When is an electrical certificate required

[Leecatt]

I was summoned from my office last night which resulted in a discussion between my wife and I, one of the key points of the discussion is my negative outlook on life at the moment and in recent months. There are so many things to be grateful for but lately I always manage to find the negative in everything, a good example is the ECA and Chris Greager's retirement. The iphone 5 is another, Telkom, etc etc the list just goes on and on.

The solutions, wake up and smell the roses and try appreciate all the things I am gifted with, I was going to sign out and leave this forum again and until I could sort out my miserable self, but instead I have decided against it, instead I ask the regulars to help me, tell me to pi$$ off when I have negative things to say.

You right Dave new brooms always sweep clean and with a little guidance from us as old timers in the industry, I should join the ECA and assist with my knowledge and experience.

Piss off

[Dave A]

instead I ask the regulars to help me, tell me to pi$$ off when I have negative things to say.

Nah - we need someone to balance out the "Rah-rah The world's just peachy" crowd.

Besides which, sometimes you're right

[Sparks]

The regs state that all new and additions/alterations to existing installations be certified. Replaced faulty equipment(ELCB) or appliance(stove) are not required to be certified. If a free-standing stove is being replaced by an under-counter oven and hob and the installation is extended then the "new" portion of the installation needs to be certified as an addition/alteration.
Installing a timer would not in my opinion qualify for a COC as the installation is not being changed other than an additional switch being installed in line.

[Leecatt]

The regs state that all new and additions/alterations to existing installations be certified. Replaced faulty equipment(ELCB) or appliance(stove) are not required to be certified. .

You are correct about the stove as it is an appliance and the certificate specifically states that appliances are not part of the electrical certificate.

The replacement of the ELCB however is a different story.
As we all know the trip rating has to be recorded onto an electrical certificate.
If the trip rating of the replacement ELCB is different to that of the original ELCB, surely that has to be recorded onto an electrical certificate, disregarding the fact that these certificates are a pain in the arse to write out?

Furthermore, you cannot issue an additional certificate to an original certificate until such time as you are satisfied that the original is indeed valid. (Electrical regulations Section 9 (2) (c)

Therefore in my honest, and quite obviously unpopular opinion, when changing an ELCB one has to then perform an inspection to the entire installation, to verify its compliance, before issuing a certificate for the ELCB installation.
This could prove to be a costly exercise for the home-owner.

[Dave A]

Therefore in my honest, and quite obviously unpopular opinion, when changing an ELCB one has to then perform an inspection to the entire installation, to verify its compliance, before issuing a certificate for the ELCB installation.

I could find it in my heart to support that point of view

A point on the stove connection issue -

We got called in on a property we'd issued a COC, ultimately because of a botched stove replacement after we'd issued the certificate.
Smashed isolator housing.
Exposed housewire between isolator and stove - no sprag.
And every time they switched the stove isolator on, it "tripped the lights. Surely the stove should be on its own circuit breaker. The stove is obviously being supplied by the light circuit. (You a-holes)"
(Actually, it was tripping the earth leakage. Sh1t like that will happen when you wire the earth and the neutral to the same terminal in the stove.)

Look, I know changing a stove doesn't need a COC, or in theory affect it - but isn't it supposed to be done by a qualified electrician?
And not as in this case, by the handyman who just happened to be at the property at the time changing the geyser...