How many plugs, where to put lights,etc?

Gangu

We are getting an old house rewired and we have to to the electrician what we want and where. Any tips?

Mr.Fred

It would depend on the budget really and the lay out of the house. Also how much damage are you willing to do to the house? Changing layout and adding extra sockets is going to involve chasing and pulling up floor boards etc.

Lighting would be personal choice surely you've an idea of what you want. Some folks like spots/downlights some folks hate them. Some like chrome sw/skt some don't.

When it comes to sockets I'd go by the rule if you think you need a socket there put it in as you won't be doing it again. The electrician on site should be able to give you a rough idea of what is standard.

The kitchen will have the majority of the sockets above the counter for kettle/toaster etc below the counter for appliances dishwasher etc. Bedrooms double rooms: dbl skt either side of bed one on wall at desk or vanity area perhaps one up high for tv (tv point required)

More info would be needed and perhaps a layout of the house, something off microsoft paint would suffice in order to give you an accurate answer.

Lisha

Put sockets near window interiors for window sill Christmas lights (if ye think ye want them.

For hovering hallway make sure there are plugs to allow Hoover to access all hall way

We have recess lights in hallway . As we have kids we need hall light on so have one wall light that can stay on all night. (Without brightness and expense of all recess lights)

Have s rough idea where beds and wardrobes will go. And work around

Use under wall press lights in kitchen if there is z danger of dark corners.
Better to have them and not use them.

I wanted light switch to outside lights or hallway from master bedroom . Just do if you hear noises you can turn on lights before walking around house.

Gangu

Thanks - some good ideas here that we'd not thought of. We're doing a complete rewire of a 1950s house so we're doing a big job and are opening up the walls for it. A rewire of just sockets was done in 1995 and they left them in ugly cubes in the skirting to avoid opening the walls. Lights have never been done. We plan to do work in two phases, and the electrics are in phase 1 as I'm afraid of the risks in the house where the lights have never been done. It's a four bed semi, about 130sqm. Have NO idea about what it will cost but we've a budget for whatever it will cost as it's an important one. I want to get it right have one 2 year old and another due in Jan.

Gangu

Oh and I don't have a layout at the moment.

2011

A few thoughts in no particular order.....

Suggestions for positioning sockets

Bedrooms: Either side of the bed position & one of the remaining corners

• Kitchen: Think of where built in appliances will be positioned such as dishwasher, fridge, microwave etc...

• Several over kitchen countertop for items such as kettle, toaster, cake mixer etc..

• Consider USB sockets (MK make nice ones). These provide a nice minimalist look (that I like) and can be used for charging mobile phones & tablets.

• Outside sockets: Back wall of house, perhaps at the end of the garden. Some like one at the front of the house for steam cleaner (have this one on a DP switch from inside the home).

• Future proofing: Leave at a supply for electric car charging socket (don't laugh, I think this will be the norm in a few years )

• Hall & landing: Vacuum cleaner sockets.

• Sitting room: Sockets in each corner, sockets for digibox, sound system, streaming devices, HDMI socket prewired to TV so that laptop can be neatly plugged into the TV. USB socket.

Power supplies to be considered

• Gas / oil boiler (13A spur outlet)

• Linked smoke & heat detectors

• Intruder alarm system (13A spur outlet)

• Cable to future garden shed position

• Cable to future electric gates position

Lighting
(Refer to LED sticky above)

• Consider having landing, hall, utility room, porch lights on presence detector. That way the lights turn on (convenient) and off (saving energy) automatically.

• Sensor light(s) along side passage way, over back door.

• Under counter LED lights, kitchen

• Leave out cables for garden lighting

Network cabling

Wire CAT5 / CAT 6 to various points from a central network switch location including:

• Digibox location

• Printer

• Anywhere that you may want to plug a computer in.

• Wifi router positions

• Phone points

• Alarm panel location

• TV position

• IP cameras

Home entertainment

• Wire 2 x CAT5 from main digibox location to other TV points. This can be used to extend HDMI cables up to 50m providing HD TV from a single digibox to other rooms.

• Speaker wiring

• HDMI Cables (at least 3 from the TV position to the digibox psision

Miscellaneous

• Bathroom extract fans (perhaps on humidity sensor in shower room)

• Consider having a 2nd light switch beside the bed in the master bedroom.

• Heating control: Consider installing at least 3 zone valves (DHW, upstairs radiators & downstairs radiators). Each valve should be controlled by a stat and wireed to its own channel on the time clock. This will save on the heating bills and provide superior heating control.

Gangu

2011 wrote: »

A few thoughts in no particular order.....

Suggestions for positioning sockets

Bedrooms: Either side of the bed position & one of the remaining corners

• Kitchen: Think of where built in appliances will be positioned such as dishwasher, fridge, microwave etc...

• Several over kitchen countertop for items such as kettle, toaster, cake mixer etc..

• Consider USB sockets (MK make nice ones). These provide a nice minimalist look (that I like) and can be used for charging mobile phones & tablets.

• Outside sockets: Back wall of house, perhaps at the end of the garden. Some like one at the front of the house for steam cleaner (have this one on a DP switch from inside the home).

• Future proofing: Leave at a supply for electric car charging socket (don't laugh, I think this will be the norm in a few years )

• Hall & landing: Vacuum cleaner sockets.

• Sitting room: Sockets in each corner, sockets for digibox, sound system, streaming devices, HDMI socket prewired to TV so that laptop can be neatly plugged into the TV. USB socket.

Power supplies to be considered

• Gas / oil boiler (13A spur outlet)

• Linked smoke & heat detectors

• Intruder alarm system (13A spur outlet)

• Cable to future garden shed position

• Cable to future electric gates position

Lighting
(Refer to LED sticky above)

• Consider having landing, hall, utility room, porch lights on presence detector. That way the lights turn on (convenient) and off (saving energy) automatically.

• Sensor light(s) along side passage way, over back door.

• Under counter LED lights, kitchen

• Leave out cables for garden lighting

Network cabling

Wire CAT5 / CAT 6 to various points from a central network switch location including:

• Digibox location

• Printer

• Anywhere that you may want to plug a computer in.

• Wifi router positions

• Phone points

• Alarm panel location

• TV position

• IP cameras

Home entertainment

• Wire 2 x CAT5 from main digibox location to other TV points. This can be used to extend HDMI cables up to 50m providing HD TV from a single digibox to other rooms.

• Speaker wiring

• HDMI Cables (at least 3 from the TV position to the digibox psision

Miscellaneous

• Bathroom extract fans (perhaps on humidity sensor in shower room)

• Consider having a 2nd light switch beside the bed in the master bedroom.

• Heating control: Consider installing at least 3 zone valves (DHW, upstairs radiators & downstairs radiators). Each valve should be controlled by a stat and wireed to its own channel on the time clock. This will save on the heating bills and provide superior heating control.

Fantastic! Thanks so much