Why it matters in Wagga
The Bureau of Meteorology's long-term averages for Wagga Wagga AMO show a mean January maximum of 31.9 °C and a mean July minimum of 2.8 °C. In other words: hot summers when the aircon runs for hours, and frosty winter mornings when the heating goes on. That's a lot of load on a home's wiring and switchboard, often in houses that were wired long before anyone had ducted air.
Getting the electrical side right means your system runs properly, the switchboard isn't overloaded, and the job is certified.
What we do
- Circuits for split systems and ducted air conditioning. We run the circuit from the switchboard and make the electrical connection for your new system.
- Heat pump hot water circuits. New or upgraded circuits for heat pump hot water systems, with the RCD type NSW requires.
- Electric heaters that are fixed or wired in, such as panel heaters and bathroom heaters.
- Ceiling fans in bedrooms and living areas, a cheap way to feel cooler in summer. See lighting.
- Switchboard checks and upgrades when the board has no room or no safety switches for a new circuit.
- Fault finding when the aircon keeps tripping the power.
Refrigerant piping and gas work aren't electrical work and aren't something we advertise. If your aircon or hot water installer needs a licensed electrician for the circuit, that's where we come in. Talk to Nelson about who's doing what on your job.
Does an air conditioner need its own circuit?
It depends on the unit, the manufacturer's installation instructions and what else is already on the circuit. Nelson checks all three, plus your switchboard, before quoting, and tells you whether it needs a new circuit. Our guide to air conditioner circuits goes into more detail.
The rules that apply
- Licensed electrician only. Running a new circuit or connecting a system to the house wiring is electrical wiring work. In NSW it must be done by a licensed electrician, with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within 7 days of the test.
- A safety switch on the new circuit. Under AS/NZS 3000:2018 and the national ERAC advisory note, a new or altered circuit must get RCD protection at the switchboard. Only that circuit needs it, not the whole house, unless the switchboard is replaced.
- Heat pump hot water needs a Type A RCD. NSW Advisory Note 1/2025 says a new or upgraded circuit for a heat pump hot water system must use a Type A RCD. Type AC RCDs can't be installed in any new work in NSW. See the Building Commission NSW advisory note.
- Plumbers and like-for-like swaps. In NSW there's a restricted certificate that lets someone like a plumber disconnect and reconnect fixed electrical equipment, for example swapping a hot water unit like-for-like. It doesn't cover fixed wiring or switchboards, so a new circuit or any change to the wiring needs a licensed electrician.
- Check your supply for big loads. Under the Service and Installation Rules of NSW, if new equipment would push your maximum demand above what your connection allows, an application to Essential Energy is needed first. That's worth checking before adding a large ducted system on top of everything else. If your property has three-phase power, that changes the options, and Nelson will take it into account.
How Nelson does it
- Find out what's going in. The make and model, its electrical requirements, and where the indoor and outdoor units will sit.
- Check the switchboard. Is there room for a new circuit? Is there RCD protection? Can the supply take the extra load?
- Written price before work starts, with anything extra (such as switchboard work) shown separately.
- Run the circuit and connect. Cable sized for the load and the length of the run.
- Test and certify, with the CCEW emailed to you.
If the board is old, full or still on fuses, adding a big new load is a good time to look at a switchboard upgrade. You can get a price straight away with the instant switchboard estimate.
When the aircon trips the power
If your safety switch or breaker trips when the aircon starts, there's a reason: a fault in the unit, a problem with the circuit, or a circuit that's carrying more than it should. It's worth getting it checked rather than resetting it every afternoon. Reset a tripped breaker once, and if it trips again straight away, leave it off and call us for fault finding.
Cost
Every heating and cooling job is different, depending on the size of the system, the cable run and the state of the switchboard. Fault finding is charged by the time it takes to track the problem down. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out. Call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote.
Common questions
Do I need an electrician to install a split system?
The electrical connection and any new circuit must be done by a licensed electrician in NSW, and a CCEW lodged. The refrigeration side is a separate trade.
Does a heat pump hot water system need a special safety switch?
Yes. NSW Advisory Note 1/2025 says a new or upgraded circuit for a heat pump hot water system must use a Type A RCD.
Can a plumber connect my new hot water system?
A plumber with the restricted disconnection and reconnection certificate can swap a unit like-for-like. New circuits, fixed wiring and switchboard work need a licensed electrician.
Will adding ducted air conditioning overload my switchboard?
It might, especially on an older or full board. Nelson checks the board and your maximum demand before quoting. If the load would go above your connection, an application to Essential Energy is needed.
Why does my air conditioner keep tripping the power?
It could be the unit, the circuit or the switchboard. Reset it once. If it keeps happening, call a licensed electrician to find the cause.