Quote:
Originally Posted by Somnium
never mind, i will call the electrician tomorrow and have a talk with him.
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Hi Aidan,
That's the best approach.
In some jurisdictions in the world, for example I believe in New Zealand,
you can legally do many wiring tasks on systems not yet connected
to the power box as long as you follow the Code of Practice and then you
have to have them certified by a licensed inspector.
In the various states of Australia, no such concession exists that I am aware of.
Certainly not in states such as NSW or Queensland.
However there is the potential for real hazard.
For example, there is the ongoing Infinity brand cable recall where
between 2010 to 2013 an estimated 40,000 homes and commercial
buildings in Australia have been wired up with cable that has poor
quality insulation that becomes brittle and fails, which can then lead to
the risk of shock and fires.
https://www.accc.gov.au/update/infin...e-its-too-late
When you mentioned you have a copper grounding rod, that rang
warning bells for me. An additional safety earth may or may not be
recommended depending on the wiring code and what existing earth
leakage protection you may have.
Inadvertently bypassing an existing earth leakage detection by adding
a second grounding point may bring about a shock hazard for those
in the house. Years from now, perhaps after you have sold the house,
if a toddler were to poke something in a power point in the house and
the earth leakage not trip because of incorrect grounding practice
in the observatory, it could kill them.
Given that observatories are open to the skies at night where rain and
dew can be present, it would be best to treat them as one would an
outdoor installation.
So anyone reading this in the DIY Observatories thread is best advised
to ensure any electrical work is carried out in accordance to the laws
of the jurisdiction in which they reside.
Best Regards
Gary