Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jul 19, 2011 3:03 pm I am have some problems with the power tripping in my house. I am only renting, but I am looking for any legal document or standards that state the minimum number of required circuits from the fuse box for a house. All the power points in the house are on the same circuit, as all the lights are on 1 circuit. But i have unfortunately found, if i trip one power point the power to the whole house is blacked out. I have looked at the fuse box and it is a late 1950's fuse box with a recent saftyswitch installed. There is also a pre 1950's rusty fuse box as well, but i believe that is disconnected On the fuse box i have the old type wire fuses, there is 1 large Power fuse, 1 small Lights fuse and 3 small blank fuses. It is a 3 and a half Bedroom house with kitchen, lounge and laundry. Can anyone give me some links to regulation documents. Thanks Linrox Re: Minimum Circuits 2Jul 19, 2011 3:09 pm Hi Linrox, What state are you in? Here's a link for the RCD requirements in WA http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/EnergySaf ... _laws.html - it may put you on the right track to finding the applicable documents you need? Re: Minimum Circuits 5Jul 19, 2011 8:38 pm I may be wrong, but my understanding is that you'd currently have 2 circuits on only one safety switch (or RCD), if it trips everything at once. It looks like you only need one safety switch in qld http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and- ... ommodation Re: Minimum Circuits 6Jul 20, 2011 8:16 am Thanks for the link, I guess there's nothing i can do about the rcd being tripped as all the power points are on the same circuit. But if anyone has any suggestions, i would appreciate it I'm already being careful which appliances are on at the same time. Is it expensive to add a circuit? thanks Linrox Re: Minimum Circuits 7Jul 21, 2011 12:38 am Linrox Thanks for the link, I guess there's nothing i can do about the rcd being tripped as all the power points are on the same circuit. But if anyone has any suggestions, i would appreciate it I'm already being careful which appliances are on at the same time. Is it expensive to add a circuit? thanks Linrox The legislation in WA has just changed and all owners of WA houses now have to upgrade to 2 RCD's if they didn't already have two, so I put the extra one in my property about a year ago and it was about $300 from memory. Re: Minimum Circuits 8Jul 21, 2011 12:20 pm Hi, The applicable standard is AS/NZS 3018 - Electrical Installations - Domestic Installations. This standard specifies in clause 6.6.3: Quote: A minimum of two circuits shall be provided to supply 10 A socket-outlets. NOTE: Consideration should be given to the use of 10 A socket-outlets when arranging circuits and where practicable 10 A socket-outlets in laundries and kitchens should be connected over two circuits. This standard would apply to any house wired today. I am not sure at what point an older house would need to be brought into compliance - probably only if it was re-wired or substantial changes were made to the electrics. Paul Re: Minimum Circuits 10Jul 22, 2011 3:03 pm What you'll find is that most homes of that era only had one power and one lighting circuit, at that time most load in the house was for a few items unlike todays load requirements. A good example of this is my Aunties house which was built in 1955 with one power circuit, this was before TV was introduced into Australia and a good 20-odd years before the microwave oven. Water was boiled on the gas stove, not in an electric jug and the toaster was an item with a 1000 watt element, roughly half of todays average toaster. so the single 16 amp power circuit worked well. Admittedly there comes a time where demand is larger than the supply so an upgrade is needed, as you rent the house there are only two ways this will get done-the landlord forking out for the upgrade of they see it to be needed or the whole switchboard fails in a spectacular fashion warranting replacement. Re: Minimum Circuits 11Jul 22, 2011 4:19 pm I don't think either of those events will happen any time soon. I think the only way it will happen is for me to pay for it. I have also wondered lately how much of a fire hazard this is, considering the load of today verses the designed load back in the 1950's I know for most renters the idea of paying for changes in the house is not an option, after all it's lost money (for that matter so is rent) But when the landlord has no interest in updating anything in the house unless he is forced, you kind of run out of options. Unfortunately it is not bad enough to be a fire risk. Thanks for your help Linrox My land is 260m2 (10m x 26m) located in claymore NSW. Under campbelltown council. I know in general the following setbacks would apply ground floor side setback =… 0 7009 Hi, only for walking. It is a narrow 1.5m paved area next to house. 2 5491 Thanks Draftroom that definitely helps a heap. We are still at the very early stage of planning to see what kind of house would fit on our plot. While we are on a… 3 15787 |