Everything You Need To Know About Green Electrical Transformer Boxes
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Written by Tristan Cameron
Green boxes are in many Sydney people’s yards, possibly including yours. But do you know what they do? Green electrical transformer boxes are convenient and can save money on your electricity bill.
Here’s our complete guide on everything you need to know about green electrical transformer boxes.
What is a Green Electrical Transformer Box?
Initially used in industrial and large commercial properties, a scaled-down version is used in residential homes. The ultimate goal of the green electrical transformer box is to fine-tune your home electrical system.
It does this by storing and saving energy and only distributing what’s needed. In this way, power isn’t over-supplied and ultimately wasted. Unused electricity that’s already been supplied costs money.
When there’s a demand for electricity from the premises, this feeds through the wires down to the switchboard and then to the transformer. The motor then begins and generates energy; it delivers just the required amount to the home and stores the rest for later.
This level of technology means that only what’s needed is provided, leaving no wastage, thereby reducing energy bills.
Benefits of Having a Green Electrical Transformer Box
Apart from saving money on your electricity bill — already a significant reason to have one — there are further benefits.
Additional Money-Saving
It’s not just your electricity bill where the green electrical transformer box saves you money. As you’re only being delivered the energy you need, all the components from the motor to the switchboard and even the wires in your house aren’t used as much, meaning less maintenance is required.
Repairs of these components can be costly, so having to do it less often is a significant benefit.
Green electrical transformer boxes are exceptionally durable and require little to no maintenance. As they have a life span of around 25 years, they’re a long-term, cost-effective purchase.
Another cost-saving benefit is the longer life span of appliances in your home. Once again, as no additional unneeded energy is being provided, appliances aren’t subject to power surges or brownouts.
Noise Reduction
Old-style transformers were notorious for the amount of noise they produced as they operated. Green electrical transformer boxes are innovative mechanical structures that have functional parts made with optimised designs. They also contain high-performance equipment and materials.
This helps the motor run more efficiently and make significantly less noise. Your neighbours will love you for it!
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
We all want to do our bit to save the planet, and the generation of energy is one negative aspect. The burning of fossil fuels generates pollution. Conventional transformers use mineral oil, which, when burned, is toxic and dangerous to the environment. Green electrical transformers use ester oil, which is less toxic, making it safer and it’s biodegradable.
Increased Safety
Older transformer boxes had a reputation for being prone to catching fire. The ester oil used instead of mineral oil is much less flammable, decreasing this hazard considerably.
Landscaping and Green Electrical Transformer Boxes
As the green electrical transformer box is in your yard, any landscaping near it needs to be planned carefully.
For starters, never attempt to move or remove it. If you do require it to be relocated, you’ll need the services of a level 2 electrician. North Shore Electricians can do this action for you.
If you’re ok with it where it is and just want to landscape around it, that’s perfectly fine if you follow these guidelines:
- Leave a clearance around the box of 3 metres in front and 1.5 metres on all other sides.
- Never dig right next to the box.
- Don’t cover the box for any reason; proper ventilation is required at all times.
Green Electrical Transformer Boxes FAQs
Can any house in Sydney have a green electrical transformer box installed?
Almost! As long as the switchboard is fitted with a circuit breaker panel and safety switches. It’s a legal requirement that all new properties be equipped with these. However, if your home is older than 30, your switchboard may be out of date and should be upgraded anyway.
Can I hide my green electrical transformer box?
The unit needs to be properly ventilated so it cannot be covered. An alternative is to place a wooden barrier around it, keeping in mind the 3-metre x 1.5-metre clearance requirements. But isn’t wood even more unsightly than the green box that blends in with a lot of foliage anyway?
Are green electrical transformer boxes dangerous?
Getting too close to any form of electrical can be hazardous. Green electrical transformer boxes contain pad-mounted transformers. However, they’re well contained inside the box, making them safe for the general public.
Who can install a green electrical transformer box in Sydney?
Green electrical transformer boxes feed through to the mains power supply in the street. As such, they can only be installed by a level 2 electrician. If you don’t already have one installed, contact North Shore Electricians today, and we’ll help you save money on your electricity bill and help save the planet.