Here's a novel idea to ponder: One day, your car could be the power source for your home electrical work. That's right, electric cars are being primed to send electricity from their batteries back into the home and even to the electric grid. They aren't full-time power sources, of course, but cars do have the potential to get you through a power outage and even help you save money on your electric bills. Read on to find out how.

Upending the Human-Car Relationship

The typical relationship between electric cars and our home electrical work is a one-way street – you fill up the car's battery from a home charging station, a process that takes hours. However, new fast-charging technology that is becoming available has a second intriguing function: it also allows the car to discharge electricity into the home. Nissan has already developed a system that would allow the car to hook up to home electrical work and keep it running in an emergency.

The battery in the Nissan Leaf holds enough energy to power a typical home for about 24 hours, longer if you take energy conservation measures. It won't keep the power on forever, but it's enough to keep the lights on and the fridge cold for a while during an outage. Even more impressive, since cars are, after all, mobile, the autos could be driven to areas in need of power in the event of a black-out to help with emergency services.

Smoothing Out Demand

The next step would be to use cars to actually sell electricity back to the grid. In a twist on time-of-day pricing, in which electricity costs more during the day and less at night, manufacturers envision a day when our cars are used as giant storage batteries, soaking up electricity at night when it's cheap and then discharging it back to the grid during the day to help even out demand and reduce bills at the same time.

With the right technology in place, utility companies could control exactly how much electricity comes and goes from plugged-in cars. This could reduce expenses dramatically, because it costs a bundle to bring on incremental power sources to meet extra demand during the day.

A Vision of the Future

This futuristic vision of the electrical grid isn't here yet, but the technology already exists. As more and more electric cars hit the road, we get closer to realizing their potential as mobile power storage devices as well as human transportation vehicles.

To find out if your home is suitable for an electric car charging station, call a local electrician today.

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When you are getting any electrical work done in your home, you want to make sure that the job gets done in the best possible way and that the best materials and workmanship are used in the work too. This is exactly why you conduct a certain amount of research online and try to zero-in on a credible and well-established company. However, this can sometimes be easier said than done and you may scour several sites and still not be sure which company you should contact for the work you need done.

We understand exactly how difficult this decision can be and so we have put together this list of things you should consider while choosing a residential electrician:

This isn’t very difficult to decipher. In Australia, when it comes to electrical jobs, the only things you are legally permitted to do are to change your light bulbs & operate the electrical appliances in your home, for what they were designed for. If you need any other electrical work done, beyond that; you would have to hire the services of a licensed and certified electrical contractor. This includes even the small things such as:

Even when you feel that certain jobs are very basic and that you will be able to tackle them yourself, keep in mind that electrical jobs are very risky and dangerous; and a single wrong step can cause an electrical fire and pose a risk to life and property. This is exactly why it’s important to hire the services of a credible electrical company.

They will work safely, use the latest and most advanced testing and work tools and ensure the work is done safely and in line with the applicable legislation in the state. In addition, the work has to be done as per the Australian Standard Wiring Rules. The electrician is also required to provide a certificate of compliance for the work they have handled for you.

In the current day, every state and territory requires that electricians should hold a valid electrical license to carry out any work. Most of the states also require that the electricians be R.E.C’s (Registered Electrical Contractors), before they are permitted to handle any electrical work or run an electrical contracting business.

For more information, simply speak with the experts at Allround Electrical and take their advice on various aspects of CBUS installations. The number to call is – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address. You may also reach us through this online contact form.

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