First Domestic Wiring...

S

Stuuk1

Hi all,

Been an electrician for 10 years in industrial/commercial. Also work for 4 years in BMS.

I am buying a new property which I am going to gut and rewire while I can..

Having never wired a domestic premises before I am obviously full of questions which I hope someone can help me with.

My first question (and only question for now) is about what accessories could I install while I'm there chasing out the walls? I am going to be putting in some good quality USB chargers dotted around and some speaker cables. I'm just interested in other ideas...

Thanks!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Tv aerial cables buried in the walls so there's less spaghetti lying around. PIRs and occupancy sensors in bathroom(s) for those late night wee moments. Data cables in each room so you're never too far from your internets, under floor heating. The list could go on and on
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I once did all the audio and data wiring installation for some friends who were having a house built. Most of the cabling went from a central 19" rack to various points in the house. Speakers in ceilings and on walls (including outside above patio), cabling for control pads next to light switches, multiple cat 5e cabling to all possible TV positions, multiple satellite aerial cables in a duct from the end of the garden (which was the only place guaranteed to get a signal due to surrounding trees).

I'd put in a cable for an old fashioned wired doorbell; the radio ones are often unreliable. It's also not so silly having some data cables; you'll still get faster and more reliable data transfer by cable than wireless.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Stuuk1 said:
Hi all,

Been an electrician for 10 years in industrial/commercial. Also work for 4 years in BMS.

I am buying a new property which I am going to gut and rewire while I can..

Having never wired a domestic premises before I am obviously full of questions which I hope someone can help me with.

My first question (and only question for now) is about what accessories could I install while I'm there chasing out the walls? I am going to be putting in some good quality USB chargers dotted around and some speaker cables. I'm just interested in other ideas...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If a guy stacking Tesco shelves 3 or 4 weeks before hand can do it, i'm sure you won't have any problems. Your only problem is with part pee and and the LABC. ..lol!!!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Conduit in the wall, not needed to do that since we started running things in safe zones lol cables for tv on chimney breast would come in handy, leading back to either a cupboard for your DVD etc or to a side unit.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Best thing is get a catalogue and look through it and see what fittings are out there.
MK do so much more now tv sat and phone all on one double plate good for sky behind the tv and loads more things.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
vjsmarwick said:
Best thing is get a catalogue and look through it and see what fittings are out there.
MK do so much more now tv sat and phone all on one double plate good for sky behind the tv and loads more things.
Click to expand...

Agreed. There is neat plates that use push in/spring clamp connections for your speaker cable terminations, on a single plate
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Everyone knows he installs oval conduit, and it is a better job if truth be known even if it's not necessary. In the event of a damaged cable it's easier to replace, if your client will pay the little bit extra then why not. Comes down to personal preference at the end of the day I suppose
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Im still waiting to get my chance at fitting a Click media plate. If i have to wait much longer im going to fit one at my house just for the sake of it
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Deservices said:
Are you honestly telling me that you fit new sockets in conduit? And also saying if you don't its not a proper job?
Click to expand...

Always. Every cable I install is in conduit. You're right, it's not strictly necessary to comply with regs, but after 25 years in the profession I still curse when I have to chase a wall on a rewire, and bless the previous electrician who used conduit :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Guitarist said:
Deservices said:
Are you honestly telling me that you fit new sockets in conduit? And also saying if you don't its not a proper job?
Click to expand...

Always. Every cable I install is in conduit. You're right, it's not strictly necessary to comply with regs, but after 25 years in the profession I still curse when I have to chase a wall on a rewire, and bless the previous electrician who used conduit :)
Click to expand...

When you say conduit, are we talking 20mm galv...? Or the smaller plastic stuff I've seen.

Another reason I ask that is because I have so much 20mm galv at my disposal and am tempted to use it in the walls with saddle tops to hold it in. Wouldn't take any longer to install than capping once the walls are chased out!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Stuuk1 said:
When you say conduit, are we talking 20mm galv...? Or the smaller plastic stuff I've seen.

Another reason I ask that is because I have so much 20mm galv at my disposal and am tempted to use it in the walls with saddle tops to hold it in. Wouldn't take any longer to install than capping once the walls are chased out!
Click to expand...
well its only what councils did once....still a lot of it in service n all.....my friends mothers house still has it going strong..
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Stuuk1 said:
When you say conduit, are we talking 20mm galv...? Or the smaller plastic stuff I've seen.

Another reason I ask that is because I have so much 20mm galv at my disposal and am tempted to use it in the walls with saddle tops to hold it in. Wouldn't take any longer to install than capping once the walls are chased out!
Click to expand...

Bush up the top, and earth the back box it's bushed too...... Removes the need for Rcd protection for buried cables!!
;)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Have a look around a couple of show houses to decide what you want in the first instance and then draw up your plans, its hard to give advice if we don't know what you want yourself.

I love deep back boxes as I get the apprentice to do the chopping in lol
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Can't believe what i'm reading on this thread. Ive been a spark for over thirty years and find it hard to see why some think, if you don't put conduit in the walls you're lazy.As for unnecessary chasing, why? I thought it was always advisable to keep damage to the building fabric to a minimum (smashed too many bricks). How can channeling not be classed as a "proper " job when, 99% of domestic jobs are installed this way? Come on guys, its going to get covered in plaster, just get on with it!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
trev said:
I don't think it's lazy, it just comes down to personal preference.
Click to expand...



I agree it is preference and also the way that people are taught, I use both capping and oval but prefer oval if i'm honest.

Lets be honest because everything these days is price driven alot of people you see on sites the emphsis is on speed not quality.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SYKRAPS said:
I agree it is preference and also the way that people are taught, I use both capping and oval but prefer oval if i'm honest.

Lets be honest because everything these days is price driven alot of people you see on sites the emphsis is on speed not quality.
Click to expand...

channel not quality?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
BillyHas said:
channel not quality?
Click to expand...

Yes as I said channel or capping as I call it I use on a daily basis and have no problem with its quality, I just prefer oval because I think and have seen cables are more easily damaged using capping which is nigh on impossible with oval

ie trapped, damaged and nailed cables
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
First factor is your budget, if you can't afford anything fancy like remote switching and programmable room scenes,
I'd just go for plastic oval conduit, squeeze the end and it fits in a 20mm knock out.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I often win jobs, even though I know that I'm not the lowest quote. Within reason, the price isn't usually what customers are after. They want someone in their home who they feel they can trust, who uses good materials, and who gives a good overall service. If you are working for landlords or builders (something which I avoid), then obviously price will be the main criteria.
And yes, I do think that running cables in oval conduit is a better job.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

Similar threads

C
Commercial to domestic (embarrassing question)
Replies
3
Views
213
littlespark
littlespark
H
  • Question Question
UK First visit , Bungalow question.
Replies
20
Views
530
sheppertonspark
S

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Green 2 Go Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses Heating 2 Go
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Advert

YOUR Unread Posts

Daily, weekly or monthly email

Receive a daily, weekly, or monthly email containing a digest of new and recently updated threads.

Thread Information

Title
First Domestic Wiring...
Prefix
N/A
Forum
Domestic Electrician Forum
Start date
Last reply date
Replies
55
Unsolved
--

Thread Tags

Tags Tags
cables domestic electricians' talk first having points sockets wiring

Advert

Thread statistics

Created
Stuuk1,
Last reply from
Stuuk1,
Replies
55
Views
6,397

Advert

TrueNAS JBOD Storage Server

Tilers | UK Tiling Forum | Tilers Forums | Find a Tiler
UK Tiling Forum by Tilers Forums UK
Plumbers Forums | Plumbing Advice | Gas Forum
Back
Top