Electrical question.

iana · Guru

Electrical question.

Possum3 · Guru

I am not an electrician but I am aware that all electrical installations should be certified by an approved person www.build.com.au/when-do-i-need-electrician . If doing your own 12v work have it checked by a licenced Auto Electrician.

T1 Terry · Guru

The licence requirement seems to change from state to state, but I think the average is around the 120vdc with a maximum of 5% ripple. Any more than the 5% ripple and it is considered to be an AC voltage and the limit for that is 50vac.
The auto electrician licence does not cover the licence requirements for any work outside these voltages and I believe the DC one requires a licenced sparkie that has also completed and been accredited to do solar installations.
The whole issue would come to the attention of the authorities if someone was injured or killed and not just from coming into contact with the wiring, the injury or death could have been caused by falling off the roof after getting a boot or having a heart attack after getting a boot, so it wasn't the shock that killed them but as a result of getting the shock. At 120vdc and 10 amps of current you certainly know you got booted, I don't think I'd like to experience anything higher than that, the burns took a while to recover and the arm muscles ached for days.

T1 Terry

Jaahn · Guru

Iana, smile

AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules define "extra low voltage" as "Not exceeding 50 V a.c or 120 V ripple-free d.c." These standards are the normal wiring standards and rules that cover electrical work for all of Australia and NZ. Note that it is called EXTRA LOW VOLTAGE. Low voltage is the next step up which requires an electrician for all work.

Jaahn

Bobdown · Guru

Hi all,

Not sure about the answer to the OP, but as an ex Telstra linesman, 50 vdc can give you quite a boot, which is what they had on the copper lines, certainly good for the Arthritis in your fingers.

Also, leaning on an electric fence in winter accidentally, makes the heart miss a beat or two, speaking from experience, not sure how many volts though.

Cheer Bob

markf · Senior Member

Bobdown wrote:
Also, leaning on an electric fence in winter accidentally, makes the heart miss a beat or two, speaking from experience, not sure how many volts though.

And it'll make a urinating dog YELP and RUN too. I know that I shouldn't laugh but the one time I saw it happen it was as funny as. The dog went back to the fence post and barked and growled for about 10 minutes afterwards.

oldtrack123 · Guru

Bobdown wrote:
Hi all,

Not sure about the answer to the OP, but as an ex Telstra linesman, 50 vdc can give you quite a boot, which is what they had on the copper lines, certainly good for the Arthritis in your fingers.

Also, leaning on an electric fence in winter accidentally, makes the heart miss a beat or two, speaking from experience, not sure how many volts though.

Cheer Bob

An Electric fence module changes the low voltage Dc into high voltage DC low frequency pulses, that can be quite nasty. IF some one got stuck on one they could end up dead

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 7th of March 2019 07:19:11 PM

oldtrack123 · Guru

Jaahn wrote:
Iana,
AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules define "extra low voltage" as "Not exceeding 50 V a.c or 120 V ripple-free d.c." These standards are the normal wiring standards and rules that cover electrical work for all of Australia and NZ. Note that it is called EXTRA LOW VOLTAGE. Low voltage is the next step up which requires an electrician for all work.
Jaahn

Ditto

But that does not mean Extra low voltage AC cannot lead to serious problems under the right, or should I say, wrong circumstances

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Do it right . If your not sure ?? Need to ask ? Get someone who is qualified!

oldtrack123 · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Do it right . If your not sure ?? Need to ask ? Get someone who is qualified!

Good Advice

T1 Terry · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Do it right . If your not sure ?? Need to ask ? Get someone who is qualified!

Now there is the catch, just because they have a certificate doesn't mean they actually know what they are doing or what they are doing is actually safe. Remember the kid who ended up with brain damage as a result of the "qualified and licenced" electrician turning the power on without testing it was actually wired up correctly. The bloke did loose his licence, but that didn't fix the brain of the kid that had it fried.

Some of the wiring I have seen in RV's that were signed off by licenced electricians has been breath taking to say the least. Clearly not to AS:3000 or AS:3001 standards yet signed off as passing the standards from the factory.

T1 Terry

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I have supplied power to houses .in one case .. Lamped out perfect AT BOARD . Licences sparkle crossed neutral and active !! Wire burnt off MEN link . Was like that for 6 months . So much for acredided sparkles !! What we have to be careful is giving advice . Someone makes a mistake !!! Why we go to Drs etc . Would you ask here for pimple on genitals etc ??

T1 Terry · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
I have supplied power to houses .in one case .. Lamped out perfect AT BOARD . Licences sparkle crossed neutral and active !! Wire burnt off MEN link . Was like that for 6 months . So much for acredided sparkles !! What we have to be careful is giving advice . Someone makes a mistake !!! Why we go to Drs etc . Would you ask here for pimple on genitals etc ??

Doctors have a practice, not a confidence builder is it, I'd prefer they had done their practicing before they gave them a licence to become a doctor. Maybe we should refer to licenced sparkies as have a practice as well wink

T1 Terry

blaze · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
I have supplied power to houses .in one case .. Lamped out perfect AT BOARD . Licences sparkle crossed neutral and active !! Wire burnt off MEN link . Was like that for 6 months . So much for acredided sparkles !! What we have to be careful is giving advice . Someone makes a mistake !!! Why we go to Drs etc . Would you ask here for pimple on genitals etc ??

Now you metion it Ak, I do have a pimple on my willie, what do I do

cheers

blaze

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

A knife . Cut it off !!

jegog · Senior Member

As an ex PMG tech, it isn't the 50VDC that gives you a belt it is when someone is dialling or the ring current which self-induce massive voltage spikes.
As for licensed electricians wiring up new houses on ?$ per house with their mates doing the inspections? They forget earths and even connect powerpoint to the unprotected electric oven circuit (electric oven elements are very leaky and usually trip the safety switches).