What are residential electrical jobs?

Residential electrical jobs cover all electrical work within homes. Residential electricians ensure your home's power is safe and reliable.

• Installation: This includes wiring new homes, installing light fixtures, ceiling fans, appliances, and adding or relocating outlets and switches. They also set up low-voltage systems like doorbells and smart home tech, as well as EV charging stations and security system wiring.

• Repairs & Troubleshooting: They diagnose and fix common electrical problems like flickering lights, tripped breakers, and faulty outlets. They also repair circuit issues and handle emergencies like power outages.

• Upgrades & Maintenance: Electricians update older wiring, upgrade breaker boxes, install safety switches (RCDs), and perform general electrical maintenance. They can also install solar panels and whole-home generators.

Residential electricians must know electrical codes (like AS/NZS 3000 in New Zealand) and follow strict safety procedures. They work directly with homeowners to ensure satisfaction.

What are industrial automation electrical jobs ?

Industrial automation electrical jobs focus on the electrical systems within automated industrial settings like factories and processing plants. These roles are highly specialized and critical for keeping modern industry running.

• Installation & Commissioning: Install and wire complex electrical components for automated systems, including motors, sensors, control panels, and robotics. They get new machinery and systems up and running, ensuring everything works as designed.

• PLC & HMI Work: A key part of the job involves programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which are the "brains" of automated machinery. They also develop Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), allowing operators to monitor and control these systems.

• Troubleshooting & Maintenance: They diagnose and fix electrical faults quickly to minimise production downtime. This includes repairing components, performing preventative maintenance, and responding to emergency breakdowns.

• System Optimisation: They work to improve existing systems for better efficiency, energy use, and safety.

• Safety & Compliance: Strict adherence to electrical codes and safety regulations is paramount in these high-stakes environments.

Skills & Qualifications (New Zealand):

You'll need a New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4), typically obtained through an apprenticeship. Crucially, you must then register with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) to legally practice. Beyond that, strong troubleshooting skills and expertise in PLC programming are highly valued.

What is Electric Car Charging?

Electric car charging is the process of supplying electricity to an electric vehicle's (EV) battery to power it. Similar to how you refuel a petrol car, EVs are "recharged" by plugging them into a power source.

There are three main "levels" of charging:

• Level 1 (Slow AC): Uses a standard household power socket (like a normal wall plug). It's very slow, taking many hours or even days for a full charge, best for overnight topping up of smaller batteries like those in Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs).

• Level 2 (Fast AC): Uses a dedicated wall-mounted charger (often installed at home or public places like shopping centers). This is significantly faster, charging most EVs overnight or in a few hours. Your car converts the AC power to DC for the battery.

• Level 3 (DC Fast Charging / Rapid Charging): Found at dedicated public charging stations, these are the fastest chargers. They convert AC to DC power at the station before sending it directly to the car's battery, allowing for very quick charges (e.g., 80% in 20-30 minutes).

In New Zealand, various public charging networks (like ChargeNet, Z Energy, BP, Zero) offer Level 2 and Level 3 charging. Different EV models use specific connectors (e.g., Type 2, CCS, CHAdeMO), and apps or fobs are typically used to activate public chargers.

Why would you want an EV charger install at home or at the office ?

Installing an EV charger at home or the office offers significant benefits for both convenience and cost.

At Home:

• Convenience: Charge overnight while you sleep and wake up to a full battery, ready for your daily commute or errands. No more detours to public stations.

• Cost Savings: Home charging, especially during off-peak electricity hours, is typically much cheaper than using public chargers. If you have solar panels, you can charge using your own generated power.

• Faster Charging: Dedicated home chargers (Level 2) are significantly faster than plugging into a standard wall outlet.

• Property Value: An EV charger can add value to your home and make it more appealing to future buyers as EV adoption grows.

• Peace of Mind: Reduces "range anxiety" knowing you have a reliable charging point at your residence.

At the Office:

• Employee Retention & Attraction: Offering workplace charging is a highly valued perk, improving employee satisfaction and attracting eco-conscious talent.

• Sustainability Goals: Demonstrates your company's commitment to environmental responsibility and helps reduce your carbon footprint.

• Convenience for Employees: Allows staff to charge their vehicles while they work, eliminating the need to find public chargers during their personal time.

• Fleet Management: Ideal for businesses with electric vehicle fleets, ensuring vehicles are always charged and ready.

• Potential Revenue: Some businesses can generate income by offering charging to the public or visitors after hours.

What is a PLC and a VSD?

A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is an industrial computer used to automate machinery and processes. It continuously monitors inputs (like sensors or switches), makes decisions based on its programmed logic, and then controls outputs (like motors or valves). PLCs are rugged, reliable, and easily reprogrammable, making them the "brains" behind assembly lines, robotic devices, and various industrial operations. They've replaced older, less flexible relay systems.

A VSD (Variable Speed Drive), also known as a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), is an electronic device that controls the speed and torque of an electric motor. Instead of just turning a motor on or off at full speed, a VSD varies the frequency and voltage of the electrical power supplied to it. This allows the motor to run at precisely the speed required by the application. VSDs significantly improve energy efficiency (especially for fans and pumps), reduce wear and tear on machinery, and provide much more precise control over industrial processes.

How to find if my electrician is qualified?

In New Zealand, you can verify if an electrician has a valid practicing license through the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB).

Here's how:

1. Ask to see their license ID: All licensed electrical workers must carry a physical or digital license ID. Check that it hasn't expired and the photo matches the worker.

2. Use the Electrical Worker Public Register: The EWRB provides an online Public Register where you can search for electrical workers.
   
   

   • Go to the EWRB website (ewrb.govt.nz).

   • Look for the "Search the Electrical Worker Public Register" or similar link.

   • You can search by the electrician's name or their registration number (found on their license card).

   • The register will confirm if their license is current and what "classes" of registration they hold, which specify the type of electrical work they are licensed to undertake.

It's always recommended to verify an electrician's license before they begin any work to ensure they are competent and legally able to perform the job safely.

Does an electrical repair need a COC for a repair?

In New Zealand, whether an electrical repair needs a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) depends on the nature of the repair work.

Here's a breakdown based on New Zealand's Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010:

• Fixed Wiring Work (General Risk Work): If the repair involves fixed wiring work, alterations, or additions to the electrical installation (e.g., replacing a damaged section of a cable in a wall, adding a new power point, relocating an existing switch), then a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is required. This also typically includes an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) section, often combined into one document (CoC/ESC).

• Maintenance Work (Low Risk Work): For routine maintenance, repairs, or like-for-like replacements that do not involve altering fixed wiring (e.g., replacing a faulty light fitting with a new one of the same type, replacing a broken socket outlet with a new one in the same location, repairing an appliance), a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is generally NOT required. However, an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) is required to confirm the work is safe to use.

Key takeaway: If an electrician is doing more than a simple like-for-like swap or minor repair, and is working on the fixed wiring, you should expect a CoC (which includes the ESC). If it's just routine maintenance, an ESC is sufficient.

It's always best practice to ask your electrician what certification they will provide before they start the work. They are legally required to provide the appropriate documentation within 20 working days of completing the work.

What is a ESC?

In New Zealand, an ESC stands for Electrical Safety Certificate.

It's a crucial legal document that a licensed electrician provides after completing prescribed electrical work (PEW). Its main purpose is to give a legally recognisable statement that the electrical installation, or the part of it that was worked on, is safe to use and has been connected to a power supply.

Here's a quick summary:

• Purpose: To certify that completed electrical work is safe and compliant with the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.

• When it's needed: An ESC is always required for any prescribed electrical work. For low-risk work (like simple repairs or like-for-like replacements), an ESC alone is often sufficient. For higher-risk work (like new wiring or major alterations), an ESC is typically issued as part of a combined Certificate of Compliance (CoC/ESC).

• Who issues it: Only a licensed and registered electrician can issue an ESC.

• Key information: It includes details about the work, the location, the date, and the certifier's name and registration number.

• Why it's important: It ensures electrical safety, provides a legal record of the work, and can be important for insurance purposes or when selling a property. You should keep a copy for at least seven years.