Frequently Asked Questions

The main electrical switchboard is an important component to distributing power throughout your home or workplace. Old style switchboards were built using porcelain/ ceramic fuses with rewirable fuse elements. The old style switchboard does not comply with current electrical Australian Standards and is dangerous for many reasons as follows:

• If a porcelain fuse is removed from its fuse holder base, on an electrical switchboard, and not replaced then live terminals are exposed leading to potential electric shock of the consumer(s);
• If a porcelain fuse is rewired with a larger gauge than recommended fuse element then this will cause the protected wiring system to now become unprotected causing possible overheating of wiring leading to potential costly damage to wiring system, fire destruction, injury and threatening lives of the consumer(s);
• If porcelain fuse contacts are damaged or are improperly in contact with the contacts on the fuse holder base then this would cause arcing between contacts under load current causing heat stress to the contacts which pass through to the connected wiring system potentially causing costly damage to the wiring system, fire destruction, injury and threatening lives of the consumer(s).

It is important the old porcelain fuse switchboards are replaced to overcome all of the issues specified above. The benefits to upgrading the old porcelain fuse switchboard, to a new modern day switchboard, are numerous yet the main benefit is to ensure the safety of the consumer(s).

A typical new modern day switchboard comprises of circuit breakers and safety switches.

• A circuit breaker’s sole purpose is to protect a wiring system from overcurrent which prevents cable damage and fire risk which over all protects the consumer’s premise from destruction and the consumer(s) from injury.
• A safety switch’s sole purpose is to protect the consumer(s) from residual current which help prevent electric shock to the consumer(s).

So the benefits and reasons to why new modern day switchboards are safer compared to the old porcelain fuse breaker switchboards are as follows;

• Circuit breakers and safety switches are fixed into position, not removable like the old porcelain fuses were, preventing live terminals from becoming exposed;
• Circuit breakers have fixed current ratings, unlike the old porcelain fuses, so that when an overcurrent occurs the circuit breaker will trip (switch to off) instead of “blow a fuse”, preventing to having to replace the fuse element at any time such a thing happens.
• Safety switches are much easier incorporated;
• New circuits are much easier incorporated;

For a switchboard upgrade contact Proelement today.

“Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the independent technical regulator responsible for electricity, gas and pipeline safety in Victoria.” – ESV

If you have checked to see that all the circuit breakers and safety switches in your switchboard are in the “on” position and you have no power to any of the points in your home but have realised that your neighbours do, then it is highly likely there is a phase power outage (if you have a single phase installation).

To confirm the power outage, contact your power supply distributor and query them on the power supply to your address.

For further assistance contact Proelement.

Depending on the type of installation you have there are a number of variables to determine why you may not have power to a section of your house.

A circuit breaker will shut off power to a section of your home when triggered. If a short circuit has occurred then it is more than likely a circuit breaker has tripped “off” in your switchboard and is causing the issue. Determine what has caused the short circuit. If it is an appliance then the appliance will have to be safely disconnected. Only after a short circuit has been removed can a circuit breaker be then reset to re-energise the circuit.

A safety switch will shut off power to a section of your home when triggered. If a leakage of current has occurred then it is highly likely a safety switch has tripped “off” in your switchboard. Again determine what has caused the leakage. If it is an appliance then the appliance will have to be safely disconnected. Only after the issue has been resolved can a safety switch be then reset to re-energise the related protected circuits.

A phase power outage will cause power to be shut off to a section of your home in a multiphase installation (2 phase powered or 3 phase powered homes) or will completely shut off power to your home in a single phase installation. You will generally only know if this is the case if all your circuit breakers and safety switches have not tripped and have maintained to be in the “on’” position. You may find your neighbours (generally every third) will still have power if only one phase has lost power. You will not know this for sure unless you contact your power supply company.

For further assistance, contact Proelement.

Depending on the types of downlights used in your installation, the conventional low voltage downlight is made of 3 components that make a downlight illuminate.

• The Transformer: which steps down the voltage from 240V to 12V to make the 12V lamp operate;
• The lamp holder: which connects the lamp to the transformer;
• The lamp: which illuminates to provide light.

If you have found that changing the lamp/globe in your downlight does not solve the problem then it could be a worn out lamp holder or transformer causing the problem.

If you have downlights needing repair, contact Proelement.

There are a few causes of light globes frequently blowing.

• The first and simplest way of troubleshooting the issue is to consider the quality of the light globes purchased and used. Different brands offer different products which are manufactured in different ways. A general rule of thumb is that a light globe manufactured with good quality parts are going to be more expensive but longer lasting, and a light globe manufactured with poor quality parts are going to be less expensive and not last as long. Therefore a trial of different brands of the same type of globe would be a good way to see if it is the reason why your lights keep blowing.
• Over voltage can also be the issue to your light globes blowing. Depending on where you are situated in your neighbourhood’s power grid, and how close you are from the supply transformer, your power supply maybe running at a higher voltage than other homes further down the power grid. This higher voltage is driving the electrical current at a higher force through the globe causing the light globe life to be degraded and blow quicker. Again this really comes down to the quality of the light globe as a thicker filament would withstand a higher grade of stress rather than a thinner filament or cheaply manufactured light globe would.
• A loose connection that exists between the lamp and lamp holder is an issue that could also cause frequently blowing light bulbs. This issue would cause the electrical current to arc (visibly jump across contacts) causing heat stress beyond the expectancy of the light bulb causing it to blow.
• Handling quartz-halogen bulbs with your hands can cause the bulb to blow due to the grease deposits left behind from the human body.

Put simply, purchase and trial a range of good quality light globes and make sure that the type of globe is able to be installed with bare hands otherwise use gloves or a tissue to handle the bulb.

If symptoms persist, contact ProElement.

Manufacturers of safety switches usually recommend that the test button on a safety switch be triggered once a month to ensure the mechanism does not become jammed. Testing frequently ensures the correct operation of the safety switch in the case of a fault.

For safety switches operating incorrectly or for any questions regarding safety switches, contact ProElement.

Safety switches are manufactured with a test button integrated into the safety switch. The purpose of the test button is to test the functionality of the safety switch.

The correct function of a safety switch is to “trip off” once an imbalance of current has occurred throughout a related protected circuit.

Manufacturers of safety switches usually recommend that the test button on a safety switch be triggered once a month to ensure the mechanism does not become jammed.

If triggering the test button fails to “trip off” and disconnect supply to the related protected circuits then the safety switch has failed the test and must be replaced. However this does not test the speed at which the safety switch is operating. For example the time taken for disconnection of supply to related protected circuits for a safety switch rated at 30mA is 30ms.

For issues, questions or for testing of correct functionality of safety switches, contact ProElement.

On residential and commercial applications it is a standard to have a safety switch protecting your power and light circuits.

In standard installations it is a requirement to have 30mA Residual Current Devices (RCD) installed to fulfil the role of a safety switch.

The feature of the RCD is to disconnect the supply of power to any related protected circuits within 0.0030 seconds (30 milliseconds) once leakage current is detected.

In the time that it takes to switch off current does continue to flow.

So in general, if you are to touch a live metal frame of a faulty appliance that is protected by a 30mA RCD then the RCD/ safety switch will be triggered and shut down power to all related protected circuits within 30 milliseconds. In this 30 milliseconds you may experience an electric shock.

For installation of a safety switch contact ProElement.

Although a circuit breaker and a safety switch may look similar they have completely different characteristics.

A circuit breaker’s sole purpose is to protect a wiring system or a circuit from over-current which prevents cable damage and fire risk which overall protects the consumer’s premise from destruction and the consumer(s) from injury.

A safety switch’s sole purpose is to protect the consumer(s) from residual current which helps prevent electric shock to the consumer(s).

Put simply, a circuit breaker protects the cable, a safety switch protects you.

Safety switches, also known as a Residual Current Device (RCD), play a vital role in the wiring system of a home or workplace by helping protect the life of the consumer(s).

It is an Australian Standards requirement to have a safety switch installed on any light circuits or any other circuits with an electrical socket outlet being altered or wired in.

For the addition and installation of safety switches contact ProElement today.

Initially installations had Lead sheathed cables, installed in many government buildings and some homes and workplaces from 1880s up until about 1910s.

Installations that date between 1910s and 1940s utilised Vulcanised India Rubber (VIR) cable to make up the wiring system of a home or workplace. VIR cable is copper conductor insulated with Vulcanised India Rubber covered in a wax impregnated cotton sheath. The VIR cable was physically protected by wooden duct and a bare earth or split steel metal conduit earthed at the switchboard. Over time it has been found that VIR cable wiring systems would break down and become hazardous.

• The VIR insulation dries out and becomes brittle.
• The earthing system through the split steel conduit can be compromised from any alterations.

Installations that date between 1940s and 1960s utilised Tough Rubber Sheathed (TRS) cable to make up the wiring system of a home or workplace. TRS cable was made up of annealed copper conductors insulated by rubber. TRS cable was installed in a similar manner to modern day requirements and Australian Standards. Over time it has been found that TRS cable wiring systems would break down and become hazardous.

• The TRS insulation dries out and crumbles off the copper conductors.
• In some cases TRS wiring systems have been found to not have an earthing system present which proves to be a safety risk.

The electrical cable we use today is Thermoplastic Sheathed (TPS) which is used in all installations. TPS is made up of solid or stranded annealed copper conductors insulated with coloured thermoplastic insulation and then double insulated by the outer thermoplastic sheath. TPS cable has been in use since the late 1960s until present and has been proven to be the most durable type of cable for wiring installations today.

The wiring system in your home or workplace plays a vital role in carrying the electrical current drawn by your electrical appliances and fittings.

There are many different types of cables that have been used over the past century to provide homes and workplaces with power. As technology and research are constantly evolving so are the Australian Standards towards the manufacturing of electrical cables. If your home or workplace was built prior to the 1980s it is important that the wiring system is checked, for the presence of “old wiring” or “old cables” that no longer meet the requirements of Australian Standards due to deterioration.

When wiring or cables deteriorate it degrades the integrity. Not only is old degraded wiring dangerous, but physical contact with any old degraded wiring can be fatal.

Energy Safe Victoria claim’s that fire brigades respond to more than 300 electrical fires each year. Many of which are caused by “old wiring”.

There are a number of old wiring systems still in use in and outside of Melbourne. One of the important things to consider when buying or renovating a home or workplace built prior to the 1980s is to keep in mind that the wiring system may need to be rewired.

Contact ProElement for inspection of wiring systems and rewires.

The consumer mains supply connects the power lines to the consumer’s premise to feed the premise with power. There are two methods of connection;

• Overhead consumer mains – connected from the aerial power lines in the street to the consumer mains box, through to the meter box, to the main switchboard;
• Underground consumer mains – connected from the pit in the street to the meter box, through to the main switchboard.

The only time the consumer mains supply would need upgrading is when the maximum demand of the premise installation is higher than the current carrying capacity of the consumer mains supply cable(s).

The maximum demand of a complete electrical installation (or wiring system) is the highest calculated load of current the electrical installation will require. The maximum demand is calculated according to the wiring rules Australian Standards 3000. Once the maximum demand is calculated the consumer mains supply cable can be figured out. If the existing consumer mains supply cable is capable of carrying the maximum demand current then it does not need upgrading. If the consumer mains supply is not capable of carrying the maximum demand current it will need to be upgraded.

“Standards are published documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they were intended to. They establish a common language which defines quality and safety criteria.” – Standards Australia