LED lighting and controls for energy-efficient homes
A fitting is only as efficient as the driver, dimmer and ceiling it sits in. This guide sets out how those parts fit together and which control belongs in which room.
11 min read
Topic
Electrical
Articles and news about Electrical for Australian builders.
LED lighting and controls for energy-efficient homes
A fitting is only as efficient as the driver, dimmer and ceiling it sits in. This guide sets out how those parts fit together and which control belongs in which room.
11 min read
Choosing a location for the solar inverter and its cable runs
The inverter has to live on the building for many years, and where it goes decides how it runs, how it gets serviced and how the cables reach it.
12 min read
Smoke alarms in renovations and alterations: what NSW builders must do
A kitchen or bathroom job can bring the smoke alarms for the whole home into scope. This article sets out which areas the upgrade reaches, how the alarms must be powered and connected, and what belongs in the handover file.
11 min read
Working near overhead powerlines: safe approach distances and load movement
Overhead line contact is one of the few site hazards that can kill the operator and the spotter in the same moment. The control is planned load movement, not vigilance.
11 min read
Smart home wiring in new builds: data cabling, Wi-Fi, conduits and what clients actually use
Clients expect fast internet in every room, smart lighting and energy controls, and a house ready for whatever comes next. The cheapest time to deliver that is before the plasterboard goes on. Here is what to plan.
8 min read
CCEWs for like-for-like swaps: Building Commission NSW clarifies when electricians must certify
A new advisory note from Building Commission NSW confirms that swapping a hot water system, oven, cooktop or power point like-for-like still needs a certificate of compliance for electrical work, lodged within 7 days of finishing.
6 min read
Electrical safety on building sites: temporary power, RCDs, leads, and buried and overhead services
Electric shock remains a real risk on building sites, from damaged leads and missing RCDs to excavators hitting buried cables and booms touching overhead lines. The controls are well known and cheap. Here they are.
7 min read
Electrical load management in an all-electric home: planning the switchboard and circuits
A fully electrified home concentrates cooking, heating, hot water and vehicle charging onto one switchboard. Getting the load plan right at design stage is cheaper than rebuilding it after handover.
10 min read
Induction cooktop electrical requirements for builders
Induction cooktops change the electrical load and coordination demands of a kitchen. This article explains what builders need to check and document.
12 min read
EV charger rough-in: planning the circuit and the load before the plaster goes on
The cheapest time to work out where an EV charger goes, and whether the supply can carry it, is before the walls are sheeted. Retro-fitting the circuit later costs more, and often ends in a switchboard upgrade that was avoidable at design stage.
11 min read
Smart home rough-in: wiring decisions before the lining goes on
Every smart home decision you can still make cheaply is made before the plasterboard goes on. After lining, the same change becomes a variation, a patch-up and a delay.
10 min read
Home battery installation: what builders need to coordinate
A home battery is not just an electrician’s job. The builder controls access, isolation, structural fixings and the paper trail that keeps the certificate valid.
12 min read