Mine and FIFO Ute Electrics from Geraldton

This guide is for Geraldton mine workers, contractors and small businesses who drive utes to Mid West and Murchison sites, or leave a vehicle at home while they fly in and fly out. It covers the electrical gear sites often ask for, how to wire it properly, and how to keep a parked vehicle's battery healthy.

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Geraldton and the mining workforce

Geraldton is a service and logistics centre for regional mining as well as farming and fishing, and the City of Greater Geraldton has a policy that aims to strengthen the city's position as a fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out hub for workers in the Mid West, Murchison, Gascoyne and Pilbara. In practice that means plenty of locals either drive to site in a work ute or fly out and leave their own vehicle behind.

Drive-in work often means long runs east along Geraldton–Mount Magnet Road, which is used regularly by mine and grain road trains, or north up North West Coastal Highway. Those trips are hard on vehicles and their electrics, and the vehicle often needs extra equipment before it's allowed onto a site.

Every site sets its own standards

There's no single list of electrical gear that every mine site requires. Each operation sets its own vehicle standards based on its risks, roads and traffic management plan, and those standards can differ a lot between sites, and even between areas on the same site. Some want an amber beacon, a flag on a whip and a two-way radio. Others add extra lights, specific reversing alarms or other items.

WA's code of practice on road and traffic management at mines gives a sense of what sites consider. It says light vehicles should be kept away from heavy vehicle areas where possible, and where they can't be, should have things like rotating or flashing beacons, high-visibility buggy whips or flagged aerials. It also says hazard lights alone are not considered adequate. It's a guide to how sites think, not a fit-out list.

So before you book any work, get the site's vehicle requirements in writing from your employer or the site contact. Fitting gear that doesn't match their standard means paying twice.

Wiring site gear properly

Mine site roads mean dust, heat and corrugations, so the wiring has to be better than a weekend job. A typical site fit-out has several accessories drawing power, and each needs to be done right:

• Give each accessory its own fused circuit, with the fuse close to the power source. See where to put the fuse when wiring an accessory.
• Use relays for beacons and lights, so the switch on the dash doesn't carry the full current.
• Size the cable for the current and the full length of the run.
• Seal connections against dust with heat shrink and sealed connectors.
• Clamp cables securely and use grommets wherever they pass through metal.
• Label circuits at the fuse block so anyone can trace a fault later.

Lights on public roads

Many site utes also get driving lights or a light bar for early starts and late finishes on country roads. On public roads in WA, these have to meet the rules. The WA transport department's information bulletin on additional and optional vehicle lights sets out requirements such as a maximum of four additional driving lights, symmetrical mounting, and wiring so they switch off when the headlights are dipped or high beam is turned off. A light bar where all LEDs work together counts as one light.

Beacons and other warning lights also have rules about when they can be used on public roads, and a site's requirements don't change those rules. Check the current rules with WA's transport department before fitting, and make sure your installer knows the vehicle will be used on public roads as well as on site.

Power for radios and other gear

Two-way radios, phone chargers, laptops and sometimes a fridge all draw power, and on a long day at site the starting battery can end up working hard. A dual battery system keeps accessories off the starting battery, so a radio left on during a long break doesn't leave you stuck. Most late-model utes have smart alternators, so a DC-DC charger is usually a better choice than a simple isolator. Our guide on how a dual battery system works explains the options.

Leaving a vehicle while you're on swing

If you fly out from Geraldton Airport, or leave your car at home for two weeks or more, the battery can go flat while you're away. Modern vehicles draw a small amount of power even when they're switched off, for alarms, keyless entry and electronic modules. Add a dashcam on parking mode or an accessory wired straight to the battery, and the drain can be enough to flatten a battery over a swing.

A few habits help. Turn off or unplug dashcams and other accessories before you leave. Make sure the battery is fully charged and in good condition. If the vehicle is at home, a quality smart battery maintainer can keep it topped up. If it still goes flat, an auto electrician can measure the drain with everything off and track down the circuit responsible. See why does my car battery keep going flat.

Getting the work done locally

Site fit-outs are common work in Geraldton's industrial suburbs. The Webberton and Narngulu pages list auto electricians who handle work utes, trucks and plant. Bring your site's written requirements, describe how you use the vehicle on and off site, and ask for the circuits to be labelled and documented so they can be maintained easily.

Keep a simple record of what was fitted, which fuse protects each item and when it was done. If your employer changes, or the vehicle moves to a different site, that record makes it much easier to adjust the setup to new requirements without starting again.

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Questions Geraldton drivers ask

What electrical gear does a ute need to go on a mine site?

It depends on the site. Each operation sets its own standards, which may include an amber beacon, a flag on a whip, a two-way radio, extra lights or particular alarms. Ask your employer or site contact for the requirements in writing before you book any fit-out, so the work matches what the site expects.

Can I use my beacon on the highway to site?

Rules about warning lights on public roads are separate from site rules, and a site requiring a beacon doesn't mean you can use it on the highway. Check the current rules with WA's transport department, and use a switch that lets you turn the beacon off when it isn't needed.

How do I stop my car battery going flat while I'm away for two weeks?

Start with a fully charged, healthy battery and switch off dashcams and other accessories. If the car is at home, a smart battery maintainer can keep it topped up. If it still goes flat, have an auto electrician measure the drain with the car off, as something may be drawing more power than it should.

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