Five Key Differences Quick Summary 

While the titles commercial electrician and industrial electrician sound similar, the jobs and requisite training vary in several significant ways. A quick look at the professions shows differences. 

• The workplace and work environment is a critical difference between the types of electricians. 
• The range of voltage each works with is significantly different. 
• Each kind of electrician will have different specialised training. 
• Industrial and commercial electricians’ jobs have a different degree of danger. 
• There is a moderate difference in the rate of pay for each type of electrician. 

Electricians are always in high demand, yet it is common to confuse the types of electricians. However, there is a distinction between commercial and industrial electricians. When you need assistance in a hospital or retail establishment, a commercial electrician can do the job. However, an industrial electrician can take care of you if you need electrical solutions in a mine or manufacturing facility. 

Commercial Electricians 

Commercial electricians work in a number of environments and maintain the power supply for medical facilities, retail establishments, restaurants, offices, and many more businesses in the commercial sector. While tasks will change based on the specific location, the typical duties of a commercial electrician include, 

•  Analyse, troubleshoot, and repair problems in faulty equipment, systems, wiring, and electrical components at various locations 
• Ensure compliance with all state, local, and national guidelines when wiring commercial buildings and electrical systems. 
• Install electrical components and wiring in buildings 
• Installing electrical equipment such as transformers, load control devices, regulators, and other similar equipment 
• Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, and job orders. 
• Test electrical systems to assess their proper functioning 
• Train and delegate tasks to apprentices when appropriate 

Educational Requirements for a Commercial Electrician 

• Commercial electricians will have a high school diploma or GED 

but are not required to have college degrees. Although some will earn an electrical engineering technology degree. 

• Completing an electrician program at a trade school or technical institute is a must. 
• An apprenticeship program offers excellent hands-on opportunities, typically lasting four to five years. These are through registered organisations and include structured training. 
• Once education requirements are met, the next step is to apply for an electrician’s license and pass the licensing exam. 

Earning Potential of Commercial Electricians 

While precise pay rates will vary depending on location and job specifics, an average salary is between $70,000 and $90,000 annually. However, some entry-level positions start at $50,000 per year, and the high end of the scale can sometimes reach around $100,000 per year. 

Industrial Electrician  

Industrial electricians work in industrial facilities, mining sites, and manufacturing settings. Their work involves large capacity equipment with higher voltage than other electricians experience. The job also has an enhanced level of danger as the chance of falling from significant heights or being electrocuted is higher in the facilities where industrial electricians work. 

Even though specific duties will vary, the most common tasks of an industrial electrician in Perth include, 

• Cleaning circuit boards and contacts 
• Grounding electrical systems 
• Installing, servicing, and repair of equipment such as motors, industrial communications systems, generators, and high-voltage systems 
• Maintaining motors and replacing wiring when necessary 
• Performing inspections and tests to determine if system components need to be upgraded or replaced 

Educational Requirements for Industrial Electricians 

• A high school diploma or GED is necessary to begin  
• In most cases, a college degree is not required. Still, some industrial electricians opt to get electrical engineering degrees such as Bachelor of Science degree, Diploma of Electrical Engineering, or Certificate II in Electrotechnology. 
• Strong mathematic skills and a mastery of industrial tools and equipment should be attained. 
• Completing an electrician program at a technical institute or trade school 
• Participating in an apprenticeship program for four to five years, including structured training from a registered organisation, provides excellent learning opportunities. 
• Applying for the exam to receive an Electrician’s License and passing the exam 

Earning Potential for an Industrial Electrician 

Exact salary amounts will depend on a number of factors, but the typical pay for an industrial electrician is between $80,000 and $94,000 annually. Highly experienced workers can earn around $113,000 a year. 

What is the Difference Between a Commercial or Industrial Electrician and an Electrical Contractor? 

When comparing electricians and electrician contractors, the difference is straightforward. The main difference is that an industrial or commercial electrician is a fully licensed individual but cannot invoice customers or work for themselves. However, an industrial or commercial electrician contractor has more extensive training than an electrician and can work for themselves as well as employ others.  

Working with the correct electrician is vital to ensure the job is completed correctly. Specific types of electricians have unique skill sets, just as other professions have specialisations. Your cardiologist studied just as much as your neurologist, but they are not interchangeable. 

At PRF Electric, we have experienced, certified electricians available to meet your various needs. If you are unsure about the type of electrical assistance you need, please contact us. We are happy to answer your questions and get you the right Perth electrician for your job.

The post Industrial Vs. Commercial Electrician: Key Differences   appeared first on PRF Electrical.

Commercial lighting is a phrase used to refer to lighting installed in commercial spaces, such as distribution centres, factories, warehouses, offices, dealerships, churches, and restaurants. Commercial lighting is designed to withstand more wear and tear and last for longer than residential lighting.

Commercial Lighting Systems

Commercial lighting systems are generally adapted to a specific application. For example, in an office environment, you might require lighting that illuminates regions where staff members need concentrated light, such as work desks and spaces. Conversely, warehouses generally select lighting that limits glare and offers a wider delivery of illumination.

Recently, commercial lighting has gravitated towards light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and away from traditional light forms, including fluorescent, metal halide bulbs and incandescent light, for good reason.

Companies generally choose commercial LED lighting to be more energy-efficient, safer, and save on maintenance costs. LEDs also have dimming capabilities, are more durable, and have an increased lifespan. All these features result in money saved.

What is LED?

LED means light-emitting diode. Diodes are made up of two electrodes and electricity flows through these electrodes in one direction. An LED light bulb functions by delivering an electric current through a diode (which is a semiconductor), which results in light.

What Type of Commercial Business Can Benefit From Led Lighting?

Here are examples of commercial businesses that can benefit from LED lighting:

1. Offices

LED lights are ideal for offices since they provide uninterrupted, eco-friendly lighting. In the office space, light consumption can become an issue, so LED lights are ideal.

LED Tube Lights for offices – LED tube lights are the perfect replacement for tube fluorescent lighting, which has commonly been installed in offices, underground parking regions, or workshops. LED tube lights provide better brightness, improved energy, longer lifespans, and enhanced efficiency, in comparison to fluorescent lights.

2. Restaurants

Restaurants generally opt for lighting that is not too powerful, creating an intimate, cozy experience.

LED Strip Lights for restaurants – These strip lights give a restaurant a sleek and modern feel. You can use these lights for accent and general illumination. LED strip lights are available in RGB, single colour, dim-to-warm, tunable white, and addressable LED strips. In addition, you can add motion sensors.

A restaurant owner can also use LED light strips to showcase their restaurant name. Some restaurants also go with small LED bulbs for ambient lighting, along with recessed and track lighting in some cases.

LED Neon Lights for restaurants – You must gain the attention of people walking by your restaurant. LED neon lights do this job the best. These lights are bright and enhance the visibility of your restaurant. You can also use LED neon lights for indoor areas, giving the space a unique feel.

3. Entertainment Venues

When it comes to entertainment venues, you can use all kinds of LED lighting. A very interesting option is LED up lights or LED pixel tube lights. LED string lights can add extra appeal, and they are inexpensive.

Some venues also opt for LED light strips, LED panel lights, or even track lights or LED downlights.

4. Night Clubs

A nightclub needs good lighting, and LED lighting systems fit right in. LED ceilings and even LED panels can be a solid option, offering that unique, engaging nightclub atmosphere.

LED Strip Lights for nightclubs – These lights are compact and flexible, making them ideal for accent, mood, and decorative lighting in nightclubs. LED strip lights are typically used for signage, window trims, display cabinets, and stairways.

5. Shopping Malls

LED tubes tend to be common in shopping malls because they can help illuminate larger areas. Drop ceiling LED lights are also a solid option for malls as are flat LED panels or recessed LED lighting.

LED Panel Lights for shopping malls – Panel lights are ideal for retail environments or office spaces. These LED lights are sleek and provide uniform light dispersal while reducing glare. Shopping malls will typically replace traditional fluorescent ceiling lights with LED panels, cutting down on energy costs and increasing the lifespan of their lighting.

6. Warehouses

Warehouses can benefit from a vast range of LED lights. Common options include LED tubes but also LED strip lights or even troffer lights. In general, a warehouse manager will decide which lighting to use according to the size of the warehouse, what is stored in the warehouse, and where the lighting is needed most.

LED High Bay Lights for warehouses – LED high bay lights are suitable for factories, large commercial spaces, and warehouses. These lights provide powerful illumination and a solid light supply. They also offer an energy-efficient substitute for traditional high-intensity discharge (HD) lamps.

Reasons Why You Should Use Commercial LED Lighting

LED lights have benefits for every commercial and industrial facility. The advantages of LEDs are widespread, reaching management in the offices, the ground workers, the customers outside of the building, and the corporate members of the corporation.

Here are the general benefits of commercial LED lighting:

• Increased worker morale and productivity
• Improved brightness in the building
• A decrease in health-related problems connected with traditional lighting (including headaches)
• A dramatic decrease in the electrical bill of a facility
• Lower carbon footprint
• Helps corporate leaders achieve sustainability goals

Here are additional benefits of using LED lighting in commercial businesses:

1. Save Money – Commercial LED lighting can help you save money since these lighting systems consume less energy. Commercial businesses tend to use a variety of lights and pay high energy bills. LED lights can help reduce the amount of energy a commercial building spends on lighting.

2. Adaptability – LED lights tend to be smaller, so you can easily adapt them to a multitude of lighting applications. This means you can pick whichever lighting system works for your commercial business and adapt it accordingly.

3. No Warmup Time – LED lights do not need any warmup time. Regular bulbs can take up to 15 minutes until they warm up and deliver full power. LED lighting provides your commercial space with full power right away. This means better efficiency, fewer complications, and a focus on quality all the time.

4. On and Off Switch – Unlike metal halides that can take 20 minutes to turn on, you can switch LED lights on and off without waiting. Furthermore, when you turn a LED light on/off you will not lower the light output or degrade the device.

5. Motion Sensors – LED lights work well with motion sensors, meaning you can save money by automatically turning lights on when they are needed and automatically turning them off when they are no longer required.

6. Increased Lifespan – LEDs have a noticeably longer lifespan than traditional lighting systems. Used properly, these lights can last up to at least 50000 hours. This is up to 8-10 times longer than a traditional bulb.

Lighting accounts for around 5% of the global CO2 emissions, thus, lowering the overall lighting consumption helps the environment.

Design Tips and Ideas for Your LED Lighting System

Tip # 1. Select Different Shapes

When you choose your LED light installation, you can opt for a variety of LED shapes. There are traditional LEDs, but there are also a variety of other shapes and colours. Selecting specific shapes or colours can help you customize your lighting to meet the needs of your commercial building.

Tip #2. Using LED Light Bars

An LED light bar offers a creative way to improve lighting while also offering portability. Unlike other methods, these light bars are very easy to move. They also deliver superior floor lighting.

Tip #3. Consider LED Light Strips

Light strips are like light bars. However, they provide more flexibility since you can shape these lights as you wish. This flexibility gives you more leeway when it comes to creating stunning, unique lighting arrangements for your business.
LED light strips are ideal for restaurants, bars, or any business that wants to create a unique atmosphere.

Think About Switching to LED Lights

Not all commercial businesses can undertake an overnight switch to LED lighting. It is best to start changing your lighting to LED lights in areas and places management, your staff, or your customers use most frequently. This strategy will create immediate savings by reducing your energy consumption.

Transitioning your lights in stages lets you check various types of LED lights to discover which lighting system works best for your commercial space.

The post LED Lights for Commercial Buildings appeared first on PRF Electrical.

As summer approaches, businesses must take steps to ensure that their commercial spaces are ready to tackle the challenges posed by rising temperatures. Just like homeowners prepare their residences, businesses must make necessary preparations to create a comfortable and efficient environment for both employees and customers during the scorching heat of summer.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various strategies and solutions to get your commercial space ready for the upcoming summer season.

Preparing for the Heat

Commercial buildings can become uncomfortably hot during the summer months, which can have a significant impact on productivity and customer satisfaction. To combat this issue, it’s essential to address insulation and airflow problems.

Insulation Matters

If your commercial space heats up quickly and retains that warmth throughout the day, inadequate insulation may be the culprit. Start by inspecting your insulation. When was the last time it was replaced or upgraded? Modern insulation options are far more effective at regulating indoor temperatures.

Consider investing in newer insulation materials that can trap heat when it’s cool and release it when it’s warm. Proper insulation not only keeps your space cooler during summer but also helps with temperature control year-round, reducing heating costs in the winter.

Ventilation is Key

Proper ventilation is crucial in allowing warm air to escape from your commercial space. While air conditioning can provide relief, relying solely on it can lead to increased energy costs. To address this, implement the following strategies:

• Fans: Use energy-efficient fans to circulate air within your workspace. Ceiling fans or portable fans strategically placed can make a significant difference in keeping the air moving.
• Natural Ventilation: Open windows to promote cross-ventilation. This simple step can help reduce the need for constant air conditioning, saving both energy and money.
• Commercial Exhaust Systems: Consider installing commercial exhaust systems that can efficiently remove hot air from specific areas within your space, ensuring a more comfortable environment.

Windows and Energy Efficiency

Windows play a significant role in regulating temperature within your commercial space. Thin windows can allow outside heat to penetrate, causing temperature fluctuations and discomfort. Consider upgrading to multi-pane windows, which provide better insulation and help maintain consistent indoor temperatures. These windows can be equally effective in keeping your space warm during winter.

Harnessing Solar Energy

One of the distinctive features of summer is the abundant sunlight it brings. This presents a perfect opportunity to harness solar energy to offset your commercial space’s energy costs during the hottest months of the year.

Solar Panel Installation

Consider installing solar panels on the roof or exterior of your commercial building. Solar panels can generate electricity from sunlight, significantly reducing your reliance on traditional energy sources. Benefits of solar panel installation include:

• Cost Savings: By generating your electricity, you can lower your energy bills, particularly during peak summer months.
• Environmental Impact: Solar energy is clean and renewable, reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future.
• Incentives: Depending on your location and local incentives, you may be eligible for tax credits or rebates for installing solar panels.

Planning Ahead

The best time to install solar panels is during the winter months when there’s less demand for electricity due to reduced sunlight. This ensures that your system is ready to harness the full power of the sun when summer arrives. Start planning for installation during the winter to maximize the benefits of solar energy during the hottest months.

Moreover, the expansion of solar energy across households and businesses is contributing to a cleaner and greener energy landscape. By adopting solar panels, you become part of this effort to combat climate change and reduce the environmental impact of energy consumption.

Safety First – Smoke Alarms in Case of an Emergency

With the summer heat comes increased dryness, which can pose risks to delicate electrical equipment. As temperatures rise, so does the potential for electrical malfunctions and fires. While safe practices can go a long way in preventing such incidents, it’s crucial to be prepared for emergencies.

Smoke Alarms

Ensure your commercial space is equipped with functional smoke alarms. Regularly check and replace batteries to guarantee their effectiveness. Strategically place smoke alarms in areas where fires may start unexpectedly. Remember that dangerous smoke can take various forms, including those without visible colour, so comprehensive coverage is essential.

Don’t take chances with your commercial space’s safety. Install and maintain smoke alarms to protect your employees, customers, and assets. Safety should always be a top priority.

Lights for Outdoor Spaces

Summer brings longer days, and many people find themselves spending more time outdoors in the evenings. If your commercial space includes outdoor areas, it’s essential to ensure they are well-lit and welcoming for customers and employees alike.

Outdoor Lighting Solutions

Invest in outdoor lighting solutions that can fully illuminate the areas surrounding your commercial building. Adequate lighting serves several purposes:

• Enhanced Safety: Well-lit outdoor spaces deter potential threats and provide a safe environment for everyone.
• Extended Business Hours: With proper lighting, you can extend your business hours into the evening, attracting more customers and increasing revenue.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Outdoor lighting can enhance the visual appeal of your commercial space, making it more inviting to passers by.

Choose high-quality outdoor lighting fixtures that are energy-efficient and long-lasting. LED lighting, for example, is an excellent option due to its energy efficiency and durability.

Security Cameras – Protecting Your Commercial Space

In recent years, personal security cameras have become increasingly common for businesses. Options like doorbell cameras and surveillance systems offer practical benefits and enhance security.

Security Camera Installation

Consider installing security cameras around your commercial property. These cameras are easy to install, discreet, and can connect to your everyday smart devices. Here’s how they can benefit your business:

• Remote Monitoring: With security cameras in place, you can remotely monitor your property from your smartphone or computer. This provides real-time insights and allows you to respond quickly to any security concerns.
• Visitor Verification: Worried about unexpected visitors or suspicious activities during off-hours? Security cameras enable you to verify visitors remotely without approaching the door, enhancing your security measures.
• Deterrence: Visible security cameras can act as a deterrent, discouraging potential intruders from attempting unauthorised access.

Conclusion

Preparing your commercial space for the upcoming summer season is essential for ensuring the comfort, safety, and efficiency of your business. By addressing insulation, ventilation, and energy sources, you can create a pleasant environment for both employees and customers while reducing energy costs.

Investing in solar panels not only reduces your energy bills but also contributes to a greener and more sustainable future. Planning for installation during the winter ensures that you’re ready to harness the power of the sun when summer arrives.

Additionally, prioritizing safety through functional smoke alarms and enhancing your outdoor and indoor lighting, along with the installation of security cameras, adds an extra layer of protection to your commercial space.

There’s no need to fear the summer heat impacting your business negatively. With these strategies and solutions, you can keep your commercial space cool, safe, and efficient throughout the summer months, ensuring a successful and enjoyable season for all.

The post Preparing Your Commercial Space for Summer 2024 – Lights, Equipment, and Solar Solutions appeared first on PRF Electrical.

At PRF Electrical, we ensure all the above and, to ensure that we go one step further, are proud to ensure that we undergo our annual assessment to be CM3 pre-qualified.

What Does CM3 Compliance Mean to You?

CM3 pre-qualification is an extra level of security that gives our clients the assurance that our health and safety measures are of the highest level. To achieve this status, our commitment to H&S is assessed by third party professionals to be sure that apply the most stringent of standards surrounding our services, insurances, certifications and on-site safety procedures.

CM3 is the leading national OHS/SHS pre-qualification system. It’s a vital element of PRF’s ethos of ‘safety first’ that we are CM3 compliant, so providing a further level of evidence to our current and future customers of our professional obligations.

The PRF journey began in 1985. Today, over three decades later, our dedication to our private and corporate clients remains as strong as ever. Whether our engineers are working in your home, a shopping centre, mining operation, government facility, factory or any other location, customers and everyone in the area can rest assured that our exemplary safety measures are constantly at the forefront of our operation.

Want to find out more about WA’s favourite electricians? Visit https://www.prfelectrical.com.au/ to find out more and give our friendly team a call to discuss your requirements.

The post Proudly CM3 Pre-Qualified: One more reason to trust PRF Electrical appeared first on PRF Electrical.

Did you ever have a conversation or ponder a thought that maybe items were manufactured to last a certain amount of time or use, so the manufacturer could sell the same item over and over again? I remember the ol’ 60 watt globe, it seemed that one was replaced once a month in every household I lived in. 

LED lights that have been promoted as extra long-lasting, but I have found that they don’t really last that extra long time. In the dim distant past I remember promoting the virtue of 50,000 hour life of LED lights! That’s about 5.7 years if you had them switched on for all that time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Considering what our current preferred suppliers offer in the way of warranties, there is clearly a big divide between that 50k hour life and what the manufactures are expecting today. 

A quick glance at the warranties of our current preferred suppliers: Clipsal offer 3 years, SAL 3 years, Robus 2 to 5 years depending on product warranties. Further, if we ask nicely, they will replace them including labour – but this is not always the case. 

In our experience, as electrical contractors installing all varieties of lighting, the old light fittings were built to last. They used copper, brass, and steel in their construction with very little plastic. They are robust, and if they have control gear (like a transformer, choke, igniter, and/or starter) this gear is robust and designed to last. I mean last, last at least ten but more than likely 20 years. The lamps of course didn’t last that long – if in a house, an incandescent lamp will usually last a couple of months, whereas in a commercial application we expect an annual replacement of lamps – not because of failure but because they lose their luminous intensity (Lumens) or brightness. The Lumens can drop all the way to zero, but in 12 months they are usually giving 50% or less output. 

A quick story: The maintenance manager at Garden City asked us to replace an older light fitting because “it always was trouble needing lamp replacements and repairs all the time”. We asked – how long has it been in service for? “Oh this is the new section so probably about 15 to 20 years”. …. need we say more about quality built fittings? They will last! 

So why purchase a new LED light fitting if we are going to be replacing them in 3 to 5 years? OK so we haven’t talked about efficiency yet (and that’s for another blog), but in short – by comparison a 60 watt incandescent lamp produces about the same amount of Lumens as a 10 watt LED lamp – so the LED uses 5 times less energy. 

Your choices as I see them are: 

1 – Keep changing old school lamps and repairing fittings. 

2 – Keep old fittings BUT where possible fit a replacement plug in or screw in LED lamp (this way you get more efficiency without having to change out the whole fitting every few years). 

3 – Install a new BUT old school fitting that accepts lamps as in point 2 above. 

4 – Install a new LED fittings BUT changing the whole fitting in a few years when it fails.  And don’t think you will be changing one fitting, you’ll need to change all the fittings in the whole room or area – as they will most likely keep failing fairly rapidly together, and the same style/fitting/colour will no longer be available to purchase as there will be new models. 

Here at PRF Electrical, our extensive experience means we can help you choose the best way forward with your lights. Why not get in touch now and discuss your requirements? 

The post How long do LED Lights Really Last? appeared first on PRF Electrical.

Sadly, we’ve heard them all, and even sadder is that it isn’t a common occurrence. Let us tell you about one client. To protect them, we will call him Rod. 

Rod needed some electrical work done in his home as part of a renovation. He was looking to have some additional power points installed, as well as some new lights and a new oven and cooktop.  

Rod did what most homeowners do when they are planning extensive electrical work – he called around and got a few quotes. He also made a few complaints about how expensive some of the complaints came back in at, comparing them to how his mechanic can do a service so much cheaper, or how the plumber doing work on the property was charging half those quoted prices.  

Unfortunately, he also did what many homeowners do and went with the cheapest quote. Fair enough, we know people are looking to save money where they can. After speaking to Rod though, we also found out that he didn’t ask if the electrician who quoted for the job was licensed or insured.  

So, Rod went ahead and had the work done that he had been quoted for. All seemed to go smoothly, the electrician was in and out quickly and cleaned up his mess (like all good electricians should do!). What Rod didn’t realise is what happened behind the walls – the electrician hadn’t wired the power points in correctly, and the lights weren’t tested to see if they were working correctly.  

A few nights later, Rod’s wife turned on the oven to cook dinner, popped dinner in the oven and sat down to relax. She opened the oven door about 15 minutes later and found the inside of the oven on fire. It too hadn’t been wired in properly.  

Now Rod and his wife were very lucky. When PRF Electrical sent our team members out, we found so much wrong with the wiring that had been done, that we were surprised their whole house hadn’t caught fire in the middle of the night.  

What Went Wrong? 

The first thing that had gone wrong is that Rod had chosen the cheapest quote he got (and it was very cheap). Nothing unusual, but by doing this, he had chosen to use an electrician who had already lost their license and couldn’t be insured due to similar work done on other homes.  

What is a Reasonable Price for Electrical Work? 

We don’t need to say how dangerous electricity can be, both to homeowners and to electricians. Our office team at PRF Electrical often get asked why electrical work is expensive, and it really comes down to three factors – the risks involved, the legal obligations we must meet, and our licensing and regulatory requirements.  

Still wondering why your mechanic can do a car service cheaper than your electrician can install some lights and power points? Electrical incidents can be fatal – much like what could have happened to Rod and his family if they weren’t lucky enough (if you can call it that) to cook in their oven that night.  

What to Look for in Your Electrician 

Rod did well in getting a few quotes for the work he was having done, but where he really went wrong was not asking for a copy of the electrician’s license. Here in Western Australia, all electricians must be licensed, and they must adhere to the relevant legislation and regulations. If you are looking for an electrician to do work in your home, ask for their license number and check it out online. Anyone not willing to provide these details to you, shouldn’t be given your hard-earned dollars.  

If you are concerned about the cost, like Rod was, ask a few questions – what work is happening, how many electricians will be on-site, do they guarantee their work, what quality of parts will they be using and so on.  

PRF Electrical provides a range of services to homeowners across Perth.  Ensure you have peace of mind about who is working in your home by choosing licensed and experienced electricians.  

The post My House Caught on Fire after Electrical Work appeared first on PRF Electrical.

To keep your family safe, you may want to chat to a qualified electrician about rewiring your home. Old wiring can easily cause a house fire; apart from this, wiring in older homes generally isn’t up to using the amount of electricity we do today.

We’ve put together some great reasons why you need to look at having your old home rewired.

Not Enough Power for Today’s Needs

When houses were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and of course prior, electricity wasn’t used as much as what it is now, and all the appliances we have today simply didn’t exist. The wiring that you’ll find in older homes simply doesn’t meet the power demands of today, resulting in shortages and power outages.

Inefficient and Expensive

Because the wiring in older homes doesn’t meet the power needs of today, the wiring will need to work harder to meet your needs, therefore running your electricity bill higher than it needs to be. If you’ve recently moved to an older home or noticed your electricity bill creeping up, it’s a good time to get the wiring checked. New wiring is likely to mean lower electricity bills.

Circuit Breakers Tripping

Are your fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping frequently? What about lights blowing more often than they should, or flickering every time you turn them on? This is a good sign that your home can’t handle the number of appliances it is trying to power. Older wiring doesn’t have the capability to run many modern-day appliances.

Home Improvements and Home Appliances

If you’ve done some major renovation works or improvements to your home where you’ve added higher powered appliances, rewiring is essential. If you didn’t rewire your home when these renovations and works were taking place, it is likely you have added more load than what your home can handle.

Old Homes and Old Wiring = House Fires

While it can be difficult to detect a fire waiting to happen, there are two clear indications that something wrong is happening. The first is that you may notice discoloured or charred power points and switches. This indicates that there is a short that is caused by a loose connection or faulty wiring near the switch. The discolouration comes from a small fire that was caused by arcing of a loose connection.

The second indication is a persistent burning smell. If you can’t pinpoint where this burning smell is coming from, there is a good chance you have an electrical short in your wiring. If there are no discoloured switches throughout the home, the short may have come from the wiring within the walls or even in your roof cavity.

Don’t believe how easily a house fire can start in an older home with bad wiring? This video from Channel Seven is well worth watching. We encourage you to share this with family and friends who live in older homes.

If you notice either of these issues, your best option is to disconnect the power to your home and call an electrician as a matter of urgency.

Rewiring your home is a big job. If you have a renovation planned, this is the perfect time to do it as an electrician will often need to get in behind the walls. No reno planned? Call out an electrician and get the process started now, before it’s too late.

PRF Electrical can help you with all your rewiring needs in your older Perth home. Our experienced team has worked on a range of houses, and we can bring your home’s wiring up to modern standards, making your home safer for everyone. Talk to us today.

The post Why You Need to Rewire Your Old Home appeared first on PRF Electrical.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (OSH Act) requires all electrical equipment at workplaces to be safe, and not expose workers to potential hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 requires that the person who has control of the workplace i.e the employer, self-employed person or main contractor, must ensure that all portable plug-in electrical equipment and residual current devices (RCDs) at the workplace are safe, and inspected, tested and maintained by a competent person.

The equipment required to be tested includes computers, printers, fax machines, phone chargers, heaters, portable fans, extension cords and more – essentially anything that your staff members can plug into an electrical outlet needs to be regularly tested.

What needs to be test and tagged and how regularly?

As mentioned earlier, any portable electrical item that your employees may use day to day needs to be regularly tested and tagged. This includes everything from power tools to kettles and microwaves. While many businesses think of the normal electrical items such as computers, printers, photocopiers and fax machines, it is often kitchen and tea-room appliances and items like portable air conditioners and desk lamps that are often forgotten about. It is these items which are used throughout the day which can cause safety issues if not regularly checked.

The time in between testing varies depending on the item. For items in extreme circumstances, they may require daily testing, whereas other items need to be tested anywhere from monthly to five-yearly. When you have your electrical items checked, the electrician doing the testing will advise you when the next inspection and test is due.

Who can undertake test and tag checks?

Legislation in Western Australia requires that a competent person must undertake the testing of electrical equipment. A competent person is one who has acquired “through training, qualification or experience, or a combination of these, the knowledge and skills required to test electrical equipment competently.”

Essentially, any test and tagging should be carried out by a trained and qualified electrician who is able to recognise electrical hazards and the potential for unsafe conditions. The person who carries out test and tagging must know what to look at, what to look for and what to do. They need to be able to provide you information on your requirements should there be a safety issue with any of your electrical equipment.

What records do I need to keep?

As a business owner, there are some records that you do need to keep when it comes to test and tagging electrical equipment in your business. You should have copies of all inspections, tests and maintenance, and a copy also needs to be held by the person who carried out the testing. The main information that you need to keep is:

• Who made the inspection or carried out the testing and maintenance;
• The date on which maintenance or testing occurred;
• The result or outcome of the inspection, test and maintenance;
• The date that the next inspection and test is due by;
• License number of the person who carried out the test;
• The inspection number of the items inspected if applicable.

On top of these requirements, if you run a construction or demolition site, you must keep the following for all electrical equipment and RCDs:

• A register of all equipment;
• Formal records of inspections and tests;
• A repair register;
• A record of any faulty equipment that shows details of servicing and corrective actions that have been undertaken.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve had the plug-in electrical items in your business tested, call PRF Electrical. We are qualified to provide all test and tagging solutions, testing and tagging your electrical items on a schedule, as well as explain any requirements from your end. Our appliance testing equipment digitally records each test and prints a barcoded tag which can be scanned during ongoing testing. This allows us to produce a record of accurate results for each appliance.

The team at PRF Electrical can also conduct a variety of important electrical compliance checks including:

• RCD testing
• Emergency and exit light testing
• Thermographic testing of electrical switchboards and equipment
• Smoke alarm testing

Contact our friendly and professional team today to organise your test and tag.

The post What You Need to Know About Test & Tag in Your Workplace appeared first on PRF Electrical.

Crime is on the increase and for many homeowners and tenants, it no longer feels enough just to lock your doors at night or when you go on holidays. If you’re pondering what other options you have when it comes to home security, there’s plenty of options on the market and you may not have considered them all.

Let’s take a look at the options available that will help you feel more secure in your home.

CCTV

CCTV is a television system where the images are not distributed to the public. Instead these images  are monitored for security purposes. This security system relies on a strategic placement of the cameras to ensure the correct areas are being recorded. Cameras can be connected to the monitor via Data cables or wireless. While the old CCTV systems were of low resolution and often in black and white, the modern systems are full colour, high resolution and give you the ability to track someone on the camera or zoom in and out to get a better look.

CCTV is a good option if you need to monitor who is coming and going to your property.

Security/Sensor Lighting

Motion and sensor lighting are a good option as a deterrent to criminals. Thieves are looking for homes that are vulnerable and where they won’t be seen entering or exiting the property. Security and sensor lights make people approaching your home visible. Motion lighting is the best option as it only lights up when someone is close rather than running all night. These lights are also a great option for when you arrive home late at night but don’t want to leave your outside lights on all day and night.

Alarms

Security alarms work on sensors that located at entry points  throughout your premises, often windows, exterior doors and other entry locations. The alarm is off when it detects no movement on the circuit, and triggers when it does detect movement. Some  alarm systems today can be wireless which allows for a bit more flexibility in where in your premises  the alarm sensors are located, however maintenance is required with batteries to be changed.  Alarm systems are great for those who spend large amounts of time away from their premises, whether that be long distance work or long hours in the office. For those who duck in and out, or spend most of the day at home (or if you are likely to forget to switch on and off the alarm), there are other options which may be of more benefit such as a remote control fob on your car keys.

Intercoms

Intercoms can be a good security option, whether they be installed at your front gate or at your front door. These systems provide you with the knowledge of knowing who is at your front entry before you allow access. Intercom systems can be audio only but there are a few options for audio and video which will provide you with extra security. Intercom systems can generally be answered from wherever you are and give you the control of providing access to your premises, even if you aren’t there.

Gate Control

Another option that goes hand in hand with intercoms is having an access gate installed, whether this be across your driveway or at the entrance to your home. Intercom controlled gates provide an extra layer of security, especially if you install an intercom with a camera. These intercoms often allow you to provide access to visitors whether you are home or not, so you can let family in that you were expecting while you’re picking up extra supplies at the shops.

Security Tips

If you manage a building or a residential complex, it is always a great idea to change your passcodes regularly. Ensuring you take out any old passcodes or entry details for people who have moved out is essential in providing security for your building. One easy way to remember is that as people move out (tenants hand back their keys), disable their passcodes and swipe cards as part of your moving out process.

It is also a good idea to regularly review your Wi-Fi passwords and access codes, even if you don’t live in a share house. By regularly updating your passwords, you can minimise the chance of your password being guessed or randomly generated and being used without your knowledge.

Considering adding a security system to your work premises, home or residential building? Talk to us today. The fully certified and experienced team at PRF Electrical can assist in helping you install your chosen home security option. Licence Number 58573

The post Are You Feeling Secure? appeared first on PRF Electrical.

Mistakes with wiring are common when homeowners decide to DIY and have the potential to cause short circuits, shocks and even house fires. Hiring a qualified electrician is always your best option when it comes to electrical work in the home, no matter how easy you think the job is.

8 Common Electrical Mistakes Homeowners Make

1. Exposing electrical connections to weather

Something that is very common during wet weather, incorrectly fitted light fittings fill with water, non-weatherproof power sockets short out from wet weather, electrical appliances and leads left exposed trip RCD’s and damage appliances.

2. Leaving switches and outlets loose

Loose or broken power sockets and light switches highlight bad work done by homeowners or handymen. Not only are they unsightly but they are unsafe. When loose, these outlets and switches move which can cause any wires to become loose – a potential fire and shock hazard.

3. Leaving cable unprotected

Unprotected and exposed cable is just asking for a fire and shock hazard in your home. Cables should be located within your home’s walls and ceilings and they should never be left exposed. Conduit is an easy fix that protects the wires from damaging your home or from being damaged.

4. Using incorrectly sized wires and cables

There is a reason that there are different sized wires available on the market. Different jobs require different gauges of wiring, and each are used in different areas of the home. Speaker wire is NOT used for electrical wiring. Using the incorrect sized wire can cause overheating, and shorting of the fuse or circuit breaker. Using the correct sized wire is imperative.

5. Replacing fuses without inspection

If fuses in your home keep blowing or shorting out, there is no point in replacing them over and over again, or worse, installing fencing wire. This is also not a time to install a bigger circuit breaker (doing so is a big cause of house fires). If you have a circuit breaker that continually trips out, you need a qualified electrician to attend to the issue.

6. Loose connections in the fuse box – switchboard

Connections at the fuse box need to be tight and correctly placed. Loose connections cause appliances and lights to flicker and cut out. This can also cause wiring to overheat and catch fire. We certainly don’t recommend repairing the loose connections yourself.

7. Overloading

One of the most common issues electricians see is overloading of the outlets. While using a power board is a good way of being able to connect more appliances, say when connecting a television and gaming machines, overloading the circuit with multiple adaptors and power boards can cause the breaker to trip or fuse to blow. Usually this is an issue with larger appliances such as coffee machines, kettles, washing machines and dishwashers being connected on one circuit.

8. Not using a qualified electrician

One of the best things you can do with any electrical work in your home is to use a qualified electrician. With the knowledge and experience to fix everything from the basic light switch to cabling and wiring your home, you won’t have to worry about a fire starting in the middle of the night or pests eating into your cabling in the wall.

DIY is a great way to get work done on your home, however often homeowners don’t realise how much having a licensed and experienced electrician on hand can help. When handled incorrectly, easy fixes can easily turn into big mistakes. If you don’t feel comfortable handling electrical work in your home, or have even the slightest amount of doubt on some work you have done, call the team at PRF Electrical. With over 35 years of experience, you can bet we’ve probably seen it all!

Our experienced and professional team can assist you with your home renovation and building projects, keeping you and your family safe.

The post PRF Electrical – Electrical Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make appeared first on PRF Electrical.