installed a switch close to the outside unit instead .... why, because that is the way it is supposed to be done ..... can't argue with work ethics like that eh
T1 Terry
Hi Terry
Now I see how you are confusing the situation
You are referring specifically to Split Systems With the compressor outside, NOT a ONE PIECE Unit
Yes. BUT,,the requirement for an isolator switch Adjacent to the external compressor Unit did not just come in, has been in for quite a few years ago
"the last revision from memory"
One amendment that was loooong overdue. unless the inside switch could be locked "'OFF"
The same applies to having it's own line Isolator /CB on the switchboard .It too must be capable of being not interfered with[ Accidentally Switched on ]
AND that rule does not just cover Split system air cons
It applies in any situation with split 240V/415V equipment, 'where some one could be working on the equipment remote from the switch
Obvious reasons why such was introduced, I am sure you would understand the reasoning
In the old days, IF it had fuses, we simply pulled the fuses & carried them with us
But these days the requirements for electrician to isolate circuits/, equipment which are going to worked are much more comprehensive than even that[. AND looooong overdue]
of course with a van With a Split System air con , both inside & outside switch shall be DP
There is NO rule that States A licensed electrician cannot Fit a Flexible cable Cable with a plug to a ONE piece uni.t But it must meet specific requirements especially regarding how the cable is restrained from pull out of the case
The plug too should be wired to the Standards polarity
Why only overseas AIR CONs in fact where do most of our aircons com from
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 22nd of January 2018 07:09:09 PM
The one piece units such as the roof top rattlers were never supplied with a plug in flex lead, surely the same safety requirement applies here as in this case the unit is hard wired into the plug and play wiring harness, not an accessible power point where it could be unplugged and capped with a safety lock out cover. With this unit being effectively hard wired then shouldn't it have a double pole isolation switch? The alternative is a flex cord to a power point and a remote switching device plugged into that power point and the air con plugged into that so it can be turned on/off remotely
The reference to overseas manufactured split system air con units is about the ones that can be bought off the floor of Bunnings etc and these come with a plug in flex cord, if you buy it from an air con installation company it should not be installed with the flex-cord and plug as its method of being connected to the house supply, this goes for split systems installed in RV's as well, it is all about the safety of the tech working on the unit.
T1 Terry
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
[1]The one piece units such as the roof top rattlers were never supplied with a plug in flex lead, surely the same safety requirement applies here as in this case the unit is hard wired into the plug and play wiring harness, not an accessible power point where it could be unplugged and capped with a safety lock out cover.
[2] With this unit being effectively hard wired then shouldn't it have a double pole isolation switch? The alternative is a flex cord to a power point and a remote switching device plugged into that power point and the air con plugged into that so it can be turned on/off remotely
The reference to overseas manufactured split system air con units is about the ones that can be bought off the floor of Bunnings etc and these come with a plug in flex cord,
[3]if you buy it from an air con installation company it should not be installed with the flex-cord and plug as its method of being connected to the house supply, this goes for split systems installed in RV's as well,
[4] it is all about the safety of the tech working on the unit.
T1 Terry
Terry you are talking in circles
[1[Many/most smaller one piece are supplied with a Cord & plug .I have one plus a split system My son has 2 plus a split system & my daughter has 3 or 4 from memory[3 in bedrooms & a split in lounge & they were not bought off the floor from Bunnings
To suggest that the split systems from Bunnings with cord are illegal is actually pretty stupid
.There is NO rule stopping the Wiring going into the indoor unit via a cord & plug &i the wiring from there going out to the compressor unit
Just that there Shall be a DP isolating switch adjacent to both the compressor unit& the evaporator no requirement for lockout
As any sensible responsable electrician would ensure that the whole circuit is dead Or terminated safely before he left
NO reason technically or otherwise!!!!!!
[2]YES, Both units ,Evaporator & Compressor if separated by a wall or other barrier [ not in view included ]Shall have a secure safe isolation method Adjacent to each section, .I believe I have made that very clear
IT is NOT a NEW requirement.
AND YES I again thought that I had made it very very clear that ALL 240 V switching in A Van etc SHALL BE DOUBLE POLE
The remote control supplied does not meet that requirement where plug connection is concerned , but quite OK with fixed wired
Units as long as polarity has been /is maintained when making internal connections in the unit/s
Remember too, that just turning the breaker in the switchboard OFF is not acceptable , It MUST BE LOCKED OFF.
[3] CRAP, There is no rule that stops /does not allow the .evaporator section of Air cons units ,either one piece or split to be connected via a supplied lead & plug to a suitable rated socket outlet. in Domestic or similar situations where the socket is fixed wired, & hopefully the ELECTRICIAN has confirmed polarity
The plug should be correctly polarized to Aus Standards or the unit should not have approval for sale in Aus
Again why Joe Blow SHALL NOT carry out licensed electrical work which includes fitting /changing plugs ,making up extension leads etc
[4]The safety requirements for all workers involved where shock could occur has been severely tightened up , because so many electrical workers & others have been killed
It is practically taboo for anyone to work on live circuits,without a safety person standing by ,but that can be hard to avoid with a lot of equipment where it needs to be live to fault find.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 23rd of January 2018 07:03:49 PM
Thanks everyone, I have learnt quite a bit more BUT no easy way for ME to achieve an outcome. I will have to get nephew to sort it at some stage. With plug and play I can get 240v to my side of the bed if needed.