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  • 1300 968 551
  • Woolloomooloo, Sydney, NSW, 2011
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House Rewiring

Electrican Installations, Faulty Electrical Wiring, House Rewiring
Electrical fires causes and prevention, Fire Caused by Electricity Faulty Wiring

Fires Caused by Electricity & Faulty Electrical Wiring: Causes & Prevention

Safety 1st: Preventing Electrical Fires to Keep Your Family Safe It is sad to say that regular safety checks that can prevent electrical fires are done far too infrequently. This is often due to people being ill-informed or becoming complacent – “it will never happen to me.” Fires caused by electricity, such as because of faulty wiring can be devasting. Not only can homes be lost but so can lives. Prevention is paramount. The unfortunate thing is electrical items deteriorate over time. This is why it is critical to have regular testing of the electrical equipment protecting your house. Learning the common causes of fires and how you can go about preventing them are the first steps to protecting your family. Fires Caused By Electricity Account For Almost 40% of house fires in NSW Homes Faulty wiring and outdated electrical components in Australian homes are too common. The pictures at the top of this article are from jobs where we have undertaken safety checks. The clients were completely unaware of the dangers and thought their house was safe. After uncovering some extremely unsafe conditions they were prompted to upgrade switchboards and rewire. The scariest thing about these situations was that these electrical items were in full operation providing electricity to their home. Almost 40% of NSW homes in this very situation have had to call emergency services to attend their home for a fire(*1). It is very concerning to think there are a lot of homes still out there with these conditions. Every year, NSW firefighters attend around 1800 residential fires caused by faulty wiring or electrical faults(*1). Preventing Electrical Fires   The most sure-fire ways to prevent an electrical fire is to: Only work with licensed electricians – check your electrician is certified here. Have your home regularly inspected. Avoid overloading power points and power boards. Keep electrical components, cords and devices dry and away from moisture. Stay up-to-date on electrical appliance and device recalls. Electrical Installation Safety There are many elements to an electrical installation that make up a completely safe environment. The breakdown of these elements is what causes risks. At Lightspeed Electrical we have developed a safety checklist that incorporates Australian standards. Your safety and the safety of our team are the most important aspects of our job. We use the latest testing equipment to undertake tests and give our clients reports on each of the elements in the installation. The tests indicate either a pass or fail which we then use to bring everything up to Australian safety standards.  New Australian Legislation for Electrical Wiring (Wiring Rules) With approximately 30% of fatalities in NSW caused by preventable house fires, the release of this legislation for wiring was essential(*2,3). The new legislation came into effect on January 1st, 2019(*3). It is now mandatory for all circuits in a domestic setting of 32amps and under to have a residual current device (RCD) safety switch. I believe this should have been implemented years ago. RCDs save lives and it makes sense to have them on every circuit in the house. • Alex Schepis (Lightspeed Electrical owner and licensed residential, commercial, and industrial electrician). An Extra Layer of Prevention (and Safety): Arc Fault Detection Devices Of the many new rules introduced, a very interesting one was the introduction of AFDDs (arc fault detection devices). AFDDs had been around for a while although, before the new legislation, they were not readily available in Australia. What do AFFDs do? An AFDD adds an additional level of safety to prevent fires from starting from arcing. An example of arcing is when you switch a light switch on and off and there is a crackling sound. This is an arc and is a tell-tale sign that there is a breakdown in the switch somewhere. Arcing can happen for several reasons including(*4): • Loose connections. • Faulty equipment. • Deterioration of materials over time. • Accidental damage to leads and plugs e.g., being squashed or trapped. • Mistreated appliance cables e.g., plugs that are pulled by the cable and not the plug top. How do AFDDs Work? Arcs produce heat from bad connections known as ‘hot joints’ and this is what causes fires. AFDD’s detect this arc and automatically switches the circuit off to prevent the continuation of electricity that produces the build-up of heat(*4). Whilst not yet mandatory, AFFD’s are relatively cheap to have installed in the context of a home. That is not to mention the safety level these bring to your loved ones by identifying faulty materials and preventing fires. If you would like us to provide you with our specialised safety check, feel free to contact us on 1300 968 551 or via our contact page.   References *1. NSW Fire and Rescue. Common Home Fires. 2021. *2. Coates, L, Kaandorp, G, Harris, J, Van Leeuwen, J, Avci, A, Evans, J, George, S, Gissing, A, Van den Honert, R & Haynes, K. Preventable Residential Fire Fatalities in Australia July 2003 to June 2017. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. Report No. 506. 2019. *3. NSW Fair Trading. Electrical Standards, Rules and Notes. NSW Government. 2021. *4. Clipsal. ArcFault Detection Device. Schneider Electric Australia Pty Ltd. 2021.      

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House Rewiring, residential electrician sydney
Pool Lighting Electrician. Outdoor Landscape Lighting Electrician Installation, garden path lights.

7 Top Tips for Installing Outdoor Landscape Lighting Around Your Home

Design for Style & Security: From Garden Path Lighting to Pool Illumination Australia has amazing weather which is why we love finding ways to extend the ‘opening hours’ of our outside areas. Plus, landscape lighting helps to boost security and property values. There are outdoor lighting solutions for every scenario. When it comes to installing landscape lighting, you can install some yourself while others must be wired by an electrician. From quaint garden path lighting to underwater pool illumination, you are only limited by your imagination! Read on for some brilliant outdoor lighting tips. Installing Landscape Lighting First thing’s first, do you want to do the installation yourself or are you happy to bring in an electrician? There are pros and cons to doing it yourself and hiring a professional. Let’s take a look. DIY Landscape Lighting DIY landscape lighting is possible, but it has limits. The advantage is that it is normally portable so long as you can maintain access to power. The downside is that portable light systems do not have a long lifespan and can be easily damaged. Wired Landscape Lighting Hard wired lights (connected to your home’s electricity) are waterproof and protected from damage because they are underground. Although hiring an electrician is more expensive, the systems last a lot longer. Solar options are also available for wired outdoor lighting so you can stay on top of your energy costs. Wired lighting looks sleek because wiring and power sources are completely hidden(*1). Smart Outdoor Lighting Smart systems give you the freedom to: • Set timers and schedules. • Dim or brighten lights. • Easily switch systems on or off. Perhaps you would like your deck lights to turn on as you open your back door? Or maybe you have a party themed lighting program you would like to be able to easily flick on when guests arrive? You can also set your lights to turn on or off while you are out and about(*2). The options are endless! 7 Top Tips: Lighting From the Garden Path to the Pool If you are looking at your yard and wondering where you should start, these tips will help you with your plan. If lighting designs aren’t for you, some electricians, such as Lightspeed Electrical offer professional lighting designs. All you need to do is flick the switch after they have completed the design and installation and enjoy your new yard. • Decide what you want to achieve with your design, i.e., security, ambience, a certain mood, or style(*3). • Layer lighting types (without overdoing it)(*4). • Do not forget your hardscapes. Using up or down lighting on interest textures (such as brickwork) looks brilliant(*5). • Do you want an electrician to do the installation, or do you want to do it yourself? Knowing this in advance will ensure you choose fixtures that are suitable and can plan accordingly. If you are doing it yourself, how will you power the lights? • Conceal the lighting source (power cables, wires, solar panels) as much as possible. This keeps the design clean and free of clutter(*1). • Add some pops of colour to add interest. • Always consider how lighting may impact your neighbours and the local wildlife. Extend the opening hours of your outside areas with a beautiful lighting design. From the driveway and front entrance to garden paths, pools, decks, and enchanting gardens – lighting options are endless. References *1. Emerson, J. Lamps Plus Professionals. 2021. *2. Philips. Philips Hue: Smart Outdoor Lighting. 2021. *3. Lightspeed Electrical. Industrial & Commercial Lighting Designers & Electrical Installations. 2021. *4. Better Homes and Gardens. The Secrets to Fabulous Outdoor Lighting. 2016. *5. Architecture and Design. 10 Outdoor Lighting Designs. 2020.  

7 Top Tips for Installing Outdoor Landscape Lighting Around Your Home Read Post »

House Rewiring, Industrial Electrician
Rewiring House and Pool lights - Rewiring Whole House, Electrical rewire room by room, Electrician Rewire House

Replacing Electrical Wiring in House

Licenced & Insured Electricians for Electrical Rewiring of Your House Have Your Whole House Safely Rewired Room by Room Across Sydney When is rewiring of your whole house necessary? How do you find the right electrician? Rewiring houses and buildings increase safety, better support modern appliances and equipment and if you are selling, showing that the buyer does not need to budget a whole house rewire could be a great selling point. Rewire to increase: • Safety. • Efficiency. • The amount of money in your pocket. Rewiring before old and faulty wires cause damage will save you money. Be proactive with the electricity running through your home, office, or workplace. We recently completed a total rewire of a home in Marrickville that was without power. Scroll down to find out what had happened and how we got our clients back up and running. The best-case scenario if something goes wrong with old wiring is that the structure’s lights flicker on or off or the building loses power. The worst-case scenario – and one that is not uncommon, is preventable and tragic, is a fatality(*1). Complete Rewiring of Commercial and Industrial Buildings Rewiring does not stop with houses. All buildings, factories and warehouses must be regularly inspected and have rewiring completed when necessary. Even Buckingham Palace has had their old and dangerous Vulcanised Indian Rubber (VIR) wiring replaced!(*2). NB: The video of Buckingham Palace’s rewiring clearly shows VIR which may be helpful for people reading this blog. Video link: https://youtu.be/XH1sGlo3s2o When is Rewiring the Whole House Necessary? The first thing you should consider when working out if your house needs rewiring is when it was built. If it was built in the 1980s or earlier, it is definitely worth getting a licenced electrician to review the wiring. This is because: Newer types of wiring are safer and longer-lasting. The coating around old wiring degrades over time. This means that the wires may no longer be insulated. Some old installation methods placed wires on beams inside roof cavities. This means, if you or a tradesman need to go up into the roof, they could knock the wires or be electrocuted if they are worn(*1). If you are purchasing a property, ask the seller or real estate if there are any ‘certificates of compliance of electrical work’ available for you to view(*3). If there are, you will be able to clearly see what electrical installations and rewiring have and have not been done. How do You Find the Right Electrician? Experience: When researching electricians, be sure to check or ask if they have experience doing whole-house rewiring. Ask them questions about the process, how long they expect the job to take and what you can do to prepare the house before they arrive. Licencing: Electricians working on your property must be licenced(*4). You can ask them for their licence number and check it on the NSW Service website. Insured: Always ask your electrical contractor, if they hold insurance. Marrickville Home Without Power We were asked to inspect a property in Marrickville urgently, as the client had no power. Our team promptly went to investigate the property. Upon arrival, we noticed that the overhead power lines (providing mains power) were not intact where they entered the house. Upon speaking with the client, they informed us that electrical contractors were onsite the previous night working to rectify the problem. They did not reconnect the power to the house and informed the client they would need to find a local electrician to inspect and install new wiring where needed. Inspection Once inspected, it came to our attention that the cables were around 50 years old! The connections to the house were also ancient, which explained why there had been the incident. A Dangerous Combination The storm from the night before had made for the perfect conditions for water to get into the connections and cause them to explode. Providing a Solution We shared what we had found with the client and explained that it was no simple task of just re-joining the cables. They would have to be upgraded to today’s standards. We supplied a price that they were happy with and we started immediately. Getting the Job Done The old mains were pulled out, along with the outdated switchboard which uncovered more of the hazardous cable. During the rewiring process, we discovered this cable was running the power for the whole house. We replaced the old mains with new ones and had the client up and running with power by the end of the day. However, the worst was not yet over. We have a duty of care which we take very seriously to ensure all our clients are safe. In this situation, the cable running the house was not optimal for a safe environment. We undertook some mandatory testing, and unsurprisingly, the cables did not pass the tests. They were just waiting for a time to a fault – just like the mains to the house. The client agreed that it was best to replace the cables, and so that is what we did. Rewires of old houses are generally quite arduous. However, this required urgent attention once we discovered the horrific state of the cables. A Successful and Safe Completion We systematically went through replacing every cable, every light, switch, and PowerPoint. By the end of the project, the client had a completely new electrical installation. It was now safe for us to leave the premises knowing that everything was safe, secure and in perfect working order. Projects like this make us proud to be the electrician of choice for Sydney residents. Contact us today to have your house or business wiring looked at. References *1. Coroners Court of Victoria. Inquest Into the Death of David William Herbert Spence. File No. 801/2010. 2010. *2. The Royal Family. Rewiring Buckingham Palace. YouTube video. 2018. *3. NSW Fair Trading. Electrical Compliance Requirements. NSW Government. 20201. *4. Service NSW. Check a Builder or Tradesperson

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Electrican Installations, House Rewiring, News
Led downlight installation in recessed ceiling, installing downlights spotlights with no access above

LED Downlight Installation in Recessed Ceiling

LED Downlight Installation in Recessed Ceiling by a Local Electrician Lightspeed Electrical recently undertook a project consisting of a complete strip-out of all existing installed halogen downlight fittings, followed by the installation of LED downlights. There are many reasons why you should consider changing your lights to LED (Light-emitting Diode). Here are some of the main benefits: 1. Long Operational Life Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of LED lighting is its outstanding longevity. This type of lighting can last up to an incredible 100,000 hours – meaning it can be up to 20 years or longer before they need to be replaced. With continuous use (if they were never turned off), LEDs would last you around 11 years. At 50% operation, they would need to be replaced after 22 years. For typical usage – about 8 hours per day – it would be 20 years before a replacement was necessary. What makes LED lighting last so long? They work very differently from standard lighting – it’s not typical for LEDs to burn out like standard lightbulbs, and their power output is considerably lower. This also means… 2. LEDs are Exceptionally Energy Efficient If you’re considering installing downlights, you’ll be pleased to know that LEDs use very little energy when compared to the amount of light they provide. In comparison to traditional light bulbs, LED lighting provides an estimated 80-90% energy efficiency. In terms of electricity used, around 80% is converted into light, with only 20% lost in the form of heat and other types of energy. Essentially, LED lighting has an output of 80% light and 20% heat, whereas incandescent lighting is the opposite – the energy output of traditional lighting is 20% light and 80% heat. Let’s take a look at the figures in terms of your energy bill: If the lighting portion of your electricity bill was $100 when using traditional lighting, you’d be paying $80 to heat your room through your lightbulbs! Only $20 of your lighting bill would be used to light the same room. However, when using LED lighting, the same amount of light produced would only cost you $20 – while also saving you $80! This energy efficiency added to the long lifespan of LED lighting means you save an incredible amount of money in the long run. 3. LED Lighting is Environmentally Friendly Unlike traditional lighting, LED lights do not use toxic chemicals to work. Standard fluorescent lighting typically contains many chemicals and materials such as mercury, which is incredibly toxic to the environment. LED lighting is also 100% recyclable, which helps you to drastically reduce your overall carbon footprint. The longevity of LEDs can also contribute to a greener future as using them instead of incandescent lightbulbs reduced the need for producing less efficient traditional lightbulbs. 1 LED lightbulb can replace around 25 incandescent lightbulbs. So, when you’re installing LED downlights, you’re also saving the environment. 4. LEDs Are Incredibly Durable LEDs are made of highly durable components which makes them extremely rugged and able to withstand the roughest of conditions. They’re shock, vibration and impact-resistant, making them the ideal choice for outdoor lighting systems in a wide variety of situations. 5. Almost No UV Emissions Because LEDs produce very little infrared light and almost zero UV emissions, they are suitable for heat-sensitive goods, and for the illumination of UV-sensitive objects in a range of locations such as art galleries, museums and archaeological sites. 6. Flexible Lighting Design Due to their diverse nature, LEDs can be formed into any shape you can think of – making them a truly dynamic solution to a variety of illumination needs. Fantastic lighting effects can be achieved through well-designed LED lighting systems, with the ability to dynamically control colour, light and distribution of LEDs to create almost any effect you could ask for. Additionally, LED illumination can be used to create mood lighting, and the effect is already being used in classrooms, aeroplanes, and countless other locations. The use of LEDs for mood lighting is expected to be seen throughout our daily lives in only a matter of years. 7. LEDs Can Withstand Extreme Temperatures While fluorescent lighting can be affected by low temperatures, LEDs are considerably more resilient to both extreme cold and heat. This makes them ideal for a variety of settings such as freezer rooms, outdoor winter settings, and so on. 8. Focused Dispersement of Light Much higher efficiency of application can be achieved with LED lighting compared to traditional lighting. Light can be directed to and focused on a specific location without the need for external reflectors, resulting in much higher efficiency of the application. 9. Instant Light and Frequent Switching Many traditional lighting systems take a moment to ‘warm up’ before they are fully operational – but not so with LEDs. LED lighting is immediately fully operational the moment it is switched on, making it the ideal solution for many infrastructure lighting systems such as signal and traffic lights. Also, unlike traditional lighting that is affected by frequent on and off switching, the lifespan and effectiveness of LEDs are unaffected by such frequent switching. 10. LEDs Can be Run on Low-Voltage Power Supplies As LED illumination only requires a low-voltage power supply to run, they are great for use in outdoor settings, such as situations where solar energy is chosen or even necessary.

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