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Thread: Any sparkies in the house?

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    LSemmens
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    Default Any sparkies in the house?

    I've just been looking at the electrical loads in my home. The Master Bedroom alone has up to 20 things plugged into the mains. How many power recepticals (power points) does the standard (AS 3000 - IIRC) permit on one circuit?

    I may have to re-wire my house, at this rate.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...



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    The number of things plugged in is irrelevant, it's all about the current they draw.
    If each of these items are on at the same time and draw a total of 20 Amps (5KW), yes you need a separate circuit for the bedroom.

    Tell the missus not to use all her toys at the same time.
    Last edited by Reschs; 23-11-19 at 11:10 PM.

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    I am well aware of the requirements re-current draw and all that. I do, however recall somewhere many years ago that there was a limit as to the number of power points that you could legally put on one circuit. (I'm thinking back to the bad ole days of fuses and such). Back then, houses were fairly lightly loaded, electrically, but now, just about everything requires a power supply of sorts. I'm not about to spend $200 odd bucks on the Australian Standard when someone who works with it every day should be able to tell me what one line says.

    If I am up for a re-wire, I intend to specify that I want a separate breaker for just about every room in the house, which, of course then raises another point. RCD's are required but how many circuits are they rated for. I know, a sparky could work all that out for me, but I'd like to know what I'm likely to be up for before I even start.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    Combination RCD/MCB are the go these days...
    That way you have more earth leakage headroom

    Yes, u r correct, years ago there was a number given for how many doubles and singles per circuit.
    That changed when circuit breakers came in.... But it got revised a few times.

    It more comes down the cable being used, it's current de-rating factor.
    And then the correct sized MCB for that.

    So you generally end up with a 16A MCB/RCD protecting a 2.5mm circuit.
    And you can do the math from there.

    IE: Split the kitchen over 3 circuits, the laundry on another, the rest are generally lightly loaded.

    You will find AS3000 copies online for free
    There are also Electrical Forums for Australia, with young kids really keeping up with the times.

    My view is, if u have 20 things plugged in, in the bedroom, you must have 10 double power points in there.... WOW!
    Last edited by ol' boy; 24-11-19 at 07:58 AM.
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    Yes, it sounds bad with 20 things plugged in. I shall expand. SWMBO is largely bedridden so I've set up all and sundry to make her life bearable.

    1. Electric lift bed 2 & 3. double electric blanket 4. lamp next to bed 5. TV 6. TIVO 7. Home Phone (cordless charger) 8. iPad Charger 9. IPhone Charger 10. charger for Fitbit 11. charger for "find me" watch 12. Laptop 13. Electric lift recliner 14. wall heater 15 & 16 two lamps on the dressing table

    now to my stuff

    17. My Laptop. 18. Phone Charger 19. Electric blanket (not usually plugged in) 20. Bedside lamp

    I'm sure I've missed some stuff but.... As you can see, much of it is low current stuff plugged into 4 and 6 way power boards but I am seriously considering trying to tidy it up.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    You need a Sub-Board in your bedroom mate ;-)
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    you could start eliminating the phone - ipad chargers
    straight away by installing the usb power points



    change lamps over to led models so swfa power draw

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    Move next to the snowy river scheme all ok them , no problems

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    Thanks fellers, I am certainly going to replace at least one power point with a usb enabled one. Many of the lamps are LED, anyway. I know current drawer is SFA, but am unsure of the legalities of, say 10 or more power sockets on once breaker. We use enough of those power boards as it is. I'm surprised that there are not more overloaded circuits because of these devices anyway.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    What is the current rating of the circuit protect device you have now?
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Wouldn't be too concerned about it. You know the current draw is irrelevant, anyone that comes in and sees things plugged in will be more interested in your wife's health needs not whether you have 3 plug packs too many in the wall. Aside from being low draw, many aren't even going to be used the majority of the time and highly intermittent.

    When I was younger I used to produce and edit Videos. I had 30 things plugged into a double power point. Same thing, a lot of plugpacks, few small Monitor type TV's, 80% of it not used at any given time. I remember my grandmother whom I lived with being so concerned she called in an electrician to check it all. He looked, laughed, explained to my grand mother what I had said and pointed out the small radiator she had on another power point was a far bigger load than everything I had put together. Was kind enough not to charge her for the call-out in Leiu of a cup of tea.

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    Quote Originally Posted by george65 View Post
    Wouldn't be too concerned about it. You know the current draw is irrelevant, anyone that comes in and sees things plugged in will be more interested in your wife's health needs not whether you have 3 plug packs too many in the wall. Aside from being low draw, many aren't even going to be used the majority of the time and highly intermittent.

    When I was younger I used to produce and edit Videos. I had 30 things plugged into a double power point. Same thing, a lot of plugpacks, few small Monitor type TV's, 80% of it not used at any given time. I remember my grandmother whom I lived with being so concerned she called in an electrician to check it all. He looked, laughed, explained to my grand mother what I had said and pointed out the small radiator she had on another power point was a far bigger load than everything I had put together. Was kind enough not to charge her for the call-out in Leiu of a cup of tea.
    Same here in my Main TV room I have one lead through a power conditioner/UPS that supplies at least 25 Double Power behind two cabinets (left and Right + each cabinet has a a P/P with a main switch in the middle) for all my decoders + TV's and other. I made it this way for STORMS and the Maximum current drawn with everything on is around 2000W and thats around what a large single heater bar uses today.
    Yes all have very light loads.
    Last edited by Mr 672A; 25-11-19 at 10:17 AM.

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    Thanks guys, your thinking is as my own. I was really looking at the "legalities" as opposed to the practicalities.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    Quote Originally Posted by lsemmens View Post
    Thanks guys, your thinking is as my own. I was really looking at the "legalities" as opposed to the practicalities.
    I just Googled it, answer on first page
    Not sure how you didn't find the same results?

    Australian Standard AS3000-2007, you can have an unlimited number of outlets on a circuit that is protected by an RCD.

    Table C8 it gives guidance to the calculated maximum demand contribution of each point... But as it states this is guidance only.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 25-11-19 at 01:45 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Thanks mate, that's what I was looking for. I did do a search and all I got was links to purchase a copy of the standard for about $200.

    Edit: I just did another search and eventually found a free copy of the standard. It was not readily available, though.
    Last edited by lsemmens; 25-11-19 at 08:19 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by ol' boy View Post
    I just Googled it, answer on first page
    Not sure how you didn't find the same results?


    Table C8 it gives guidance to the calculated maximum demand contribution of each point... But as it states this is guidance only.
    Always thought it was 10 amp per outlet max and 15A total circuit loading for a standard 2,5 wired circuit generally with a 16A breaker.

    I miss my old place. Everything had it's own circuit. 27 of them in total. As a sparky mate told me the place is Illegal because it has the capacity to draw more than the tap off the pole can supply. House will be OK but the pole will be on fire.

    Here I have to think about and watch things. Pain in the arse.

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    Most of the things plugged into outlets these days are low demand except for things that have heating elements like cooking appliances (kettle, toaster, frypan, coffee brewer etc) or portable (non-fixed) radiators. I know my kitchen circuit is pushing it with toaster & kettle going and the frypan thermostat cuts in which must be within a whisker of tripping that breaker. Need to police the place in winter to be sure the number, size and settings of heaters on any single circuit add up to a reasonable figure to avoid tripping a breaker. It's not hard to work out but hardly anyone takes any notice of such things when plugging devices in until there's a shutdown.

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    Geez. I go to the bedroom to sleep.
    Twin electric blanket, two table lamps and clock radio.

    I understand your wife's situation but, that is is more like an entertainment centre than a bedroom.

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    Sai Global is an absolute ripoff that's why there is a 2018 un-expiring version of the rules here
    Cheers
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reschs View Post
    Geez. I go to the bedroom to sleep.
    Twin electric blanket, two table lamps and clock radio.
    Just buy a proper good doona
    You'll never need an electric blanket again!!!!
    Nor do i think they are great idea anyway

    The Doona would pay for itself in 1 year
    And less items to plug in
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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