If it's the case that at some time power to the whole building will be cut off, then just tell them to let you know when that happens and you will come and collect then.
But any work on the wiring would still need to be carried out by a certified electrician.
Have you ever been inside a large industrial site under demolition? I have.
There's a point somewhere between 'working site' and 'wreckage' where such rules become moot. I could tell an amusing story about a large establishment in Sydney, where the demolition company had just some heavy wrecking machinery and operators for them, so could not deal with things like heavy copper cables and busbars. Since these just become hopeless tangles when bulldozers are applied. But they were contractually required to not put copper in landfill. It wasn't economical to employ someone specialized to remove the copper first. And so there was a requirement for a very unofficial involvement. It was fun and lucrative.
This just makes me laugh even harder at Benson's ideas. But sadly that episode can't be used as a lever here. Ha ha, unless I can make contact with the demolition company before they begin, and they have a similar need. But that's too iffy to leave as the only path.
Have you considered contacting the auction company to see what they think of the matter?
Yes. First on my list of Monday chores. I didn't pursue such details before because I wasn't in a position to go get it. Now I am.
I'm thinking the transfer switch on the wall is the issue here, the UPS is disconnected there (or at least switched off). Removing the switch itself, means tracing all the cabling from it.
I wouldn't bother with the transfer switch, not worth the time/expense/mess.
It sure is! To me anyway. I'm not getting the UPS just to play with, I have an application. And will need such an isolation switch.
Btw, it might be an actual switch as in the diagram, but is more likely some contactors and control logic. Makes no difference to the external wiring.
Don't want to even think of what it would cost to buy a new one.
Also it's actually easiest to disconnect just the supply cable at that point, since that must be done as 'potentially live'. After it's removed, and a quick visual check that all the other cables do just go to wall outlets in the adjoining room, everything gets much quicker.
See pic below of how I think the setup almost certainly is. To be checked onsite.
Just tell you're coming to collect the UPS on xx/xx/2018 xx:xx with electrician (license number 1234567). And you'll both have current Workers Comp. please ensure the office door is unlocked for us.
Problems: HOW to arrange one day (hour?) workers comp for myself? I am not having much luck in finding out how to do that.
Not that I would be able to afford it I'm sure, or that I intend to do this anyway. I refuse, it's too stupid. Unless it was like $20.
This one thing I'm hoping to hear from someone who's done this before. How does one get short term, minimal 'workers comp'?
As for the electrician - I likely can't afford this. I'm retired, I currently live on less than $100 a week. Temporary situation, not easily fixed. You don't want to know the details, and it's absolutely certainly not like anything you've ever heard of before. Unless some Albury electrician would give half an hour for $50 (unlikely) it's not possible.
No need to write your life's story. Don't leave them an out, if he argues ask if next week would be better. Waste his time by sending him a full OHS removing UPS etc.
I don't know what that would look like. But I think I would be wasting a lot of my time, writing it. And he'd just bin it.