Electrician Wandana Heights
Safety switches, EV chargers and smoke alarms for Wandana Heights homes, by CabledIN
Wandana Heights homeowners call CabledIN, a licensed electrician, for safety switches, EV chargers, heavy-duty power points and smoke alarms. Our registration is REC 30925, our base is North Geelong, and every job carries a lifetime workmanship warranty backed by more than 20 years' experience.
Most of these jobs take a single visit. The price depends on what is being added, how far the cable has to run and whether the switchboard has room for a new circuit. We quote after seeing the home.
- Council
- City of Greater Geelong
- Residents (2021 Census)
- 2,195
- Licence
- REC 30925
- Emergencies
- 24/7 call-outs on 1300 025 555
Electrician Wandana Heights: adding power and protection
Our Wandana Heights jobs have been about adding capacity and protection to established homes:
- Safety switches. Combined circuit breakers and safety switches fitted circuit by circuit, part of each Wandana Heights job in our records.
- An EV charger on its own new circuit, with a weatherproof isolating switch beside it and the cable in conduit.
- Heavy-duty power points. 15 and 20 amp outlets inside, and weatherproof 20 and 32 amp outlets outside, for equipment a standard power point is not rated for.
- Smoke alarms replaced, including mains-powered alarms with a backup battery.
- Switchboard work, new light switches and an appliance connection.
What Wandana Heights homes are like
Wandana Heights is a residential suburb about 6 km south-west of central Geelong, west of Highton and north of Waurn Ponds. Its homes date mostly from the late twentieth century onward, and the council describes it as known for its fine new homes, wide well-serviced streets and views over Geelong.
At the 2021 Census it had 2,195 residents and 795 private dwellings. Separate houses made up 97.1 per cent of homes, 43.4 per cent were owned outright, and only about one in ten was rented (10.4 per cent). The median age was 41 and the average household 2.9 people.
Mostly owner-occupied family houses, in other words, and that shows in our work. These homes are being added to for the long term: a charger in the garage, heavier outlets for equipment, and protection brought up to date.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Heavy-duty outlets and EV chargers: what affects the price
A standard power point is rated at 10 amps. Some equipment needs more, and that means a larger outlet at 15, 20 or 32 amps on a circuit sized to match. A 15 amp plug has a wider earth pin so it cannot be pushed into a standard power point, and an adaptor is not the answer.
EV chargers follow the same logic on a bigger scale. We fit the charger on its own new circuit with a weatherproof isolating switch beside it. Before quoting, the electrician checks whether the switchboard has room and whether the home's supply can carry the extra load. EV chargers are one of the reasons Powercor, the Geelong region's electricity distributor, gives for upgrading a home's supply. A high-capacity unit may even need work on the network side.
So the price of either job comes down to three things: the distance from the switchboard, whether the board has a spare space, and whether the supply needs work. See EV charger installation and power point installation.
Smoke alarms: which rule applies to your house
Wandana Heights homes were built over several decades, so the smoke alarm rules differ from house to house:
- Built before 1 August 1997: the minimum is a working battery alarm.
- Built after 1 August 1997: the law calls for alarms wired to the 240 V mains, each with a backup battery.
- Built after 1 May 2014, or substantially renovated since: a house that needs two or more alarms must have them linked, so one going off sets off the rest.
Whatever the age of the house, every alarm should be replaced every 10 years, and hard-wired alarms must be installed and replaced by a licensed electrician. Fire services go further than the law and suggest an alarm in each bedroom, hallway and living area. More on our smoke alarm page.
Safety switches, tested every three months
A safety switch (RCD) cuts the power within 0.03 of a second when it detects a leak that could hurt someone. It only protects the circuits it is connected to, and an older board can protect some circuits and not others. Bringing the rest up to date is usually done one circuit at a time with a combined circuit breaker and safety switch.
Energy Safe Victoria says to test each safety switch every three months: tell the household, press the test button, check the power has gone off on that circuit, then reset it. If the power stays on, the switch may have failed, so call a licensed electrician straight away. If one trips and will not reset, our guide on why a safety switch keeps tripping explains the usual causes.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Services available in Wandana Heights
Every home service we offer across Geelong is available in Wandana Heights, including switchboard upgrades, lighting and downlights, outdoor lights, ceiling and exhaust fans, appliance connections, TV and data points, security cameras and electrical safety inspections. We also take 24/7 emergency call-outs.
Booking an electrician in Wandana Heights
- Call 1300 025 555 with the job and, for a heavy-duty outlet or a charger, the equipment you plan to plug in.
- We book a visit at a time that suits you.
- The electrician checks the switchboard and the cable route, then gives you a price before starting.
- Everything is tested, then your Certificate of Electrical Safety follows. Keep it: the contractor only has to hold its copy for three years.
Suburbs near Wandana Heights
Wandana Heights sits west of Highton and north of Waurn Ponds, and also borders Ceres, Grovedale and Belmont. We work in all of them. For the full region, see our residential electrician Geelong page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install an EV charger in Wandana Heights?
Yes. We have installed an EV charger in Wandana Heights on a new circuit with a weatherproof isolating switch. We check the switchboard and supply first, and if Powercor needs to upgrade the supply, we lodge the request.
What is the difference between a 10 amp and a 15 amp power point?
A 15 amp power point is a heavy-duty outlet for equipment that draws more than a standard 10 amp one allows. Its plug has a wider earth pin, so if your equipment has one it needs a 15 amp outlet on a circuit sized for it.
Which smoke alarm rule applies to a Wandana Heights house?
The one for the date it was built. After 1 August 1997, mains-powered alarms with a backup battery; after 1 May 2014, interconnected alarms where more than one is needed. Before 1 August 1997, battery-powered alarms meet the minimum.
Can you fit a weatherproof heavy-duty outlet outside?
Yes. We have fitted weatherproof 20 and 32 amp outlets outside Wandana Heights homes, on circuits with safety switch protection.
What if pressing the test button does not turn the power off?
The safety switch may have failed. Energy Safe Victoria says to call a licensed electrician immediately if lights or appliances stay on after the test button is pressed.
Do you come to Wandana Heights for small jobs?
Yes. A single safety switch, a smoke alarm or a light switch is worth a call. We cover Wandana Heights along with Highton and Waurn Ponds next door.
Will my switchboard take an EV charger and new outlets?
It depends on whether the board has spare spaces and the supply can carry the load. If not, the options are a sub-board, a larger switchboard or a supply upgrade through Powercor. The electrician checks before quoting.
Do I need an electrician to change a hard-wired smoke alarm?
Yes. Hard-wired 240 V smoke alarms must be installed and replaced by a licensed electrician. Anyone can change the battery in a battery-powered alarm.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.