According to electrical engineers, wiring a building is a complex yet critical thing to do. Knowing and putting everything in the right place is of great significance to the home and residential owners. The risk posed by poor electrical wiring has seen some localities approve only licensed electricians for house wiring. A simple error in electrical installation may result in an electrical fire eruption leading to the destruction of properties and lives.
As a homeowner, you ought to know certain requirements for home wiring to boost your protection, especially when planning to do the wiring in the absence of a licensed electrical engineer. The following are some of the safety steps to follow while wiring your house;
Design a writing diagram
As directed by a licensed electrical engineer, while do it yourself installing electricity into your house, you are required to design a diagram that shows the location of your breaker box and the path of the wires to each point letting out electrical power.
Disconnect power
This is a critical step that many electrical engineers ignore according to Mr. Martin Wabwoba a senior electrical engineer based in Nairobi. He urges those in the field not to be too confident. “Cut off the power supply before getting down to wiring task even if it is little work. Switch off the power that leads to the building or call the power supplier to shut from their end,” said Wabwoba.
Put up an electrical distribution board
From the power inlet point, mount an electrical distribution panel of your preferred size, design and color. As illustrated by the name, the electrical distribution board is an integral part that is used to distribute power through circuits to various points of a building.
Install conduits
According to electrical engineers, it is advisable to run the longest wires especially from the upstairs all through to the basement to avoid wastage. It is easier to push wires from the upstairs a sharp contrast to the converse since you will not need a ladder. You should also leave at least one extra wire at each end just in case you need it later.
Know outlet count
It is good to determine the number of outlets and switches that will run on one circuit for easy installation. Normally, six outlets per 110-voltage are advisable in a living area while two per circuit are recommended in a kitchen.
Drill wire holes
At the point where your wires will pass through, you are supposed to drill holes of about 1-inch bit. You are, however, advised to be careful not to drill through any electrical wires, ductwork, or water pipes.
Put up a breaker
Your breaker box should be placed in a point where you can easily access it. Mr. Wabwoba recommends a basement of the building.
Pull wires to the outlets
According to your electrical installation diagram, run your wires through the box to the closet outlet or switch for each circuit. Wires sticking out of the box can be drywalled over or get cut from the electrical box. Use wire strippers to remove the outer plastic from the ends of wires and connect according to the instructions provided on the box.
To wrap up, organize your cables that would otherwise be running loose on the walls and floors causing an unpleasant look and untidiness in your house by using powder-coated cable trunking. Cable trunking protects your wires from being trodden on or unauthorized reach. Also when replacement need arises, it is easier to access the relevant cables.