Top Tips to choose the right wire for your Electrical appliances
With all wiring even on electrical appliances, you need to have your electrician on the Gold Coast make any repairs or changes by law. If you want to take a look yourself to see what may be wrong, then first make sure the appliance is completely disconnected from the mains supply and understand that you must have your local electrician on the Gold Coast check it for you before you plug it back in.
In Australia, there are two separate colour coding systems, one that is used for installation, wiring and one for equipment wiring.
Equipment wiring includes power cords and extension cords
The colour codes for equipment wiring are:
The new code for Single Phase
Active – Brown which used to be called positive and was Red
Neutral –light Blue which used to be called negative and was Black
Earth –Green/yellow……which used to be called ground or earth Green
The new code for Multiphase
Phase no. 1 – Brown. This used to be coloured Red
Phase no. 2 – Black. This used to be coloured White
Phase no 3 – Grey. This used to be coloured Dark Blue
Neutral – Light Blue. This used to be coloured Black
Earth – Green/Yellow. This used to be coloured Green
Having the right size or amp rated wire
Whenever a repair extension or alteration is made to any electrical circuitry and that includes the circuits in any appliance, your electrician on the Gold Coast will tell you that the wires must be of a size and amp bearing capacity or greater to enable them to be able to cope with any load placed on them. They also have to match and be properly sized with the amperage rating of the circuit breaker that controls the circuit they will be connected to.
The outer coating of all electrical wire is labeled with a colour code as well as the types and gauges of the wire. This makes it easy to tell the different wires and where to use them
Knowing which type of wire should be used in any given situation, is equally important as knowing the correct gauge, amperage capacity and the maximum load of wattage of the wire you choose to use.
The following is a guide to electrical wire and some of their applications
18 gauge 10 Amps used for lamp cords and low voltage lighting
16 gauge 13 Amps for light extension cords
14 gauge 15 Amps for lamps, light fixtures and lighting circuits
12 gauge 20 Amps receptacles, kitchen appliances, fans and sump pumps
10 gauge 30 Amps for air conditioners, clothes dryers, built in ovens small water heaters
8 gauge 45 Amps for cooktops and electric ranges
6 gauge 60 Amps for large heaters and air conditioners
4 gauge 80 Amps for large electric heaters, furnaces and Sub panels
2 gauge 100 Amps for Service and Sub Panels
1/0 gauge 150 Amps for Service Entrance
2/0 gauge 200 Amps got Service Entrance
Whenever there are any electrical repairs to be carried out, by law, apart from changing a light bulb or fuse wire, it must be done by a registered and qualified electrician on the Gold Coast. You can only look at the wiring on your own appliances.