FAQ

How the ordering system works + payment methods
Select the products that you want via the online ordering system and fill your shopping basket.
Sorry, the system isn't able to calculate freight - we do this once we receive your order and send it the cheapest way possible.
Proceed to checkout - you have two options:  Pay by credit card - Visa or Mastercard (we don't charge your card until we receive your order and process it);  or Pay Later - we then process your order, add freight and email you a Sales Order for approval and payment.  You can then either pay by internet banking or call us with credit card details.
Depending on whether the items are on the shelf, what time we receive your order will depend on whether it is able to leave the same day.  Most orders are dispatched the following day, sometimes longer if we have to wait on goods to arrive.  This is why we say allow 1-4 days for your order. We will always send you an email with dispatch details and tracking codes when your goods are on their way.  If you have opted to collect your goods we always phone you when the goods are ready.
COLLECTION OF GOODS - Please use the online ordering system to order your goods first, even if you believe that we have the goods on the shelf, so that it gives us time to prepare your order.  We will then phone when it's ready. 
URGENT ORDER - we need to know if you have any urgency to your order otherwise things will proceed as normal.

Cable size - what size do we need?
The initial questions that we will ask you are:
- Length of run from point of electrical supply (normally power pole) to the switchboard, not meter box
- Load required – e.g. standard 63Amps, single phase
- Do you need a pilot wire for hot water control? (certain power boards in NZ control it this way)
- Is your cable going underground or overhead?

Cable costs - Aluminium vs Copper?
Copper cable - you will require a smaller sized cable than aluminium to achieve the same volt drop (to cater for the load at the farthest end) but due to today's copper costs it is likely to be more expensive over a long run, hence why many are opting for aluminium for these runs and tailing the ends down to copper.
Standard example:
Aluminium cable generally tails down to 16mm 1C copper.
The joints required are the Aluminium cable size down to the copper cable size, e.g. 70mm Aluminium to 16mm copper joint.
For each core of cable you need one tail and one joint for each end. So, for 4Core Aluminium you will need 8 tails and 8 joints. See Mains Cable section and Cable Accessories
Standard tail length is 1 metre or more.

Can we pick up?
Yes – but it would pay for you to call/email your order first so that we can prepare it for you. We are an online store not a retail shop so, due to our extensive product range, we don’t necessarily hold stocks of everything here – normally stocks are here by the next day if we don’t have them on our shelf at the time of order.  Pickups can be made 8:30am-3:30pm Mon-Fri at 10E Vega Place, Albany - off Constellation Drive at Wendy's - turn left into the driveway of Concrete Plus - our building is directly in front of you at the back of the property.

deciBels - how noisy is it?
As a guide here are some everyday noises to compare:
60dB  Normal conversation
50dB  Quiet office
40dB  Library
30dB  Late night suburbia

Lighting - Colour Temperature Guide
Colour temperature refers to the colour appearance of a light source.  It is measured in degrees Kelvin (K), e.g. A fluorescent tube colour of 840 = The 40 indicates a colour temperatuer of 4000K.  The 8 refers to the colour rendering (Ra).  Colour rendering is the ability of a light source to reproduce colour.  This is rated on the Colour Rendering Index (CRI), e.g. 8 indicates a colour rendering between 80-90 (good).

CRI:   Moderate 60-80 Ra,   Good 80-90 Ra,   Excellent 90 Ra and above.

KELVIN:
2700 Incandescent Light    (standard NZ household lighting until recent times)
3000 Warm White 
4000 Cool White
5000 Daylight
6500 Cool Daylight

Examples of uses:
827 - Bar, Casino, Restaurant, In the home, Cinema, Church, Funeral Parlour, Oratory, Sauna
830 - Abattoir, Shops, Aiport Terminal and public places, Auditorium, Cellar, Elderly Homes,  Hairdresser, Library, Motels, TV Shop, Shop Window, Study, Video Outlet, Washroom
840 - Archives, Auction Room, Schools, Boardroom, Bathroom Equipment, Brewery, Cars, Computer Room, Corner Store, Dept Store, Engine Room, Fast Food, Food Prep, Garage, Jewellery, Office, Sports Halls, Stationer
930 - Antique Shop, Art Gallery/Museum, Fruit & Veg, Bakeries, Cosmetics, Florist, Interior Decorator, Fabric and Wool, Perfumery, Shoes, Tailors, Poultry
940 - Chemist, Clinics, Dentist, Drycleaners, Film Studio, Optician, Print Shop
950 - Graphc Arts, Hospital, Paint Shop, Printers
965 - Colour Grading, matching, reproducing
79   - Butcher
Courtesey Philips Lighting NZ