What is hardwiring and which appliances need to be hardwired in Australia?
If you’re shopping around for a new appliance you might have noticed various small print messages about the appliance needing, or not needing, to be hardwired.
So what does this mean? Here, we'll look at what hardwiring is, which home appliances may require it, why it's essential for electrical safety, and why you shouldn’t attempt to do it yourself.
What is hardwiring?
Hardwiring involves connecting an electrical appliance directly to your domestic electrical system, typically through a dedicated electrical circuit. Unlike plug-in appliances that use standard power points, hardwired appliances are permanently connected to your home's electrical wiring. This connection is achieved by running electrical cables from the appliance to an electrical junction box, where they are securely connected to the building’s electrical network.
Which domestic appliances may need hardwiring in Australia?
There are a few key electrical appliances that require hardwiring, including:
- Built in wall ovens: Due to their high power requirements, electric wall ovens are almost always hardwired. This ensures a stable and safe power supply for cooking. There are a very small number of ‘plug and play’ wall ovens that don’t need to be hardwired because they have lower power requirements of 2.2kW and can be simply plugged into a regular 10 amp power point. However, if you were to get one of these and had an old hardwired cooker that needed removing, you’d still need a licensed electrician to safely disconnect it.
- Cooktops: Electric cooktops with high power requirements almost always need to be hardwired. Some models with lower power demands may use standard power points, but these are very few and far between. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician for guidance.
- Split system air conditioners: In Australia, split system air conditioning units require hardwiring for safe and compliant installation. Some larger (6KW) window air conditioners also require a dedicated 15A power point. Most other window and portable air conditioners, however, use a regular 10A plug so don’t require an electrician to install them.
- Ceiling fans: In Australia ceiling fans, including those with integrated lighting, require hardwiring.
Hot water systems: Most electric hot water systems, including hot water heat pumps, need to be hardwired, though there are a handful of models that use 15A or 10A plugs. Gas hot water systems don’t usually need to be hardwired, as they only use electricity for the initial ignition of the gas, rather than to heat up the water.
Why is hardwiring necessary?
There are a couple of key reasons for hardwiring: safety and reliability. In Australian homes, standard power points are rated at 10 amps (10A), which is sufficient to safely power most plug in appliances. A higher ampage would potentially overload these everyday appliances, damaging them and the electrical system.
Ovens, cooktops and ceiling fans typically need a dedicated electrical circuit with a 15A to 20A rating. This dedicated circuit is connected directly to your home's mains power supply.
Overloading a domestic power circuit can be dangerous and potentially lead to blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers and overheated wiring. While these first couple of issues may be simply inconvenient, overheated wires can melt, and lead to damaged insulation, or even electrical fire.
It’s important, therefore, to not exceed the load capacity. If you frequently experience tripped circuit breakers, it's a sign that you need to distribute your electrical devices and appliances across multiple circuits, or consider getting new circuits added to your home’s electrical panel.
Why you should never attempt DIY hardwiring
Dealing with higher ampage electrical work is fraught with risk and should never be attempted by non-professionals. Attempting to hardwire electrical equipment without the proper skills and qualifications is not only dangerous, but also illegal. If you have a new oven, cooktop or other appliance that needs hardwiring, don’t even think about doing it yourself. Always engage a qualified electrical contractor to ensure your home is compliant with safety standards.
Appliances Online offers an installation service for certain appliances, like ovens and cooktops, that you can add to your cart when ordering your new appliance. This saves you the hassle of trying to coordinate the services of a tradesperson with the arrival of your new appliance.
Hardwiring is an unavoidable part of installing certain appliances. In addition to ensuring electrical safety in your home, it also provides a more reliable and stable electrical connection, reducing the chances of power interruptions or fluctuations that can affect appliance performance. So, don't cut any corners (or wires) and get the job done properly and safely.
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