Resident's Guide

Electrical devices

The installation and repair of electric devices may only be carried out by an authorized electrician. The wall outlets of the bathroom and most of the wall outlets in the kitchen have been grounded. Do not use plugs that are not grounded or surge-protected. You may not use the bathroom wall outlets while taking a shower or bath. You may not use electrical equipment in the wet rooms or outdoors if it has been plugged in a regular wall outlet outside the wet room. It is hazardous to use indoor Christmas candles on a balcony by attaching them to a power outlet indoors.

Tenants in family apartments and single-room apartments must purchase and change their own lamps and fuses if the fuse box is in their apartment. In shared apartments, tenants purchase and change the lamps in their own rooms. The lamps and fuses in the common areas, if the fuse box is in the apartment, must be purchased and changed by the tenants together. In addition, tenants must change the lamps in the machines and equipment themselves.

Some locations have lighting fixtures and wall outlets that are equipped with a power surge switch. If a faulty electrical device is attached to the wall, the power surge switch goes off and the lighting and wall outlets turn off. Remove the electrical device from the wall outlet, go to the fuse box and reset the electricity by pressing the RESET button and flip the switch to the ON position. If the device goes off again, contact the janitor or the regional property supervisor.

The stovetop and the oven must be cleaned regularly so that they work as efficiently as possible. Defrost the freezer compartment of old refrigerators at least one a month if they don't defrost automatically. Defrost your freezer at least once a year. Never use sharp instruments or a hairdryer to remove the ice from the freezer. Remember to clean the drain in the back wall of your refrigerator so that the water doesn't drain into the refrigerator or onto the floor. Do not leave the quick freeze cycle on without good reason in your refrigeration equipment as it uses more electricity than normal and wears out the motor prematurely.

The refrigeration equipment and stove in the kitchen should be pulled away from the wall at least twice a year and both the areas behind them and the back of them should be thoroughly cleaned.

Fuses

Before changing any fuses or lamps remember to switch off the current on the fuse board in the entrance hall by turning the main switch to position 0.

There are two types of fuses in our apartments: the newer automatic fuse (picture 1) and the traditional changeable plug fuse (picture 2a and 2b).

Picture 1

Picture 2a

Picture 2b

The fuses are usually located in the fuse board in the entrance hall of your apartment for example above the door.

If the switch of the automatic fuse is green or the switch is down the fuse is blown. Snap the blown switch in an upright (connected) position. If the fuse keeps blowing call the janitor on duty in the evenings and weekends or the property supervisor on working days.

Picture 3

When a plug fuse is blown, the "dot" in the bottom of the fuse loosens (picture 3). Before changing the fuses remember to switch off the current. You have to replace the blown fuse with a new one with the same "dot" colour. You can buy these plug fuses from ordinary grocery stores. If the fuse is blowing again check that no faulty appliances are plugged in. If the fuse is still blowing call the janitor on duty in the evenings and weekends or the property supervisor on working days.

Changing a plug fuse

Lamps

The plug socket fittings in the ceilings in our apartments are mainly equipped with a light socket (picture 4) so the ceiling lamp should be equipped with a plug that fits the light socket (picture 5). You should be able to install the lamp without tools. Hang the lamp from the hook in the case. Under no circumstances must you remove the plug socket fitting from the ceiling. Only an authorized mechanic can remove the fitting so if you need the case removed please contact the property supervisor.

Picture 4

Picture 5

Picture 6

In some older apartments there are still old kinds of ceiling roses (Picture 6). In these cases you can connect the wires of the lamp (2 wires) to the ceiling rose. Before starting remember to switch off the current. Connect the wires to the holes in the ceilimg rose and tightening the wire holding screws. Hang the lamp normally from the hook. Note! If the ceiling rose is missing and there are only 2 wires hanging from the ceiling do in no circumstances touch the wires. In this case please call the property supervisor.

In our apartments are also fluorescent lamps (kitchen and toilet). Fluorescent lamp fixtures have a starter (picture 7). The starter is situated in the frame of the lighting fixture (picture 8). If the lighting is blinking the starter have to be changed. Before changing a fluorescent lamp or a starter you should switch off the current. A fluorescent lamp is usually removed from the lighting fixture by turning it one quarter of a turn. The lamp comes out by sliding the pins at its both ends out of their holders.

Replace the lamp with a new one of the same power rating and a suitable color shade. It is recommended to change the starter as well when you change the fluorescent lamp. To change a starter, turn it counter-clockwise so that its pins are freed through the gap in the starter holder. Then put in the new starter.

Picture 7

Picture 8

Before you start changing a lamp, switch off the current. To switch the current off a lighting fixture equipped with a wall plug, pull the plug out of the socket. To reliably switch the current off a roof lamp, use the main switch or remove the fuse of the lighting set in question.

ATTENTION!
ALL OTHER KINDS OF ELECTICAL CONNECTIONS AND INSTALLATIONS ARE LICENSED AND MAY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE DONE BY TENANTS.

Devices with antennas

You must request permission to install any devices that have extra antennas such as satellite antenna from the property supervisor.

In all PSOAS houses are a cable TV network. When buying a digital set top box, it should be cable ready (DVB-C). Otherwise it does not work.