I've had my boss do his own electrical work but he swears he didn't..

Anyway the "new" PowerPoint has the switches underneath. He claims his sparky has no problem with it the way it is.

I figured there must be some building code that requires easy access to the off switch and what about splashed water?

Any Seabreezers qualified to provide an opinion?

That type of outlet is designed to be mounted vertically not horizontally. Unsure if it is actually illegal but no sparky in their right mind would do that.

the power point is in the right place, the bloody clock needs turning 90*
Wheres ya sense of adventure

Definitely illegal. The earth pin must point downwards. At least that's the law in Tassie. As it was pointed out before no licensed sparky would do that.
Also if there is the possibility of water being splashed around there may be the requirement to have an outlet with a higher IP ( weatherproof ) rating installed.
If you have a shower with a handheld shower head then there are minimum distances that a standard outlet like that can be mounted within.

The problem is the clock is not level

IP53 weather protected. The wiring at the back may make the stainless table live aswel . You need to get a liscenced electrician before you get yourself electrocuted He has a duty of care to ensure your workplace is safe. I would place that electrical installation into a HIGH RISK of electrocution category in its current state.You have the option to refuse to work there.




www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/electricity/homeowners-and-consumers/dontdiy

Cheers for the replies.

First up if the clock is wrong why is gravity correct.

Wayneos and Buster, thanks for the replies. I can always resign but I'd rather dob him in and watch him pay the fines. Plus I do like? my job. Yeah I'm weird. Of course no electrician would do it.

Still I'd like know definitively if the earth has to be at the bottom.

Like busterwa says. It is attached to a metal surface and therefore highly unsafe and illegal.

If something is not good practice it does not necessarily mean it does not comply to code. From the photo provided it is impossible to determine if any regs have been broken. Being mounted on stainless does automatically mean it is in wet location and I am unaware of any regulations that stipulates switch or earth pin orientation. Also difficult to determine if the metal plate it is mounted to is adequately earthed.

if you are concerned call Energy Safe in your state and raise your concerns. If it is legit paperwork should have been issued and they will have someone inspect the work for compliance, if not legit they will investigate what is going on, either way it should be a win/win result. Talk to them about ananimity if you are worried.

From the responses, not sure how many qualified Sparkies replied. Incorrect advice from an unqualified person can be as dangerous as work done by an unqualified person...

Select to expand quote

slammin said..
Cheers for the replies.

First up if the clock is wrong why is gravity correct.

Wayneos and Buster, thanks for the replies. I can always resign but I'd rather dob him in and watch him pay the fines. Plus I do like? my job. Yeah I'm weird. Of course no electrician would do it.

Still I'd like know definitively if the earth has to be at the bottom.

Why dob him in
just tell him you reckon it's a bit dodgy and your not willing to work near or around it and you'd like to see it fixed up
old mate might just be trying to save a bit of coin to pay you his other staff and help you pay your bills and support your family

Select to expand quote

cauncy said..

slammin said..
Cheers for the replies.

First up if the clock is wrong why is gravity correct.

Wayneos and Buster, thanks for the replies. I can always resign but I'd rather dob him in and watch him pay the fines. Plus I do like? my job. Yeah I'm weird. Of course no electrician would do it.

Still I'd like know definitively if the earth has to be at the bottom.

Why dob him in
just tell him you reckon it's a bit dodgy and your not willing to work near or around it and you'd like to see it fixed up
old mate might just be trying to save a bit of coin to pay you his other staff and help you pay your bills and support your family

As I stated in the 1st post I did. That's why I want to know if it's illegal, so I can confront him again. Fwiw it was originally a single power point as well.

I have also advised my colleagues not to use it either.

The bit of coin he's saved will be appreciated on his 2week holiday overseas.

Re the stainless, it isn't mounted to it it is just fascia.

Botton line, can't tell from the photo provided if non compliant, poor workmanship sure.

Also you don't have to be using an unsafe outlet for it to be dangerous.

Yes I am a Sparky...

Where's the cover plate?

There is no problem mounting a vertical gpo horizontally. Or mounting it on the stainless splash back as long as the back of the gpo is shrouded and the stainless is correctly earthed.
If its water splashing on it that you are worried about, it shouldn't be in a wet zone, lots of reg's on that, but your pic and description doesn't give enough detail to evaluate.
Vertical gpo's actually cost more than horizontal, so would actually cost more to install this, unless it was a second hand left over being reused??????
Being next to a clock you would assume it was high up on a wall, so probably not in a wet zone ??????? but need more info to know for sure.

Being wet isn't an issue, it's at head height 2m from a sink.

The big question for me is in regards to the earth pin. so up down or sideways. What's legal?

Mounting this vertical gpo horizontal is ok as long as the other issue, of mounting on a conductor, like stainless, is addressed.

Originally there was no convention as to the direction of the Earth pin. Often it was facing upwards, as socket-outlets in China now do but it could also be downwards or horizontal, in either direction.[15] The pin orientation was codified in the 1950s with the Earth pin required to face downwards[citation needed], so that the longer Earth pin will be the last to lose contact if the inserted plug is tugged downwards. If products destined for the Chinese market are exported, the bottom entry plug becomes a top entry plug, and the customer will often take advantage of the situation by suspending the power cord upwards.

Got this from Wikipedia which has quite a lot of info on Aust sockets . However as I already stated it is definitely law in Tassie. It's in the AS/NZS wiring rules book .

Yes, what?

I'll answer both questions raised in this thread.
1) Mounting on stainless is legal.
2) Earth pin needs to be at the bottom.
No if's no but's.
I'm a sparky.

All wiring should come under Australian Standard AS3000.

You can look them up online at your local library free of charge.

This way you can validate what Greenroom, Wayno etc say (which seem to be correct).

(I'm a builder who has to sort out facts from bull**** with subcontractors- you can never argue with the Australian Standard).

Clarence