Are old brittle undersized mains powering your house?
Many older homes throughout Geelong are supplied by a 6mm cable capable of carrying only 32amps.
The same size cable is what we would run to your average induction cooktop and smaller than what we would run to an EV charger, we also need that cable to power your house as well.
Some mains are also ran in older split metallic conduit when the insulation on the cabling breaks down it can short out on the conduit blowing your service fuse which is what happened in the photo on the left.
Do I need a single phase or three phase supply?
A single phase supply will be ample for many smaller homes.
Homes with larger electric appliances such as ducted air conditioning, pool pumps, hot water systems, multiple ovens, induction cooktops, spa, sauna, EV charging and battery storage three phase power is a conversation worth having.
With the electricity grid changing and power companies offering free power windows, three phase power allows you to draw triple the amount you could on a single phase supply. In a three hour window that would be 99kWh of free power instead of 33kWh. At 30 cents per kWh that adds to about $20 per day of extra free power by having a three phase supply.
Needing to increase your homes power supply?
If you are planning a renovation, purchasing an electric vehicle, air-conditioner, solar, battery or other high power draw item, it makes sense to set your power up right from the start, to make sure your home can safely handle these modern demands.
Your house will either be supplied:
Overhead supply - a wire from a power pole attaching to your house at a hook on the fascia or a raiser bracket (if you need extra height to meet the service and installation rules)
or
Underground supply - from an electrical pit either dedicated to your house or shared with your neighbours.
What does an overhead mains replacement involve?
Replacing your overhead service involves the following steps:
- A site visit to establish if your point of attachment (where the cable enters the house) meets current standards. If we are increasing capacity we may need to relocate and replace the POA or add a raiser bracket to meet today’s standards and clearances from roads and driveways
- A discussion to determine your existing and future loads, whether single or three phases would be recommended.
- Installing the mains cable from new POA to meter box position and installing a meter box if necessary.
- Scheduling a Powercor truck appointment to cutover your power from old mains to new mains this step takes a couple of weeks from booking.
- A switchboard upgrade is commonly completed at this stage also to bring your whole installation up to today’s standards.
- Sign off from a licensed electrical inspector and a prescribed certificate of electrical safety issued.
What does an underground mains replacement involve?
Replacing your underground service involves the following steps:
- A site visit to establish if you have an electricity pit.
- Engaging Powercor to check how much power we can draw from that pit.
- If there is no pit, a quotation to put a pit in.
- Excavation from the pit to your meterbox to install new conduit and mains.
- A Powercor truck appointment to cutover to new mains
- A switchboard upgrade and meter panel replacement is normally completed at this stage if require
Signs you may need a mains upgrade
- Your power frequently trips.
- Lights flicker on and off.
- Circuit breakers trip with overload.
- Burning smells at your switchboard.
- Older house with original wiring.
- Ceramic fuses.
- Your main switch is limited to 32 amp.