Electrical Safety 101

Home Construction: Three Practical Planning Guidelines for Your Electrical System

by David Hart

Proper planning is critical for the optimal performance of the electrical system in your new home. If you do not consider this process with care during the home design stage, you will end up with an inefficient and unattractive electrical setup. In simple terms, small oversights such as poor placement of sockets and the wrong choice of lighting could cause extreme discomfort and inconvenience. You might even be forced to perform electrical renovations, which can be expensive. If you are building a house for the first time, consider these practical tips on designing your new home's electrical setup.

Choose the Right Lighting Solutions

You should evaluate your lighting options and select the most suitable solutions for your home. The right choices will ensure that your home is well-lighted and attractive after completion. When planning for your electrical system, you should think about the number of lighting points that you would like for each room. You should make sure that the lights are placed for optimal brightness, but you must avoid over-lighting the interior space. You should also consider mixing different lighting designs in your home. Do not plan only for ceiling lights. Look into other solutions such as floor lamps, wall washers and pendants. This combination will create a more appealing look.

Place Your Power Points Conveniently

A modern home will have numerous appliances and devices which will require constant power. Therefore, you should evaluate your needs with care before making a decision on the number of power points and their placement. If you have few sockets or if the points are inconveniently positioned, you will have to use a lot of power strips in your home. These extensions increase the risk of overloading and create tripping hazards. You should create a detailed list of all the devices that you will need to power in each room and their placement. By using this information, you should be able to create a suitable plan.

Consider Control Panel Placement

Finally, you should remember that your home will have multiple systems and appliances which use control panels. For instance, your HVAC system, security setup and lighting might require a centralised control point. When planning your electrical system, you should make sure that your contractor chooses the most appropriate position. Ideally, the control panel should be in an accessible but unobtrusive place.

You should consult your electrical contractor before making major decisions on your residential electrical system. The expert will help you evaluate the feasibility of your plan and guide you in the right direction.

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