Is it worth changing halogen downlights to LED?
Usually, on two counts. LED draws a fraction of the power for the same light,
which shows up on a bill if you have twenty of them. And it runs far cooler,
which matters more than the saving in a ceiling with insulation around the
fittings. On a whole house it is generally about half a day’s work.
Can you put downlights anywhere I want them?
Mostly, though the ceiling has a say. Joists, ducting, plumbing and existing
cable runs all constrain where a fitting can physically go, and clearance
requirements constrain it further. We will mark out the layout with you before
cutting anything, which is the point at which changes are free.
My downlights keep failing. Is that the fittings or the wiring?
Either, and worth checking rather than replacing lamps repeatedly. Fittings in
a hot, enclosed ceiling space fail early regardless of quality. Repeated
failures on one circuit and not others points somewhere else. Testing tells you
which, and the answer decides whether you are buying fittings or fixing a
circuit.
Do you do lighting design, or just install what I choose?
We will happily install what you have chosen, and we will also tell you before
it goes in if the layout will not do what you want it to. On a renovation we
prefer to read the plan early: what it needs in circuits, what will not work as
drawn, and what has a lead time. Whether that counts as design is a matter of
how formal you want it.
What is the difference between an exit sign and emergency lighting?
An exit sign tells you where the way out is. Emergency lighting is the separate
set of fittings that light the route to it, so the path is not dark on the way.
Most buildings that need one need the other, and they are usually installed at
the same time because they are solving two halves of the same problem.
Does my building need exit signs and emergency lighting?
That depends on what the building is used for, how big it is and how people get
out of it, and it is worked out from the plans and the building classification
rather than from a walk around. If you are doing a fitout the question usually
arrives with the permit. The part that gets missed is a refit: walls move, the
route out changes, and fittings that suited the old layout no longer cover the
new one. We can tell you what is installed and whether it still fits the
building you now have. Ongoing testing of those fittings is a separate job and
sits with
electrical maintenance.
Can old dimmers be reused with LED fittings?
Frequently not. Dimmers designed for halogen often do not control LED
properly, and the symptoms are flickering, buzzing or a range that stops
halfway. It is a cheap thing to change at the same time as the fittings and
an irritating thing to chase afterwards, so we will tell you which of yours
will need swapping before the job.
Are you licensed and insured?
Absolutely, our team of trusted electricians are fully licensed and insured. We
have public liability insurance, and if required, just let our team know that
you’d like to view our documentation.
Our team are NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) accredited,
which means they are trained to work safely and to current Victorian standards,
and they keep that training current as the standards change.
We are strict about hiring. Every electrician who attends a job is licensed,
experienced and background checked.
Can you issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
We can, and do. Our licensed electricians complete and sign a Certificate of
Electrical Safety for the work that requires one, and lodge it with Energy Safe
Victoria. It records that the work meets the wiring rules. You keep a copy for
your own records, and it is worth filing: it is the document a buyer, insurer
or property manager will ask for later.
Is it safe to attempt a DIY repair or should I call an electrician?
That really depends on one factor. Are you a licensed electrician?! If not, the
answer is a simple, ‘No, don’t do it’. As tempting as it may be to save money,
or use skills learnt elsewhere, electrical work carries huge risks and it’s just
not worth attempting on your own.
Find a licensed team that is affordable, reliable and has the qualifications and
experience to sort the problem out. If budget is a constraint, talk to us about what options we
can provide. We offer highly competitive rates, efficient service timeframes
and most of all, you can rely on the safety of our work.
Do you offer both residential and commercial electrical work?
We certainly do. We can help with electrical work for your home or business,
whether it’s a new design and installation, during renovations or for regular
servicing or maintenance. We work with clients right across the Bayside region
of Melbourne, and Melbourne CBD, for everything from minor residential work
through to large industrial installations.
Can you help install or repair internet and phone cables?
We certainly can help with this. Our electrical contractors have the necessary
certifications and licenses to perform this type of electrical service, which
are issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This
type of licence shows that our team have completed the correct training to work
with data cables, and that work will be carried out under the Australian
Standards framework for wiring.
Can you assist with smoke alarm compliance?
We sure can. It’s imperative to ensure that your smoke alarms are serviced and
maintained on a regular basis. We are able to install new systems, including
smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detection systems and other systems to detect
smoke and fire, but generally, we are called out to maintain existing systems.
We can help you service your home system, and also provide services to realties
and body corporates.
How often should I schedule an electrical safety inspection?
This really depends on the purpose of your safety inspection, as there are
different guidelines for workplaces and homes. For some workplaces, testing will
be required more than once a year. In your home, it’s worth doing an inspection
every 5 years or so, but this can vary greatly depending on the age and history
of the building.
We can provide a detailed check on residential properties or commercial
electrical devices, cables, appliances, switchboards and wiring, to ensure your
safety and also compliance. If you have a specific electrical problem, we can
have a team member attend and perform testing and electrical fault finding, to
identify the fault and the right way to fix it.
Can you assist with advice in reducing my energy usage?
We certainly can. Our fully licenced electricians and electrical contractors can
give you advice and recommend solutions to increase your energy efficiency.
There are many ways that most households can decrease their energy consumption.
Common suggestions include installing energy-efficient lighting, using
energy-efficient appliances and utilising timers and smart technology for
lighting and other switches.
In some cases, large changes will be required for long-term benefits, but often
it’s a number of small changes that will make the difference.
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