Lighting jobs we do
Good lighting changes how a house feels to live in. Most lighting jobs are in homes, but we also light sheds, shops and offices:
- LED downlights replacing old halogen downlights or fluorescent tubes
- New lights in rooms that only ever had one central batten
- Pendants and feature lights over kitchen benches and dining tables
- Outdoor lighting: entries, pergolas, decks, paths and gardens
- Sensor and security lights for driveways, sheds and back doors
- Ceiling fans, with or without lights, for those 30-degree-plus summer days
- Switches and dimmers: two-way switching for hallways and stairs, and moving switches to where they make sense
- Shed and workshop lighting, so you can actually see the bench
For businesses, see commercial lighting.
LED downlight upgrades
Many homes still have old halogen downlights, or a mix of different lights that have been added over the years. Swapping to LED is a popular upgrade, and it's a chance to fix the layout too: move lights that are in the wrong spot, add a few where a room is dim, and choose a colour of light that suits the room.
Our LED downlight upgrade guide covers what to think about before you buy.
Ceiling fans in a Wagga summer
Wagga's mean January maximum is 31.9 °C (Bureau of Meteorology, Wagga Wagga AMO), and plenty of summer days go past that. A ceiling fan in each bedroom and the living area is a cheap way to feel cooler, and works well alongside aircon. The NSW Government lists ceiling fans among the things homeowners should not install themselves, so it's a job for a licensed electrician.
The rules that matter for lighting
Lighting work is electrical wiring work, so it has to be done by a licensed electrician. The NSW Government says homeowners shouldn't wire, install or move lights, switches or ceiling fans, and that the only maintenance you should do yourself is change a light globe. Doing it yourself is dangerous and illegal, and can void your home insurance. More in our guide to DIY electrical work in NSW.
Under AS/NZS 3000:2018 and the national ERAC advisory note on alterations:
- Swapping a light like-for-like is a repair. Replacing a light fitting with an equivalent one in exactly the same spot, without altering the circuit, doesn't trigger new safety switch requirements.
- Adding or moving lights alters the circuit. That circuit then needs RCD protection, installed at the switchboard. Only the altered circuit needs it, not the whole house.
- Lighting is split across safety switches. In a new or fully upgraded home installation, lighting circuits are spread across more than one RCD, so a single fault doesn't leave the whole house in the dark.
If your switchboard is old or has no spare room for an RCBO on the lighting circuit, we'll tell you, and you can look at a switchboard upgrade at the same time.
How Nelson does it
- Talk it through. What you want lit, where, and how you want to switch it. If you're not sure what to buy, ask.
- Check the circuit. How the existing lights are wired, and whether the circuit has RCD protection or needs it.
- Written price before work starts.
- Install neatly. Lights lined up, cut-outs tidy, and any mess cleaned up.
- Test and certify. The circuit is tested, and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, with a copy emailed to you.
Outdoor lighting
Outdoor lights cop the weather: summer heat, dust, storms and frost. We use fittings made for outdoor use and run the cabling so it's protected from damage. Sensor lights on sheds and driveways make a lot of sense on rural blocks, where it's properly dark at night. If you're building a deck or pergola, it's easiest to plan the lighting before the roof goes on.
Cost
Lighting jobs vary a lot: one fan in a bedroom with easy roof access is a very different job to a full downlight layout in a house with a low-pitched roof. The price depends on the number of lights, the fittings you choose, roof access and whether the circuit needs RCD protection added. Call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out.
Common questions
Can I replace a light fitting myself in NSW?
No. The NSW Government says changing a light globe is the only lighting maintenance a homeowner should do. Wiring, installing or moving lights, switches and ceiling fans must be done by a licensed electrician.
Do I need a safety switch to add new lights?
The circuit you add lights to needs RCD protection at the switchboard. Swapping an existing light like-for-like in the same place counts as a repair and doesn't trigger that.
Can you put LED downlights where my old halogens were?
Yes. It's also a good time to add or move a few lights so the room is evenly lit.
Do you install ceiling fans?
Yes. A fan in the bedrooms and living area makes a real difference in a Wagga summer. Ceiling fans have to be installed by a licensed electrician in NSW.