Answering all your electrical questions

Real Answers From Real Electricians! We are answering all of our most asked electrical questions.

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Why hire a professional electrician? 

Doing any electrical work yourself or by an unqualified person is dangerous and illegal. This may result in voided insurance, property damage, injury and potentially death. For this reason, it is essential to hire a professional electrician for residential work to ensure the quality and safety of work. The only electrical job that can be safely performed at home is changing a light bulb.

 Unless you are a qualified electrician, you should never attempt to:

• Wire any part of your property

• Install, replace or move power points

• Install, replace or move lights and switches

• Install or replace ceiling fans

• carry out any electrical maintenance task

Hiring a professional electrician will always be safer than using a friend with electrical experience. Due to the potential hazards that may be present for your family and the voiding of insurance and warranty.

Read our article for an in-depth look into “Why should I hire a professional?”

Can an electrician move the electric meter?

Yes, a licensed and experienced electrician can move an electric meter. This will ensure that all legal regulations are followed, and the installation will be safe and not result in electrical faults.

Meter Boxes may need to be re-located and upgraded for several reasons. Such as home renovation or damage to the system.

Can an electrician install an EV (Electric Vehicle) charger?

Installation of an EVSE must be completed by a licensed and experienced Electrician.  To achieve the best installation, the technician should attend to your home and inspect and understand the existing electrical system. The placement of the charger is also crucial to its practicality.

The onsite Electrician will determine If there is the capacity to install the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Charging Station) with the existing electrical power demand for the home, where is the practical location for the EVSE to be placed and provide you pricing in writing as well as details on the workmanship and product warranties.

 Read our homeowners guide to installing electric vehicle charging in Australia  

Will an electrician install a ceiling fan?

Any qualified electrician is capable of installing and repairing ceiling fans. If you are looking for a new ceiling fan, want to upgrade your current one to have a light and remote or need some repairs to your current ceiling fan. 

What are the benefits of installing a ceiling fan?

Due to their positioning and size, ceiling fans provide better air circulation than standard box fans or stand fans, and take up less space too. Conventional desk and standing fans generally have a more directional narrow output by comparison making them less efficient to use in larger spaces.

Installing a ceiling fan is energy and cost-efficient. A ceiling fan allows your home to stop using an expensive heater and air conditioning system. if you’re looking for a ceiling fan with lights, we can help you make the switch to the more cost-effective option of LED lights now. A ceiling fan can enhance the look and feel of your home.

Will an electrician install an air conditioning unit?

An air conditioning unit is best installed by an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Technician as they hold a refrigeration license and are experienced in installation and repair.

What to consider when choosing an Electrician

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an electrician. Many tradesmen will take advantage of naive customers. To prevent yourself from falling into that trap, use the following guide to vet your tradesman.

The golden rule is to only work with electricians that treat you and your home with respect.

Respect

As a sign of professionalism and respect, an electrician should never use a client’s bathroom, track dirt or mud through the home, spit or smoke on your property. These are warning signs that you are dealing with an unprofessional electrician. A quality tradesman will call ahead and arrive looking clean and presentable.

Cost

The cost of your tradesmen is also an indicator of their ability and quality of work. Many people are tempted by the cheapest quote they receive. However, this often results in cheap materials being used and corners being cut. As a result, your home will suffer additional damage or hazards.

Google

The use of Google is a great metric to understand the tradesman and company you are hiring. Each business should have a Google Business page. This adds authentication to their business.

Google reviews are the holy grail of business accountability. Reading reviews will tell you exactly what the majority of customers experience when working with a business. If the review score is below 4 stars, that is a major red flag. Whereas if the Google business page has frequent reviews and is rated above 4 stars, this is a good sign.

Certification

You can check a tradesman’s licence at any time. Objections to this request should immediately raise red flags. All tradesmen carry their licence on their person while working; this can also be verified by searching the number or tradesman’s name online through the Australian government’s state service website. It is important to ensure they are qualified for the classes of work being performed. Also, ensure the electrician has a guarantee for their work.

Ethics

Before any work takes place, ask for an estimate. No job should take place without having an understanding of its pricing. Get an in-person evaluation and quote, don’t accept any quotes over the phone.

How could a professional price a job that they have not seen?

This will commonly result in an inaccurate quote. When the tradesman is in your home, they should communicate with you before and after they perform their service, making sure every aspect is understood by both parties.

Who does electrical work near me?

If you are located in greater Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide Service Today can provide you with any electrical service you may require.

We have been servicing these local areas for over a decade in all things plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling. Electrical Questions

Call us or book online today. See for yourself why thousands of Australians have given Service Today their 5-star tick of approval!

 

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from Service Today https://www.servicetoday.com.au/blog/answering-all-your-electrical-questions/

Homeowner's Guide to Installing Electric Vehicle Charging

 

 

Electric vehicle (specifically electric car) popularity in Australia continues to grow at a fast pace. Sales of new electric cars totaling 20655 units through 2021 up from 6900 during 2020, according to the AFR.  

With Australia’s uptake of new technology, homeowners are starting to ask how they can upgrade their homes to support Electric vehicle charging and how much is costs to install and operate.

We have put together a list of general questions to help homeowners understand the requirements and costs of installing a personal Electric Vehicle charging station. 

There is an upfront cost in moving to an Electric Vehicle for buyers.

However, with Installer Finance options and savings on fuel and maintenance, an Electric Vehicle can show substantial savings when compared to a conventional vehicle financially and environmentally.

 

DO ELECTRIC VEHICLES NEED A COMMERCIAL / THREE-PHASE POWER SUPPLY?

Not all houses in Australia possess 3 Phase power, if your property does not you may be able to arrange for it to be installed. 

This is by far the best way to quickly charge your Electric Vehicle (EV) if you drive each day you will want to replenish it as quickly as possible through fast charging.  

The vast majority of single electric vehicle homes will not require three-phase power.

Newer EVs have larger battery packs and can make use of load sharing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) car apps, and EVSE phone apps, which will enable hassle-free charging without the need to install three-phase power.

As an example of the evolution of the EVs themselves, a new Hyundai Kona electric on a single-phase 32A (7kW) will be fully charged and ready to go in approximately 9 hours. No question having three-phase power will assist to charge your EV faster.

Though unless you have an additional need for three-phase power in the home such as a very large air conditioning system the costs of upgrading outweigh the benefits for the EV owner.

 

HOW MUCH DO ELECTRIC VEHICLE HOME CHARGING STATIONS COST TO INSTALL?

The cost to install an electric car charging station varies depending on several factors:  

• The size and type of home
• How old the building is
• If there’s an existing power supply
• where the charger will be installed 
• Installation of Solar Panels and Electrical Storage Batteries.

Installation of the most basic of Mode 2 EV Chargers that are supplied with the car can be connected to a standard wall plug and used for charging, with no installation costs.

Although simple, the Mode 2 Charger is very slow and will not fully charge an EV Battery from Flat to Full overnight.  

The best place for homeowners to connect their electric vehicles chargers are in the garage.

Adding and connecting solar and battery systems among other factors may increase the complexity and the cost of the installation.

Regardless of the type of installation that you choose it is imperative to have a quality installer complete the work for you.  

Correctly installing the EVSE protects the home from fire and other risks that poor quality electrical work can cause, as well as protecting your new EV from damaging the converter, batteries and electrical circuitry of the vehicle.

 

IS A QUALIFIED INSTALLER REQUIRED FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION (EVSE)?

Installation of an EVSE at home must be completed by a licensed and experienced Electrician. To achieve the best installation, the technician should attend your home, inspect and understand the existing electrical system.

If there is the capacity to install the EVSE with the existing electrical power demand for the home, where the practical location for the EVSE to be placed and provide you pricing in writing as well as details on the workmanship and product warranties.

It is important to understand the installation Electricians experience with EVSE’s. Depending on the type of EV you are planning to buy, there are subtle configurations and set-up requirements that can vary.  

An experienced Electrician will set up your EVSE so that your car charges efficiently as possible.

 

HOW MUCH DOES CHARGING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT HOME COST?

The price of charging an electric vehicle at home currently costs between $0.15 and $0.30 per kWh, which is about half the cost of a level three-public charging station which ranges from $0.30 and $0.60 per kWh.  

Charging at home has a cost for small EVs between $7.00 and $15.00 and longer-range electric vehicles $11.00 and $25.00 for a full charge.  

A fully charged small EV can travel up to 350 KM, about the average distance Australian drives each week.

EV’s offer great value on a per KM basis compared to conventional vehicles with weekly costs up to half that of a conventional motor vehicle.  

The final statistic to consider when thinking about fitting your home to charge electric vehicles is the improved value to your property. 

In 2021 76% of homes sold in Australia with an EVSE installed achieved a higher than expected sale price to comparable properties in their area without an EVSE fitted.

 

What Electric cars are available in Australia?

There are many Electric Vehicle manufacturers in the market nowadays and as most of us probably know, made popular by TESLA MOTORS they were founded in 2003.

Tesla began production of its first car, the Roadster sports car in 2009 followed by the Model S sedan in 2012 then the Model XSUV in 2015. 

The Model 3 sedan began production in 2017 and the Model Y Crossover in 2020. 

The Model 3 is the all-time best selling plug-in electric car worldwide and in June 2021 became the first Electric car to sell 1 million units globally! 

Having sold 15000 units in Australia which accounts for over 62% of all Electric Vehicles sold. The next closest competitor was the MG ZS with almost 1400 units sold. 

As Electric Vehicles become more popular here in Australia more and more car manufacturers are bringing out fully electric vehicles the list is almost endless!

Tesla   Audi  Mercedes  Hyundai  Nissan  Mazda  BMW  Toyota  Volvo  Honda

Peugeot  Volkswagen  Range Rover

 

Summary

Overall, the convenience of having an EVSE installed at home, coupled with faster charging times, lower costs, better protection of the EV battery and the general compatibility of an EVSE across models.

For anyone considering purchasing an EV now or in the future we believe that you should install an EVSE for your home and maximise the benefits of Electric Vehicles. 

If you need a callout, inspection and quote for your Electric Vehicle Charging Station installation contact Service Today.

Book online here to receive $50 off installation.

If you are looking for an experienced electrician in Adelaide, or surrounding areas including Edwardstown, Craigmore, Prospect, Magill & Henley Beach, call 1300 859 383.