Electrical
Electrical Planning Checklist for a New House or Apartment
Short answer
Plan electrics before plastering: list the sockets, lights and appliances in every room, decide on single or three-phase supply, put heavy loads like cookers and geysers on their own circuits, specify a distribution board with spare ways and RCD protection, run conduit and earthing, and add provision for solar, CCTV and network cabling now, because adding them later costs more.
Before the wiring starts
- Get the architectural plan and mark furniture and appliance positions.
- Decide single or three-phase supply. See single vs three-phase.
- List every light, socket, switch, fan, air conditioner, cooker, geyser and pump.
- Group them into circuits: lighting, sockets, cooker, water heating, air conditioning, outdoor.
- Choose a distribution board with RCD protection and spare ways for the future.
- Plan conduit routes and earthing before concrete and plaster close.
Provision for later
- Solar: spare board space, a cable route from roof to inverter location and a clear wall for the inverter and batteries.
- CCTV: conduit to camera positions and a spot for the recorder.
- Network: Cat6 points in rooms and a central rack or cabinet.
- Generator or changeover: an essential-loads sub-board.
- Electric vehicle charger: a heavy-duty circuit.
Points to think about
- More sockets than you think you need, at convenient heights.
- Two-way switching on stairs and long corridors.
- Outdoor lighting and security lights.
- Weatherproof fittings outside and in wet areas.
Get a design
A proper layout and load calculation avoids rework. See electrical design and wiring services.
Common questions
How many sockets per room?
More than the minimum. Plan for current and future appliances, with several on each wall of living rooms and kitchens.
Should I prepare for solar when building?
Yes. Provision for cable routes and board space is cheap now and costly to add later.
Can I wire before the plan is final?
Better to finalise layout first. Changing wiring after plastering is messy and expensive.