Guidelines for Domestic Electrical Wiring

Electrical wiring refers to the conduits through which electric current flows from a power source to electrical appliances inside a building such as the fans, lights, kitchen appliances, television, etc. Usually, electric current enters through large wires and then gets distributed evenly to all sockets inside the building; which makes your home’s electrical wiring complex and tricky which could prove to be disastrous if done wrong. It’s important to know about the wiring system to ensure the safety of your house. The wiring system must be established under proper supervision.

Here are some steps to follow while wiring your house:

1. Design a wiring diagram

First, you must design a layout of your house, keeping in mind the number of outlets you require, the location of the circuit breaker box and the path of all the wires and outlets. You should always be careful while designing to avoid any glitches as the same will be implemented. Once you’ve designed it, you must go through it at least twice before finalizing it.

2. Install conduits

Even if you don’t plan on using them right away, always start with the longest wire to minimize the wastage of wires and conduits in walls. You should use a top-down approach while wiring that is, start from the top-most floor and to the basement. This way, you can avoid using a ladder to push the wire up between the floors. And don’t forget to spare at least one-foot extra wire at every end, this will help you in case you need it in the future.

3. Know the outlet count

You should also choose the number of outlets and switches you want to run on one circuit. Generally, it advised keeping the number of outlets less than or up to 6 per a 110-voltage circuit to avoid overload. You should also keep wattage of appliances you use into account while deciding outlets count. For example, it is advisable to keep the number of outlets up to 2 in your kitchen because of the heavy wattage to appliances used.

4. Drill wire holes

Before drilling any holes in the walls, always keep in mind what is on the other side of the wall/floor to avoid damage of any electrical wires, water pipes, or ductwork. Now you can start by drilling 1-inch holes in the middle of the studs where all the wiring will be laid down. To make your home safer, keep the number of outlets to the maximum.

5. Set a circuit breaker

Once you’ve set all the wires, now it’s time for circuit breakers. The location of the circuit should be somewhere you can easily access it and is safe from changing weather conditions. A location in a basement or a utility room is usually preferred.

6. Pull the wires to the outlets

Now just put the wire roll next to the breaker box and pull the wire according to – the layout you designed – the closest outlet or switch for each circuit. If you like, you can also run the wires straight through the box. But make sure to cover all the wires carefully otherwise the wires may get drywalled over or could get cut from the circuit box. Make sure to use wire strippers to cover the outer plastic coating from the ends of the wires and connect them, follow to the instructions on the box, at each outlet, fixture or switch.

7. Install the circuits

Install individual circuits for each wiring set. The circuits must match the amperage of the wire and the intended purpose of the outlet