Makes it a bit of a joke really when it's legal for a handyman to DIY electrical and plumbing in the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Asia and the Americas. Same with automotive airconditioning. Back in the 70's Kmart sold pressure pack cans of "Freeze 12" (R12) to regas your aircon.
Whatever, a good reminder PeterQ.
Here's a bit about DIY and no "I told you so's" please!! I'm only telling this because I'm amongst friends. It's warts 'n all.
This afternoon I decided to break into our town water lines and run a "T" to a new tap about 10 metres from the "T". Our house is fairly new an has "PEX" plastic water pipes. So off to Bunnings, buy 15 metres of PEX 20mm hose, a"T" instant fit connector, an elbow and 20mm/3/4" connector. Turn the mains off in the street, crawl under the house which is on stumps about 500mm high, red clay for soil, cut into 20mm town water hose, connect "T" piece following instrructions which simply say "cut end of hose at 90deg and push into fitting" - do the rest, looks good, turn water back on and no apparent leaks so all is good.
Then, at 7PM tonight my good wife says she can hear something hissing from under the house. Get the torch and can see a 'geyser'. Delay dinner, turn mains off, crawl under house to inspect leak thru the mud etc.
Bodgy it up with tape etc (I didn't think it necessary to spend the extra $3.45 for the disconnect tool for the fittings with which I could have repaired the fittings). Tell patient wife that she needs to shower now and not just before going to bed as we will have no water overnight...also not to flush toilet....turn water off again....wipe mud from everywhere.
So it's back to Bunnings in the morning to get the disconnect tool to re-seat the fittings.
Now, sure enough I could have employed a plumber and it would have cost about $300.....going my DIY way I've spent about $50 and yes, the water is off at the main meaning we can only flush the toilet once, but it will be fixed in the morning. (we also have a tank supply but only for drinking)
I've saved $250, had a bit of hassle, more preparation/research and maybe I'd have had no hassle but it's been a lot more fun and challenge than just ringing a plumber and saying "do it".
Post script - 8am after all night with no water except tank (just an inconvenience) I fronted up at Bunnings to buy a disconnect tool and a spare 3 way fitting, but first I thought I'd call into a local plumbing store that does plumbing plus sell parts.....my first good move!. I explained my predicament with some embarassment and discovered that my problem is the result of the house using better/thicker grade PEX hoses than that sold by Bunnings/Masters where I bought the new hose that I planned on connecting. Bottom line was that the only way I could connect thicker PEX hose to cheaper hose was with crimp fittings - they could supply me with a 3 way crimp fitting fitting for $8 and also loan me the tool to crimp the fitting for return on Monday. Bunnings want $13 for a 3 way fitting and no loan of a tool - you are dreaming.
So bottom line was that if I'd gone to the local bloke that most older residents of Toowoomba go to, I would have got exactly what I wanted plus advice and a free loan of a tool. Best bit was that I got no lecture from the plumbers - just help.
After I fixed it all up and washed the mud from tools etc I accidently visited a BEAUT garage sale - got a really old mantle clock from a church plus silky oak duchess and hallstand for really good prices ($20 -120-120) plus I got the history of where they came from and who made them. Had I not stiuffed up the plumbing job I would never have scored these deals. Karma?
Hi Sheeds As Frank has said those SHALL be double pole switched, those you see are /should be auto switched by inserting the plug A good idea ,IMHO , no chance of kids poking in something metallic & getting a shock as could happen with a seperate switch
VIC COMPLIANCE CERT
Vic Does require a compliance cert before registration but does not consider the 240V wiring of the vans to be" proscribed ELECTRICAL work} Anyone can do it ,even untrained monkeys[not even evidence of any basic abilities]
BUT A licensed ELECTRICAL contractor SHALL TEST & issue a compliance certicate .i
Obviously his escape for any stuff ups that do not show up in the FINAL testing is covered by the wording used"-------as far as can be determined--------"" So all the customer gets is a piece of paper which basically means" it should not KILL you right at this moment but We have no idea of what it's like out of sight, In my converstaions I took that a liitle further & asked "what if something was found to be NON COMPLIANT the first day the purchaser used it,[ after the test certicate was issued & the van was handed over]?
The reply was "THAT would be the purchaser's problem as the non compliance could have been made after the van was handed over" r"
Needless to say I could not believe I was hearing that from an ESO compliance officer We Discussed THAT at some length but that was the only answer I got
So I sent an Email to the Dept head all I got was an email confirming the above was correct & that the matter had also been cheched with another divisiion
Yes I think there is a good reason why all the makers try to locate in VIC
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 6th of October 2013 11:13:55 PM
Interesting in Victoria with the electrical gurus at EnergySafe Victoria("ESV") stating that NO 240V Compliance Certificate is required for caravans or Motorhomes in Victoria as these RVs are classified as "appliances" because 240V supply comes from a plug-in arrangement. All other States require a 240v COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE to be sighted prior to registration being granted. Is this why there area bout 40 or so caravan builders out in Campbellfield just north of Melbourne CBD? Another issue that concerns me is the 1000s of unswitched outside 240V power points installed in the outside walls of caravans and Motorhomes. The ONLY safe way to use these is to plug in a powerboard with switched outlets so IF something happens - and it's not rare - there's a switch to turn off power rather than trying to pull out a cord. The only RV I've seen with a locked 240V pp compartment with a switched outlet is in Avida/Winnebagos and the NSW government requires 240V compliance certificates.
I think if you do some research you will find that the weatherproof outlets on the outside of caravans are switched by inserting a plug which causes the contacts to make and so turning the power on.
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Thanks for the input replies/posts folks. My concern about those "unswitched units" was simply O.H.& S. Safety must be a consideration IMHO. Yes,they're safe and kids won't get "sparked" poking in a fork or a piece of wire etc. But if a kid plugs in a piece of electrical equipment and that equipment is still turned "ON" at its switch,there could be a fright and the equipment is dropped or whatever. Scenario: If a person is using electrical equipment plugged into one of these units and falls over and hurts himself and drops the equipment and can't reach it but needs the equipment turned off, that person is in a bit of bother - say a small chainsaw or drill. Turnign a switch off which a child can do might just be safer than trying to pull the cord out? yes? Just me being safety obsessive! I do like the various opinions and comments,but I'm a frightened DIYer staying away from water supply lines!
