Hello,
We have an old meter box (asbestos) and ceramic fuses (7 of them), we have hot water, cooker.
Btw, I would like to install a new meter for the granny flat in the back n all the electricians (3 so far) insist that I need to upgrade the whole meter box n gave a few quotes of north 5k (Sydney btw).
Has anyone recently done that n think this is a fair quote ? Do I really have to upgrade the meter when install a new meter ? What's involved to justify the price tag?
Thanks
insist that I need to upgrade the whole meter box
That is correct, when working on a 'board' they have to bring it up to standard. Your ceramic fuses are decades and decades old. No safety switches etc.
What's involved to justify the price tag?
Asbestos removal fee
Cost of new parts
Labour
Skill
Specialised tools
Insurance
Superannuation
Electrical Registration and license fee
Fuel and travel time
Toyota Hilux repayments
Child support for sparkies ex
Jetski x2 (315hp) repayments
Fishing boat (centre console) repayments
RAM2500 repayments (to pull fishing boat)
Mortgage repayments
Pack of Winnie blues for the day
Slab of XXXX
KFC for lunch
BTW, it all adds up.
LoL you got me in the 1st half (was thinking those specialised tools and insurance must be damn expensive )
I recently got quoted $5.5k for this as well, for a 3 phase system.
$4k for a new board, $1k to remove existing asbestos board (disconnect & reconnect), and $500 GST.
Required a level 2 ASP for this.
Did you go ahead with the quote ? My two neighbors have the same old meter box n they just don't upgrade. Actually the whole street is like that.
My two neighbors have the same old meter box n they just don't upgrade.
If you're not adding/changing anything to it you likely won't have to upgrade but once you are you will have to.
Yeah I'd rather be electrocuted than upgrade the electrical box as well.
That's highway robbery, a lot of the licensed guys have no idea what they're doing. We were doing up the front fence and driveway, to run a cable to the fence for lights/camera/gate etc, they quoted us 8k to dig a complex trench system and bury all the cable……….in the end, got a recommendation from a friend and had the cables just lay on the ground with concrete poured on top….still works 3 years on, total cost 600 bucks cash.
Or I can just dig the trench myself (or hire some airtaskers). It would take one day and ask the electrician to run the cable. But for meter box, you don't have options since you can't do anything 😔
yes you do need the board bought up to standard before electrical work can be done - the only way you could possibly get around it if is you did it as a cashie, but no electrical contractor will also sign off on it (as the board isnt up to standard and they cop it if they sign off on it).
price is not bad