Us Kiwi's are a true bunch of DIYers
Thinking of doing some electrical DIY?
Do you know what electrical jobs you can undertake on your property?
There are some DIY projects that just need additional thoughts of caution and working with electricity is one ... however, according to the Electricity Act 1992, there are a few simple electrical tasks that you, as a DIYer, are allowed to do yourself.
However, you must own and live in the property. So if you rent your home, or plan to do work as a landlord on your tenant’s place, you’ll have to employ a qualified electrician.
Plus, the work you’re allowed to undertake yourself only applies to “low voltage electrical installations when there is no payment or reward”.
New Zealand regulations states that you can remove and replace any of the following kinds of electrical fittings, as long as the work does not involve a switchboard.
Permitted work:
Replacing or repairing electrical switches, socket outlets, lamp holders, ceiling roses
Replacing water heater switches, thermostats and elements
Moving, repairing or replacing flexible cords that are permanently connected to outlets or ceiling roses
Disconnecting and reconnecting permanently wired appliances
Moving switches, sockets and lighting outlets (only if they are wired with tough plastic-sheathed cables)
Installing, extending, or altering any cables, except the main cables that come from the street to your switchboard
Fitting plugs, cord extension sockets or appliance connectors to a flexible cord
Replacing fuse wires and fuse cartridges
Before you start work, ensure
You’re confident you know what you’re doing and have the necessary knowledge and skills
The power is turned off at the mains
Any device you’re working on is unplugged
You are not working where conductors or terminals are live or could become live
For the more confident DIY sparky
the law does also permit a bit of home wiring. Although if you’re installing, extending or altering cables, you’re not allowed to connect your work to the electricity supply yourself.
The finished job has to be checked and tested by a licensed electrical inspector. If it complies with safety requirements, the inspector will connect it, test it, and issue you with a Certificate of Compliance.
Given the cost vs safety scenario, you’re better off just getting the wiring done by a professional electrician in the first place - so let's have a chat about what your DIYing involves and we'll work out a suitable solution bespoke to your plans.
Disclaimer: information from this article was copied from Canstarblue.co.nz, written and post by Bruce Pitchers on 01/04/2022; Beaumont Electrical take no liability in the accuracy of this information.
