Author Archives: ajpalmer

Safety Switches – Are you protected?

Have you tested the Safety Switches at your place recently? Worksafe QLD recommends you test your Safety Switches every 3 months!
You should be familiar with the safety switches inside your electricity box or switchboard which is usually located on the side of your house. The Safety Switch will have a Test or “T” button next to it. The test button could be various colours and sizes depending on the model installed. Testing the Safety Switch is as simple as pressing the Test button. If the switch flicks off and cuts the power, it is working correctly. If it does not cut the power, call AJ Palmer Electrical immediately.

*Note – This testing process cuts the power to the household – make sure you let everyone know within the house especially if anyone is using a computer.

Electrical box containing the safety switches

What are Safety Switches for?

Safety Switches protect you, your family and visitors from electric shock, devastating damage to your home or death. However, despite the importance of the safety switch there are many misconceptions and common myths that unfortunately means it gets overlooked.

A safety switch monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit and turns off the power in a fraction of a second if a leakage of current is detected, this is different to a Circuit Breaker. For example, if you have switched on a faulty toaster, hair dryer or other electrical device the Safety Switch will trip and cut all power to the entire house. You will find that power points and lights will not switch on. Circuit breakers provide short-circuit protection such as when a power point is over loaded and only this circuit will be affected.

You may have multiple Safety Switches within your switchboard for various different circuits. Sometimes separate Safety Switches are required for the following circuits: Solar panels, hot water, pool equipment, air conditioning, power points, lighting and many more.

Worksafe Queensland have produced a short video to show what to look for within your home switchboard.

If you are unsure which circuits are protected in your home AJ Palmer Electrical can review your existing wiring and advise if you are adequately protected.

Safety switches are not a substitute for common sense!

Faulty appliances, frayed electrical cords, overloaded power sockets and appliances that are leaking water must be dealt with accordingly and either repaired or discarded immediately.

Energex Positive Payback

Energex rewards customers and businesses who connect energy hungry appliances to economy tariffs or who install technologies that make their equipment operate more efficiently when the electricity network experiences peak demand.
For more information please see the below. AJ Palmer Electrical can assist you in connecting your appliances to these tariffs today. Give us a call!

Energex Positive Payback

Swimming Pool Lighting

Swimming Pool lighting can sometimes be an afterthought when you are planning your pool area. When we think swimming pools, we think daytime & sunshine fun. With winter in full swing, and the sun going down earlier and earlier, let’s not waste the great outdoors. It’s all about creating a fantastic, usable outdoor entertainment area for your family and friends to enjoy any time – day or night. Swimming Pool lighting can not only improve the atmosphere and ambiance of your outdoor entertainment area, but it also provides a level of safety that is extremely important around water after the sun goes down.

Beautiful LED Swimming Pool Lighting

AJ Palmer Electrical can help you to light up not only the swimming pool with underwater lights, but the surrounding landscapes to ensure the Pool zone is well lit for safety reasons, showing nearby pathways or outlining the edge of your swimming pool. Adding fairy lights or feature lights in trees will create an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone well after the sun has gone down.

LED pool lights are recommended for swimming pool lighting, and underwater usage as they are energy efficient and have a much longer lifespan than traditional light bulbs. They are available in a wide variety of colours, but if you can’t just settle on just one colour – colour changing LED pool lights are available that can be programmed to change colours to a variety of different rhythms and patterns.

Landscape / Safety lighting

There are 2 main types of flood lighting that should be considered here – LED and Halogen. LED is again, much more energy efficient and tends to last a lot longer. Halogen lights may be more affordable in the short term but you will need to regularly change the bulbs which is not necessary with LED lighting. You should be careful not to take away from the ambiance of your pool area by over illuminating. It is easy to do with flood lights, but rest assured our team has the experience and know how to provide a safe and practical solution for your home.

Feature lighting

AJ Palmer Electrical Swimming Pool Lighting

Outdoor Entertainment Lighting

There is no limit here – AJ Palmer Electrical can help you light up trees, waterfalls, gazebos, decks and pathways. Give us a call today, and let us help you start planning the outdoor entertainment area of your dreams.

For a dash of inspiration check out these awesome ideas!

Winter is coming… Heating Installation

Winter is fast approaching and some of us are already starting to feel the chill in the air. Our heating installation experts at AJ Palmer Electrical can provide a quality service to install the right heating option for your needs and intended usage.

All electrical heaters come with their own list of Pros and Cons, depending on the level of usage, location and size of the room you are trying to heat. Electrical Fire Heaters and Panel heaters are a popular, energy efficient and safe choice when it comes to Heating appliances and AJ Palmer Electrical can provide the right advice when it comes down to making these important decisions. Our solutions are safe, energy saving and include all manufactures warranties.

Electric Fire Heater

Alternatively – if you already have an Electrical heating appliance that may not have seen the light of day since last winter, it is important that you conduct some safety checks prior to using them.

Electric heaters such as Radiant Heaters, Oil-filled Column Heaters, Convection Heaters and Fan Heaters should be checked for obvious damage before use. Things to look for are rusted reflectors and frayed or damaged power cords from rodents, old age or over use.

AJ Palmer Electrical offer testing and tagging services for home users and businesses and will ensure your mind is at ease when using your heating appliances this winter.

Indoor heaters pose many risks which can vary depending on the type of heater and must always be used with caution. Following a few key safety tips, will help to keep you and your family safe and warm this winter:

Never leave electric heaters unattended.
Place the heater in a location away from heavy foot traffic or children & pets and on a level surface.
Avoid placing portable heaters on table tops – unless specifically designed for this purpose.
Keep flammable materials away from all heaters – this includes curtains, upholstery, towels and clothes.
Avoid plugging your heater into power boards, double adaptors and extension cords. Heaters draw large amounts of power and may overload the supply.

Call AJ Palmer today for a free quote for all your heating needs – Heating Installation, Testing & Tagging, or advice on the right system for you!

Don’t Die for DIY Electrical Renovations

As the popular reality TV Series “Reno Rumble” and “House Rules” hit’s our TV screens again this month, we are all bound to get that itch for some home DIY electrical renovations ourselves. The ideas will be coming in at the speed of light to knock down walls. Expand the kitchen to include that amazing marble island bench including power points for the wine fridge underneath. Add some sparkling pendant lights above the dinner room table. Or mounting the TV in the middle of the lounge room wall with no exposed cables.

Before you grab the sledge hammer – think long and hard about what lies behind those walls. What maze of electrical wiring will you uncover? Will the cabling be frayed and has it been exposed to rodents over the years? If the work you are planning on doing is beyond changing a light bulb – call AJ Palmer Electrical, the best Electricians North Brisbane can offer.

Don’t Die for DIY Electrical Renovations

You may think after watching a few You-Tube videos ‘how hard can it be’…but STOP and ask yourself – is it worth risking the life of a loved one, to save a few dollars on tradesman costs?

AJ Palmer Electrical will work with you to devise a safe and cost effective plan that will ensure all your renovation dreams come to light, without putting your family at risk.

idea lightbulb - DIY Electrical Renovations

Lightbulb moment!

Laws & Regulations around DIY Electrical Renovations

The following information is a general overview of just some of the laws and regulations you must be aware of before attempting any work on the electrical systems around your home.

Queensland has penalties of up to $100,000 or two years imprisonment if illegal work results in serious injury or death. The maximum penalty for multiple deaths is $200,000 or three years imprisonment.

Under Queensland’s Electrical Safety Act 2002, forbidden tasks include:

installing a new power point.
replacing a light switch.
replacing a batten holder with a new light fitting.
repairing an appliance such as a heater.
altering the location of an existing power point.
replacing a light fitting with a ceiling fan.
constructing an extension lead.
replacing a plug on the end of a lead.

On top of the penalties for injury or death, The Queensland government website also has the chilling warning that “DIY electrical work is regarded as unlicensed electrical work, which is illegal and has penalties of up to $40,000 for individuals.” Gulp!

So don’t be fooled by the array of electrical goodies available to you in your local Bunnings store. You don’t need to be licenced to buy them, but you most certainly need to be licensed to install most of them. The law is black and white when it comes to working on electrical systems in your home.

Remember if you plan on doing any DIY electrical renovations – ensure AJ Palmer Electrical is your first point of call!

For more information please see the QLD Electrical Safety Act

Economy Tariff 33 Extended Rewards

A pool pump is one of the top electricity draining items that can lead to large electricity bills well into the thousands if you are not signed up to the Economy Tariff 33. The energy used by each individual pool will vary across households. 30% of the household electricity costs can be attributed to the pool pump. This can be more than your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher combined!

Continue reading →

Link

As the weather warms up, make sure your air conditioning system is ready to take the heat. The last thing you want is to have your air conditioner unit break during a hot summer day. Having your air conditioning system work properly is essential so you can stay comfortable.

When you start to do your spring-cleaning, include your air conditioning system on your to-do list. This maintenance will ensure you stay cool when temperatures begin to soar.

Follow these awesome tips by AJ Palmer Electrical for a happy & healthy Air Conditioner.

How to prepare your air conditioner for the summer months

1. Run Your Air Conditioner Before It Gets Hot

Most home owners wait until the heat feels unbearable to turn on their air conditioning system. If your air conditioner has broken over the winter, you won’t have a way to stay cool in the summer. Additionally, repair time will likely take longer because the first few weeks of summer are often a busy time of year for electricians.

Start your air conditioner at least a month before summer to make sure everything works properly. If your system doesn’t run smoothly, give AJ Palmer Electrical a call!

To test your air conditioner, clean the area around it to prevent debris from getting into it. Then,
remove the cover on the outdoor unit. Turn on the system and close the humidifier bypass. Give your system an hour to start cooling. After an hour, make sure the system is cooling and that the unit condenser doesn’t show signs of icing.

2. Check the Air Filters

If you have some experience, you can likely change the filter without help from from our electricians. You may need to replace the filter as often as every 30 days if you use your unit frequently.

More expensive filters may last up to six months without needing replacement, depending on the brand.

You should check the filters, heat pump and furnace. Home owners who don’t change their filters often may overwork their systems, which leads to equipment failure and costly repairs.

3. Clean the Vents

Make sure your system has proper airflow. If you can’t feel air blowing smoothly throughout your home, you may need to clean the vents. To clean this area, remove the unit cover and remove accumulated debris. Regularly cleaning your unit will ensure your system runs efficiently and lasts longer.

4. Check the Insulation and Ductwork

Check your ductwork for any leaks. If you suspect a problem, have a HVAC technician perform a pressure test. This test will determine if your ductwork is running efficiently. If needed, a technician can also seal and insulate leaks to enhance the performance of your cooling system. AJ Palmer Certified Master electricians may also be able to assist with this step.

5. Program the Thermostat

Running your air conditioner all day and night will cost you a lot of money on your energy bill. Instead, set your thermostat to run less often when you’re away from home.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider installing one. These devices can help you save money on your energy bill and extend the life of your air conditioning system. You may want to consider installing a Wi-Fi-compatible system so you can adjust the temperature from your mobile device.

6. Update Your System

Springtime is the perfect season to upgrade your current unit if you have an older system. A new air conditioning unit will reduce the risk of the unit breaking down. It can also save you money throughout the summer. Consult with AJ Palmer Electrical to help you determine a suitable system for your home.

Try these simple spring-cleaning tips so you can extend the life of your cooling system and save on your utility bill. Remember the small details can make a big
difference.

For more information, give AJ Palmer Electrical a call. We service all suburbs in and around North Brisbane!

4 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills

A look at your monthly energy bills might cause your jaw to drop. If your energy usage (and overall costs) are significantly higher than you expected, you may wonder how to bring those numbers down.

After all,you don’t want to spend a fortune on energy bills-especially if you have other expenses and fun activities you need to pay for.

By adding efficient appliances to your home is the best way to reduce your consumption. But if you can’t afford these sometimes-costly appliances, you may wonder if you can even lower your bills at all.

Reduce your building’s energy consumption and bills at little or no extra cost!

Avoid bill shock by following AJ Palmer Electrical hot tips!

1. Use Your Ceiling Fans

If your home or office has ceiling fans, use them. In the warm summer months, this extra breeze allows cool air to circulate regularly throughout each room. As a result, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool down your building.

Likewise, you can change the direction the fan turns so they can circulate warm air in the cooler months. Simply flip the switch on the fan and turn the device on.

2. Properly Fill Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers stand as one of the best modern conveniences we have. But they can also use more electricty than
expected. Unless you replace your dishwasher with an efficient model, you won’t reduce the amount of electricity this appliance uses.

However, if you properly fill your dishwasher before you run it, you won’t have to use it as much, reducing the amount of energy you use to wash dishes. Avoid running the dishwasher when it’s only partially full. Stack your dishes methodically so you can fit more pieces inside the trays. Then, run the dishwasher once it’s been completely filled. The fewer loads of dishes you wash, the less energy your building uses.

3. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Likewise, washers consume a lot of energy. Specifically, washers use a lot of electricity to heat water up each cycle. But if you wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot, you’ll easily reduce your consumption.

If you must wash clothing in warm or hot water, try to use your washer later at night. Some energy companies may offer discounted rates for using energy during non-peak hours (typically after 10pm.), so you may just save some money by doing laundry in the evening.

4. Unplug Unused Items at Night

Even if your electronics and appliances are turned off, they still use energy if they’re plugged into the outlet. Before you go to bed each night, walk through your home and unplug any electronics and appliances that aren’t being used, including:

Blenders
Electric can openers
Hair appliances
Laptops (specifically their chargers)
Phones and the chargers
Slow cookers
Toaster ovens

If you have certain appliances or electronics that can’t be unplugged in the evening, set them on a timer so they use less energy.

For example, if you watch TV just before you go to sleep, you can set a timer so that the device shuts off at a certain hour. Even though it will still use energy as it’s plugged in, it won’t consume as much energy as it would if it had been left on all night.

Ready to cut your energy consumption and save on energy costs? Use the tips above to get started. Once you make a few small changes around your home or office, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save on your energy bills.

For larger changes, talk to a local electrician and a contractor. These professionals can tell you which items best work for your property type. They’ll also make any modifications to your building so you can keep everyone inside safe from any potential risks.

To learn more about how an electrician can help you improve your home or office building, read our other blog articles.

Problems With Your Electrical? 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional

When your lights flicker or your electrical outlets spark, you may feel tempted to grab your tool belt and set to work. After all, how hard could electrical repairs be?

But before you switch off that circuit breaker, keep in mind that some jobs are best left to the
professionals, including your electrical.

Leave your electrical work to AJ Palmer Electrical

If you’re not convinced, take a look at the reasons why we should do that electrical work for you!

1. Safety

As a DIY-er, you may already understand that some home repairs come with varying levels of risk. You may crush your thumb as you try to hit a nail with your hammer. Or you may fall off the roof when you attempt to clean the gutters.

But when you struggle with your electrical, you increase your risk for injury dramatically. Electric shock can damage the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It can also lead to fires and severe property damage.

2. Cost-Efficiency

When you fix most things on your own, you can save a great deal in parts and labour. You can find replacement fixtures on sale, and you don’t have to worry about paying yourself.

However, you don’t have a guarantee that your electrical repairs will last you for days, let alone months or even years. If your appliances must run on poorly fixed wiring or circuits, you may soon see premature wear and tear on connecting motors and gears. As a result, you may need to continually replace varying parts of your unit or machine. And in extreme cases, you may have to replace your entire appliance.

3. Speed

Unless you have an electrician’s background or education, you may have to teach yourself a few things before you can properly diagnose or repair a problem.

To replace a worn-out outlet or fan belt, for example, you may need to read multiple articles, watch countless videos and ask a few friends for advice before you feel comfortable enough handling the job on your own. And despite your research, you may still struggle to handle unfamiliar tools and force parts to slide into small spaces.

4. Accuracy

Lights flicker for various reasons. The bulb might not properly connect to the socket. The circuit may have come loose. Another appliance may have overwhelmed your home’s ampacity.

Unless you have the right tools for a diagnosis, you may struggle to accurately pinpoint the precise nature of your electrical problem. Though you can guess and check each theory, you may feel overwhelmed at the sheer number of possible solutions to your unique situation.

Furthermore, as you tear into your walls or pull out your wiring to find the problem, you may cause additional damage to other parts of your electrical. What starts out as a loose connection could quickly spiral into a snapped cable.

5. Legal

Australian law allows you to swap out dead lightbulbs and install battery-operated smoke detectors without too much fuss.

However, due to high safety risks, most electrical work requires an experienced, licensed professional. If you attempt to do your own wiring without a license, you could potentially incur penalties of up to $100,000 and even end up with two years of jail time. If your unprofessional wiring causes death or injury, the penalties will become even more severe.

Consequently, you should never replace a light switch, install a new power point, replace a plug on the end of a lead or perform similar electrical tasks on your own.

Don’t Wait to Call an Expert

Although you can handle a variety of DIY projects, don’t hesitate to call AJ Palmer Electrical for all your electrical needs in North Brisbane and surrounding suburbs.

For more information please see Worksafe QLD

Upgrade Your Home With These 5 Modern Electrical Features

Electrical upgrades increase your home’s value, but they also enhance your life. Consider how amazing it would feel to have a night-time pool party with pool lighting, or plan a movie party with home theatre equipment.

Here are some of the ways you can upgrade your home with electrical & lighting features:

1. Home Theatre Lighting and Equipment

You love watching movies with your family on weekends or inviting friends to your home to watch football games. Why not turn a room in your house into a home theatre? Your home will become the place everyone will love to gather.

But preparing a home theatre system isn’t easy. Just think of all the components you need to set up:

Television
DVD or Blu-ray player
Home theatre receiver
Six or seven speakers and a subwoofer
Speaker cables
Audio cables
Video cables
Remote
Power protection unit

Call us for all your Home Theatre & Lighting requirements.

Call on AJ Palmer certified electrician’s to install your television and surround system. We will ensure all the components work correctly and stay protected from dangers such as power surges.

2. Flood Lights

You’ve seen flood lights in sports stadiums and movie theatres. Now, you can enhance your outdoor space with powerful flood lights.

Flood Lighting can really enhance and secure your area.

Flood lights can light your stairway, entryway, garage or yard. They can help you feel more secure when you get home late at night, and they can help keep intruders away. They also allow you to enjoy the outdoors with family members and guests.

3. Pool Lighting and Sound

You enjoy swimming with your family all summer long. But think how much more exciting your pool parties will be when you add pool lighting. With pool lights, you can swim at any time of the day or night.

Give AJ Palmer Electrical a call for all your Pool lighting needs.

Our electrician’s can make your pool party even more exciting by installing a speaker system. Imagine swimming and tanning to the sounds of your favourite music. It’s possible with the work of an electrician.

4. Dimmers

If you’re sharing a romantic dinner with your spouse, your normal lighting just seems too glaring. Fortunately, you can change the lighting to the level you want with a dimmer switch.

An electrician can install a new dimmer switch to help you create an intimate setting. You simply adjust the knob to choose your preferred lighting option.

5. Downlights

You may want to focus light on an important area, such as the kitchen table.

To enhance the light in certain areas of your home, consider downlights. Electricians install downlights into holes in the ceiling, where the lights can shine on your entire room or focus on a certain area.

Downlights also use less energy than other types of lighting, saving you money.

Are you ready to upgrade your home? Call an electrician to implement one or more of these exciting modern features.