Prevent Home Electrical Fires
Inadequate electrical capacity is mainly due to increasing the number of devices that consume electricity in your home like new heating and cooling equipment, frost free refrigerators, clothes dryers, water heaters, electric ranges and ovens, dishwashers, and other powerful electric motor driven tools and appliances.
As you add devices to your home, the power supply may become inadequate. If you have indicators like fuses or circuit breakers tripping, or lights dimming, its time to carefully look at your circumstances before equipment failure, fire, or other problems arise.
5 things you really need to know
1. Limited Switchboard Capacity
When the overall demand from total electrical devices is greater than what the switchboard is able to supply, the main switchboard will likely fail frequently. Excess demand indicates that the switchboard rating is less than needed or the switchboard might have limited capacity because it has no space to replace your old fuses with the new RCD safety switches or circuit breakers.
In either case its time to calculate demand and compare it with the capacity of the main switchboard supply. If you find the power demand is less than the capacity and there is no room for more breakers, than a sub-board might be the answer. Conversely, if the overall demand is greater than the main switchboard ability to supply, then you will need a licensed electrician to install a new main switchboard. In either case a licensed electrician can help you make the appropriate choice.
2. Overloaded circuits
It is important to note peak demands of appliances that may draw more power on starting and create a power surge that trips the breaker.
A power surge that doesn’t trip the breaker is indicated by lights dimming when an appliance turns on. Appliances that produce surges should have their own separate circuit designed to tolerate the surge.
To prevent the risk of fire do not exceed the safe amperage of the circuit. Blown fuses or tripped breakers indicate an overloaded circuit. Do not replace breakers with ones of higher amperage just because they fail. Instead run a new circuit from the main panel that is within the supply capacity.
3. Insufficient number of power points
A general recommendation is to have at least one power point in every corner of a large room, 2 powerpoints for each countertop in the kitchen, 2 power points on either side of the main bed plus one directly across the bed in the main bedroom. Double power points for each of the food preparation counter tops in the kitchen.
The most obvious indicator that more power points are needed is when you start to use power board extension cords on a regular or permanent basis. Most low cost extension cords are not designed to carry heavy amperage demanded of permanent wiring. Excess loads may cause overheating and fire.
Computer workstations can require outlets for more than two devices from a single dual receptacle wall circuit. Older CRT monitors and laser printers can cause surges when they are turned on. The best solution is to supply the required outlets on separate circuit(s) designed to exceed the demand. The next best option is to use a fused and surge protected uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to protect your equipment. UPS are now available for less than $100 and can protect your computer investment from power problems better than anything else. The less expensive power bars and extension cords run risks of equipment damage or fires if the circuit is overloaded.
4. Maintenance of Existing Installations
It is very important, particularly where the installation is very old or deteriorated, resulting in loose or poor connections which can cause heat to develop, failed insulation or high risk of private aerial mains (this is the power line from the street to your home) starting bush fires etc. That regular checks be carried out, this could be as simple as looking up and inspecting the power lines that go from the pole on the street to the connections in your house. For overhead connections, the point of attachment including exposed mains that are often prone to ultraviolet degradation. Where there are private Poles then the structural integrity of private Poles. Old hinged wooden switchboards and obsolete service fuses. Where the services are underground then old underground service termination boxes and old overhead mains connection boxes.
200-400 Amp Service Fuse cabinets are deemed obsolete and should be replaced at every opportunity.
It is also recommended that periodic operational checks be carried out of Residual Current Devices (RCDs) (safety switches) and circuit breakers (where installed), in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and Australian Standards. As an approximate guide, circuit breakers should be checked every two years and RCDs every six months.
Note: Any identified potential safety hazards associated with your electricity provider’s service mains, including fittings should be immediately referred to your supplier to enable any necessary repairs to be carried out.
5. Ensure the use of licensed electricians
When working on a tight budget you might be tempted to go for the cheapest quote. The cheapest quote might turn out to be the most expensive in the end if anything goes wrong. Licensed companies ensure they keep up with all their legal requirements including all insurance premiums and the latest safety requirements. Ensuring that the tradesman you use to do your work is registered and properly trained, especially when dealing with electricity is the best way to ensure your family’s safety, remember, in the end you get what you pay for.
Nowadays it is very easy to check licenses and registrations online. There are a number of websites to check licenses including Fair Trading NSW
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Home_building_licence_check.page
It might also be wise to check the currency of the company’s ABN registration details via Australia.gov.au – ABN lookup
http://abr.business.gov.au