Adelaide Electrician's & Lighting Co.

Specializing in all residential electrical & lighting needs.

No job too small!

Adelaide Electrician's & Lighting Co. offer a speedy service , quality workmanship & a high standard of customer service.

Adelaide Electrician's & Lighting Co. will help you make the right decision to suit your residential electrical needs. All installation work is carried out by an experienced electrician and is guaranteed to meet South Australian standards and regulations.

Adelaide Electrician's & Lighting Co. can help to transform dark, gloomy interiors by using a host of creative lighting techniques:

• Create exciting visual effects

• Highlight prominent features
  

• Highlight interior and exterior plants

• Create serene gardens and water features with careful planning and positioning of low voltage garden lights and submersible fittings.

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0410 433 755

A Career as an Electrician

Work Profile

In new building construction, the work of an electrician is to ensure that all the electrical wires and cables are properly installed. It is mandatory under the law that only qualified electricians should handle the wiring of electrically equipped buildings, whether residential, commercial or industrial. When installing electrical systems, electricians are required to work with blueprints that specify the locations of load centers, panel boards, circuits, outlets and other electrical equipment. Electricians have to work in conformity with the National Electrical Code and the state and local building codes.

Nature of Work

While installing wiring systems, electricians place conduits in the walls, partitions and concealed areas, as per instructions in the blue prints. They fasten small metal or plastic boxes to walls for housing electrical switches and outlets and pull insulated wires and cables through the conduits to complete the electrical circuits between these boxes. They join the wires and cables in the boxes using special connecters. In course of their work, the electricians have to use tools like screwdrivers, wire strippers, hacksaws, conduit benders, knives and power tools like drills and saws.

The work of electricians who specialize in maintenance consists primarily of repair and the maintenance of electrical equipment and upgrading existing electrical systems. The actual work would vary, depending on where the electrician is employed. For example, in a home they may be required to rewire, remove an old circuit box or replace the existing one to accommodate additional equipment and install new fans. Maintenance electricians working in factories may need to repair transformers, generators, motors, machine tools and electronic controllers.

Working Conditions

Electricians have to work indoors and outdoors. Their work may take them to factories, homes, offices and construction sites. At times, the work may be physically demanding, such as bending conduits, stooping, standing and kneeling for long hours. They are exposed to weather conditions that at times could be quite inhospitable. In their course of work, electricians are exposed to the risk of injury from electrical shock, cuts and falls. To avoid these, they have to adhere to strict safety procedures.

Weekly Working Hours

Electricians work forty hours a week, but many do work overtime. Those attached to maintenance and repairs in factories are required to travel to the worksites at any time of the day or night, in case of an emergency.

Training and Qualifications

Most electricians are trained via apprentice programs that offer a combination of on-the-job-training and classroom instruction. The apprentice programs are sponsored by the local chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and the Independent Electrical Contractor's Association or the joint training committees, comprising of local unions of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and local chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Make Sure the Electrician is Prepared

Whenever someone hires an electrician, they want to ensure that their project will be completed without any problems. One of the best ways to make certain that the electrician is thoroughly equipped to handle the job is to ask plenty of questions when you are getting your estimate. You should also ask for verification that the electrician has all of the necessary licenses, insurance and certifications needed so that you know that they are prepared for any issues that may arise. You may need to call your local states governing board of contractors to find out exactly what type of requirements your electrician should have.

In addition to asking the electrician questions, you also need to provide plenty of information so that the electrician is best prepared to handle your project. The best way to accomplish this is to make sure that you provide the electrician with an adequate and detailed overview of your needs. Let the electrician know exactly what your problem is, what you need and how you hope to fix it. This way, the electrician will understand the full scope of your project and will be able to provide the most accurate estimate.

You can also take steps to make sure that the electrician is prepared by asking them ahead of time what areas of your home they will need access to. By moving any breakable or fragile items out of the way, you can help the electrician perform at his most efficient. If the electrician does not have clear access to where they are performing work, they sometimes spend more time and focus trying not to break items that are in their way. It is much simpler for home or business owners to make sure that the electricians work area is open and is not obstructed with any large or fragile objects. If the electrician needs to access the power box, make certain that their access is unobstructed as well.

Hiring an Electrician - Do it Right

License
A license is an endorsement of the quality of work. However, it also provides a financial protection for the homeowner. Having electrical work performed by an unlicensed contractor could result in voiding your homeowners insurance. Make sure the contractor you hire is also bonded and insured.
Licensed, bonded electrical contractors get permits and take responsibility for electrical jobs they perform. Make sure your contractor employs licensed electricians to do the work.

Warranty
Any good electrician should provide a warranty. Really good electricians/electrical contractors provide both labor and material/parts warranty. Make sure the electrician provides these warranties in writing. For example, Mr. Electric Seattle has the warranty statement right on the invoice every customer gets a copy of.

Quality of materials
A good electrician/contractor always uses contractor-grade materials. That’s why they usually give the higher price automatically. This is where a good electrical contractor “has a problem” while bidding with other contractors. Remember: a good contractor will never cut corners and do something unsafe in order to accommodate your budget. However, they might suggest on how to modify your plans to meet both safety requirements and your budget.

General advices:
Think twice before accepting the lowest bid/price
You usually get what you pay for. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability. A large number of complaints filed against contractors are the result of homeowner taking the lowest bid and then being unhappy with the low quality of work electrician provides.

Save your time and money by combining electrical projects.
Think of extra outlets, lighting or wiring that you may want for the near future. You can even make a list of your specific needs. Electricians usually charge less when they do something as an additional task.

Compare the Electrician’s Travel Charges

Electrical work is dangerous. When it comes to needing electrical work performed on your home, you should never attempt to do this work yourself. It is always best to choose a licensed, bonded professional electrician who has plenty of experience and knowledge to complete all of your electrical projects for you.

Many people shy away from using a professional electrician because they believe it will be too expensive. Electricians have a high hourly wage because the work they perform is dangerous and technical. If it weren’t, everyone could simply perform his or her own electrical work. Not only is it not advised to perform electrical work yourself, it is often illegal. Electricians, as well as their electrical work, is monitored and regulated by federal laws and codes. Electricians charge between forty to one hundred dollars per hour because they are trained, skilled professionals.

When it comes to choosing an electrician, you should never simply choose the contractor with a low hourly rate. An inexperienced electrician, who isn’t licensed or bonded, may not only perform sloppy work, but they may not perform the work according to code, and you may end up spending more money in the long run having their work repaired. Always choose the most qualified electrician for the job, even if that means paying more per hour.

One way that you can think economically in regards to hiring an electrician is to choose your electrician based upon his or her travel charge. An electrician may include a travel charge in his or her estimate. This charge may be calculated by the hour or by a flat fee. Depending upon your needs, location, and length of your project, it may save you money if you can find an experienced, professional electrician that is closer to your home. Always ask the electrician what their proposed travel charge is and use the information to help determine which electric contractor is best for your job.