What does electrical offer?
Electrical in today’s market is lifestyle driven and more so the technology in the market. This means we have almost endless options at our disposal, there is always new products available to change what used to be a necessity in its basic form that now becomes the ability which we can use to transforms an environment.
Does electrical cable and product have a lifespan?
Electrical cabling has been around since the 1900’s, you can still find the occasional home which is still operating with this. Cable doesn’t really have an expiry date, what you will see is switches, power outlets, devices or any other original equipment starting to fail. These are the items which have moving parts and are subject to more of a lifespan than the cable itself. As long as the old cable isn’t disturbed it doesn’t often cause much problem.
The catch these days is that electricians are no longer allowed to add onto these circuits or refuse to do so due to the brittle nature of insulation types with pre 1970’s cable insulation. This you find out only after you have added a large electrical load to your system, something like pool equipment, solar system, new light fittings or power points it could even be you just brought the house and want to add something simple but the previous owner didn’t change anything, whatever the case it will need to be replaced.
After the 1970’s electrical conductors were constructed within a material called thermoplastic sheathing industry known as “TPS” and shortly after that they followed up with a good introduction specifically to protect people in case of wiring failure. This was the safety switch, formally known as a Residual Current Device or “RCD”.
Whatever the situation you find yourself in once an electrical system starts to fail it’s cheaper to rewire the cabling rather than pay for people to come out continually replacing section by section. Commonly controlling the older wiring systems are the ceramic fuses which will at the same time be changed out for a more appropriate and standardized electrical switchboard complete with circuit breaker protection and residual current devices.
How do I benefit from a healthy electrical system?
Electrical seems to be a very reactive market place until you are dealing with corporations of higher levels of business who require proactive measures to ensure their office building or warehouse doesn’t shut down unexpectedly. For the average consumer, when it stops working then you call an electrician.
Let’s have a think about what is a healthy electrical system? Am I talking about safety, efficiency, operability or ease ability? Healthy doesn’t just mean whether it works or not but is it designed and operating with your needs of today, solar panels, LED lighting, star rated living, none of this was the focus of design years ago but more consideration has been given and will continue to be given to the sustainability of systems and the impact to the environment.
So, do you have a healthy electrical system? The chances are less likely when you consider more than whether it turns on or off. Take time to think about your habits today, can you save good electricity and money on a system designed around your lifestyle.
Long term this will save across many levels rather than just modifying your behaviour to suit a light switch, should you choose to sell up and move on the mindset of people today will land you a bigger audience if you have thought about it.
How do you work towards a good electrical installation?
Here are a few points which can lead you down the path of better sustainability across all ranges of electrical installations, they are:
- Focus on energy ratings rather than cost as priority.
- Talk to your energy retailer and negotiate a better deal.
- Improve heating and cooling.
- Install a solar system.
- Regulate your pool and spa running costs.
- Move electrical items to where you need them.
- Update your electrical products to suit today’s requirements.
- Have a look below, could you do with a better system?
