/ General Electrical Installations

General Electrical Installations. Brisbane Northside.

New wiring for renovations and extensions, ceiling fans, downlights, additional power points, switchboard upgrades, RCD safety switches.

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General Electrical Installations — RL Electrical Contractors at work

What new installations cover

New installation work is everything from a single power-point in a renovated kitchen to a full house rewire on a 1950s Brisbane post-war. The decision tree is usually the same: what circuit is it going on, where does the cable run, are there structural constraints in the walls, and does the existing switchboard have capacity. Once those four answers are clear, the install itself is straightforward.

Renovation rewires happen in stages timed against the builder's program. Rough-in is when frames are exposed and before plaster goes up — that's where new circuits are pulled, switch and outlet boxes are mounted, and circuit positions are finalised. Fit-off is after paint, when fittings, switches, points and the new switchboard are installed and tested. Each stage is its own visit and its own invoice. We coordinate with the builder so the electrical work doesn't hold up the program.

Common installation jobs

Ceiling fans (with the wall-mounted speed controllers), downlights (LED swap-outs of older halogen or compact-fluoro fittings, with insulation-clearance checks), additional power points (single, double, double-USB, weatherproof outdoor versions), feature lighting (pendant chains in stairwells, picture lights, wardrobe interiors), and switchboard upgrades (modern board with RCD on every circuit, replacing older fuse-and-mixed-RCD setups).

Outdoor power and lighting is also routine — pergola downlights, garden flood lighting, alfresco ceiling fans, hot-water outdoor isolators, outdoor TV power. Outdoor work uses cable rated for the install location and IP-rated fittings for any wet-area exposure.

Switchboard upgrades

Modern switchboards with RCD safety switches on every circuit are a standard upgrade for older homes still running ceramic fuses or partial RCD coverage. The work involves de-energising the supply at the meter, removing the old board, installing the new chassis, re-terminating each circuit on its dedicated MCB-RCD, and re-energising. Most domestic switchboard upgrades are a one-day job. Pricing depends on circuit count and whether mains tails or earth bonding need replacing at the same time — we quote on inspection, not over the phone.

/ FAQ

General Electrical Installations. Common questions.

What does a typical renovation rewire involve?

A renovation rewire on a 1960s-1980s Brisbane home is usually run in stages timed against the builder's program. Rough-in happens once frames are exposed and before plaster goes up — that's where new circuits are pulled, switch and outlet boxes are mounted, and circuit positions are finalised. Fit-off is after paint, when fittings, switches, points and the new switchboard are installed and tested. Each stage is its own visit and its own invoice; we work to the builder's schedule and certify the work for handover.

Can you install ceiling fans and downlights?

Both are common installations. Ceiling fans need a ceiling rose rated for the fan's weight and torque (we'll check the existing rose first; if it's not rated, we replace it), plus the wall-controller wired in and tested for direction reversal. Downlights are usually swapping out older halogen or compact-fluoro fittings for LED-rated cans; the install includes thermal insulation clearance checks where existing batts are touching old fittings. Cable runs are minimised so most of the work happens at the existing point.

Do you handle complete house rewires?

Yes. A full rewire is the largest job we do — running new TPS or twin-and-earth cabling through every wall and ceiling cavity, replacing the switchboard, re-terminating every outlet, light point and switch, and certifying the system end-to-end. It's typically a one-to-three-week job depending on house size and access. We'd inspect the property before quoting, walk through which rooms can be lived in mid-job, and give you a written staged plan. Full rewires are usually triggered by major renovation work or insurance findings.

Do you supply the fittings or do I?

Either works. If you've sourced fittings yourself — a particular pendant, smart switch, downlight series, or controller from a retailer — we install what you supply and warranty the install workmanship. If you'd rather we provide the gear, we use trade-supplied fittings from the wholesalers we have accounts with, which gives us cost transparency and a single warranty path on the part and the labour. Either approach is fine; the install quote breaks out the difference clearly.

Can you wire an outdoor area for lights and a power point?

Outdoor power and lighting are standard jobs — pergola downlights, garden flood lights, alfresco ceiling fans, outdoor TV power, hot-water outdoor isolators. Outdoor work uses cable rated for the install location (UV-rated for sun exposure, conduit-protected for buried runs) and IP-rated fittings for any wet-area exposure. Garden post-lights are usually fed off a 12-volt low-voltage transformer rather than full mains. The install quote calls out which cable type and IP rating is being used so the decision is in the open.

Do you install RCD safety switches?

RCD safety switches are required on every new circuit installed to current Queensland regulations and are standard kit on every modern switchboard upgrade. For older boards, we can retrofit RCDs onto existing circuits — usually as a partial upgrade where the most-used circuits (kitchen, bathroom, outdoor) get covered first, then the rest follow if budget permits. Safety switches save lives. If your existing board has none or only one for the whole house, that's worth addressing before any other electrical work goes ahead.

Can you upgrade lighting from halogen or fluoro to LED?

Halogen and compact-fluoro to LED swaps are one of the highest-return jobs we do — running cost drops, light quality improves, and the new fittings last 10x longer. Ceiling downlight conversions use IC-rated cans where insulation is in contact with the fitting (almost always required by current standards). Old fluorescent batten replacements use direct-wire LED battens that don't need a separate ballast or starter. Per-point pricing is straightforward; whole-house quotes include disposal of the old fittings.

/ 06 — Contact

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