What we do for air conditioning
Air-con installs involve two different trades. There’s the electrical work, which needs a licensed electrician, and the refrigerant work, which needs a technician holding an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence. Our part is the electrical side:
- Running dedicated circuits from the switchboard to the unit
- Installing outdoor isolators near condensers
- Checking switchboard capacity and adding safety switch protection
- Upgrading the switchboard where needed
- Wiring for ducted system controls and zoning where required
- Replacing corroded isolators and old wiring on existing units
- Testing and certifying the electrical installation
For supply and install jobs, the refrigerant side, such as connecting the pipework, pressure testing and charging the system, is done by an ARCtick licensed technician, either our own licensed tech or a partner we work with regularly. You deal with us throughout, and we coordinate the trades.
Split systems
Split systems are the most common air-con we see in bedrooms, living areas and granny flats. Each unit has an indoor head and an outdoor condenser. Smaller splits can sometimes run on an existing circuit, but in most cases a dedicated circuit is the better and more compliant option, particularly for larger units or where the existing circuit is already loaded up.
Each outdoor unit needs an isolating switch nearby so it can be safely switched off for servicing. On the coast, isolators take a beating from salt air and sun. Cheap or poorly sealed isolators are one of the most common failures we find on existing systems, and water getting into them can trip safety switches or cause a unit to stop working. We use quality weatherproof isolators and mount them where they’re least exposed.
Ducted systems
Ducted air-con draws more power than a typical split system, so the electrical planning matters more. Larger ducted systems may need a heavier cable, a dedicated circuit with the right protection, and in some homes, three-phase supply. We check what your home has before you commit to a particular unit.
Ducted systems also involve wiring for wall controllers and zone control, which we coordinate with the installer. If the ducted system is part of a bigger project, we’ll plan it alongside the rest of your new home or renovation electrical work.
Can your switchboard handle it?
This is the question that catches a lot of people out. Older homes often have boards with no spare space, no safety switch protection for new circuits, or limited capacity once you add air-con on top of an oven, hot water, pool pump and maybe an EV charger.
Before any install, we check your board and the overall load on your supply. If there isn’t room or capacity, we’ll tell you upfront and explain the options, which might mean a switchboard upgrade. It’s much better to know this at quote time than to find out halfway through the job.
Replacing or relocating existing units
If you’re replacing an old air-con, the existing circuit and isolator may not suit the new unit. Old isolators are often corroded, and older circuits may be undersized or lack safety switch protection. We check the existing wiring and upgrade it where needed rather than just reconnecting a new unit to old gear.
Relocating a unit, for example during a renovation, usually means extending or rerunning the circuit and fitting a new isolator. We’ll work with the refrigeration tech so the old unit is decommissioned properly and the new location works for both trades.
Air-con and ceiling fans together
Running a ceiling fan with your air-con lets you set the thermostat a bit higher and still feel comfortable, which can help reduce running costs. If you’re putting in air-con, it’s a good time to add or upgrade fans as well, and we can do both in one visit.
What affects the cost
The electrical cost of an air-con install depends on:
- The size and type of system, split or ducted
- The distance from the switchboard to the indoor and outdoor units
- Roof, wall and underfloor access for cable runs
- Whether your switchboard has room and safety switch protection
- Whether you need single-phase or three-phase supply for larger ducted units
- Whether you want electrical only, or full supply and install
We give you an upfront written quote, and if you’re getting air-con from another installer, we’re happy to quote the electrical side separately.
All our electrical work is done to AS/NZS 3000 and tested before handover. You’ll receive a compliance certificate for the electrical installation, and on supply and install jobs, the refrigerant work is completed by an appropriately licensed ARCtick technician.