01/05/2023
Why you should consider an emergency generator inlet socket and change over switch?
My job as your Electrician is to make sure your home is electrically safe and the power stays on.
But we live in interesting times......
We are blessed to live in a time in history where everything is at our fingertips, possible because of our access to reliable, affordable energy. Just think about the things where 24/7 electrical supply is needed to function?
A modern society needs Traffic lights, medical equipment in hospitals, refrigeration/freezing of food, street/security lighting, heating & cooling, mobile phone and internet communications systems, general water supply and sewerage pumping and treatment. These are all basic elements we take for granted and should not be tampered with or threatened.
So what is Base load power? - it is the minimum amount of electric power supplied to the grid for it to function consistently.
Although the media and current politicians would like you to believe that wind and solar can supply base load power consistently and affordably, - unfortunately this is not possible at present.
There is not a first world nation anywhere on earth with an independent electricity grid ( no interconnections to other countries),that has been able to supply a base load power consistently and to reduce its cost to consumers by using wind and solar.
None, anywhere.
Australia also is the driest habitable continent on earth with relatively small mountains - so hydro power projects are limited. We have a very large land mass,with a relatively small population, concentrated in coastal cities spread far apart. This also causes problems - there are big losses or inefficiencies of sending large amounts of power over long distances.
You may have seen in the news that last week Liddell power station was taken off line - further reducing base load supply. In other countries they moth ball their power stations and have the ability to re start them if future issues arise... in Australia we destroy them. This combined with the push for electric vehicles, banning the use of new gas - stoves, heating and hot water systems, plus an expected increase in immigration of 650 000+ over the next 2 years will further increase the load on the grid. Continuing down this road is not sustainable, our electricity grid will have to begin to load shed to remain stable - blackouts are inevitable.
If we decided to build a new power plant tomorrow, it would take between 3-5 years for the planning and another 5 years for construction - this would mean at least 8-10 years of power shortages and disruption will be in store, which will be costly to business, jobs and daily living, unless something changes in the immediate future.
So how do you help protect yourself on a personal level? There are 2 steps:
Step 1 - Buy an inverter type generator
I would consider doing this sooner than later. You don't want to leave this until there is a shortage (just think back to toilet paper in covid times). If you look at my earlier posts on my page, I have discussed what type and size generator you should buy - I personally like the Honda EU style generators, they supply pure clean electricity - as nowadays almost everything has electronics in it, they are quiet, cheap to run, start easy and reliable. My Honda generator on the pic is 21 years old and has 1000's of trouble free hours on it.
Step 2 - Install a change over switch
The next step is to install a change over switch and a generator inlet socket in your switchboard.
The reason why you need a change over switch is so when you power up your generator, you don't in turn back feed power into the grid - which would try to power up the street.
The change over switch isolates you from the grid so you can operate safety, standing alone.
Every switchboard is different in some way, so it is not simple to give a blanket cost on a change over switch/inlet socket installation.
As a guide if you have a modern type switchboard and every thing is up to code, it would start at $430+GST.
I could tell you most times from a picture of your switchboard what you would need.
*For an extra heavy duty 15 amp 5 lead metre lead to run from the generator to the inlet socket with screwed ends (so the plug wont fall out and is a tight connection) $120+GST
Any questions, give me a call on 0427 451970 to discuss any of your electrical needs.
Cheers
Darren
