Electrical Walkthrough
- Thread starter lewisjd
- Start date
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Make sure network cable runs are away from paralleling AC runs. If they do cross, have them cross at 90 degree angles.
Make sure enough slack exists in landing areas (if you are terminating yourself).
Make sure debris is removed from the power panels.
Look to make sure cable runs don't have a large amount of 'tension'. Also, look over runs to make sure they are away from sharp objects (such as protruding nails) and sharp angled corners.
If you think a cable/run may be damaged by drywallers, have protective 'nailer' plates installed.
Make sure the builder will use expanding foam on all cable run holes in the top header boards of your frame.
It would be nice to have your lighting on one phase and outlets on another, though I'm not sure if it would be possible (for balancing, etc...).
Good luck!
Make sure enough slack exists in landing areas (if you are terminating yourself).
Make sure debris is removed from the power panels.
Look to make sure cable runs don't have a large amount of 'tension'. Also, look over runs to make sure they are away from sharp objects (such as protruding nails) and sharp angled corners.
If you think a cable/run may be damaged by drywallers, have protective 'nailer' plates installed.
Make sure the builder will use expanding foam on all cable run holes in the top header boards of your frame.
It would be nice to have your lighting on one phase and outlets on another, though I'm not sure if it would be possible (for balancing, etc...).
Good luck!
Sacedog
Active Member
BSR hit all of the big points. I would include a dedicated circuit for your Home Theater, and at least one for your wiring closet (depending on how much equipment you plan on putting in there). You also might want to ask him about a whole house surge protector. Now will be the easiest time to install one, and they aren't super expensive (I think mine was about a $150 upgrade). I would also make sure that they use the DEEPEST boxes that they can for light switches. The Blue Carlon deep boxes are about the best I have seen. That will be important if you do any automated light switches.
As far as other electrical (non-HA related): dedicated circuit for garage, and plenty of plugs out there; plenty of exterior outlets; dedicated switched outlet for Christmas tree; switched outlets under exterior soffits for Christmas lights; conduit for sub-panel for future pool/spa; my wife had switched outlets put above the kitchen cabinets, in order to put "up lighting" there (I woudl highly recommend doing this); she also put an outlet next to the top of the stairway handrail, for christmas lighting down the handrail (if you can't tell, she likes to decorate ).
As far as other electrical (non-HA related): dedicated circuit for garage, and plenty of plugs out there; plenty of exterior outlets; dedicated switched outlet for Christmas tree; switched outlets under exterior soffits for Christmas lights; conduit for sub-panel for future pool/spa; my wife had switched outlets put above the kitchen cabinets, in order to put "up lighting" there (I woudl highly recommend doing this); she also put an outlet next to the top of the stairway handrail, for christmas lighting down the handrail (if you can't tell, she likes to decorate
).
Neurorad
Senior Member
Look through the Wiring Your New Home CT wiki for additional wiring ideas.
Each refrigerator/freezer needs it's own dedicated circuit - any plans for a fridge/freezer in the garage?
Any plans for a table saw (220v)? Outlet in garage for electric car charging, or arc welding?
Speakers in garage, for distributed audio and/or announcements. Water sensors for flood detection (dishwasher, washing machine minimum). Outlet and control wire in location of irrigation controller.
Each refrigerator/freezer needs it's own dedicated circuit - any plans for a fridge/freezer in the garage?
Any plans for a table saw (220v)? Outlet in garage for electric car charging, or arc welding?
Speakers in garage, for distributed audio and/or announcements. Water sensors for flood detection (dishwasher, washing machine minimum). Outlet and control wire in location of irrigation controller.
PaulD
Active Member
Take pictures of all the walls while they are open. Pictures will come in handy later when you want to remember "what wire/pipe/duct/etc was in that wall space?". Also handy to find the missing outlets after the sheetrock guys are done. The sheetrock guys are supposed to make cutouts for all the outlets but they often miss some and sheetrock over the outlet. In my new house, they covered up 3 outlets that we had to "re-discover". Also, carpenter came back to finish some trim work and put a screw through a copper pipe because he assumend there was nothing behind the wall where he was working. Pictures are invaluable.
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
How in the world did I forget to tell the OP about taking pictures!?!?! 
Am I getting THAT old?
Excellent catch Paul!
I also did some video. You may also want to have a yard stick as a reference as it will help you decide if you really want to place that nail or shelf in a location on a wall later on down the road! Especially be aware of the plumbing (take good pics of its locations).
And yes, I have drilled through a drain pipe in my older home (no construction pics) before as this pipe was right against a section of drywall in a closet.
Am I getting THAT old?
Excellent catch Paul!
I also did some video. You may also want to have a yard stick as a reference as it will help you decide if you really want to place that nail or shelf in a location on a wall later on down the road! Especially be aware of the plumbing (take good pics of its locations).
And yes, I have drilled through a drain pipe in my older home (no construction pics) before as this pipe was right against a section of drywall in a closet.
Monk
Active Member
Amen Brother!! You cannot have too many pictures either. And even though you might be able to see thru to the next room, don't skimp - take em from each room - don't forget to look up!
Don't forget the empty conduit(s) that run from basement to attic. I filled my one conduit up with unplanned wires within a few months of moving in, and have since added 3 more conduits.
Don't forget to take pictures of the boxes which contained the materials the builder used. Make sure you get data such as model numbers, manufacturers, color names, bar codes, warranty stickers, anything, since it WILL come in handy later.
Time to update that wiki ...
Time to update that wiki ...
mustangcoupe
Senior Member
With so little time, it might be worth putting an ad on craigslist and trying to find a low voltage guy that's looking for some side work to help out with everything. If you run short on time, you can just run some conduit and fish the wires through it later for some things. Make sure you run the biggest pipe you can from your basement to the attic. Another good one is the basement to the garage.
I did a 300-pair 110 block in my basement, and cross connected it to a 100-pair in the garage, and another one in the attic. Now, if I need to run extra wire, I can just patch it through and drop down walls from the top if I need to. I'm using the garage cross-connects, but the attic ones are left alone for now because my basement is still unfinished and I can come up through the floor.
Also to note, I'm not running anything for video. I've got Cat-6 everywhere, and I'll either do video over IP, or use baluns. If I run HDMI now, it will be obsolete in 5 years anyway. I *am* running a conduit to the ceiling where projector in the theater will be, and to where there might be a TV in there if I don't go with a projector. But for the rest of the house, it's Cat-6.
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