Wiring the House for Electricity
Posted: Friday, September 10, 2010
by Linda Baxter
http://www.home-built4u.com
Electrical house wiring requires special training and skill so it isn't recommended that you DIY when it comes to wiring your home. Before you can begin building, you have to have an electric power hookup. It usually takes an electrician to set this up and then the power company will hook up this panel.
Here are a few things you will need to know:
Your electrical wiring must meet the electrical code so your safety will be assured. A licensed electrician will know that code, but even then his work will need to be inspected by the city or county building inspector to be certain it meets with city code. This is an added protection for you..
2. Doing the home wiring yourself
Unless you have training in electrical wiring and particularly house wiring, this is one job you need to leave to the professionals. It takes knowledge and expertise to deal with things electrically so don't try it without help from one who knows how to read electrical diagrams and electrical symbols. Electrical wiring that does not conform to the diagrams and codes can be a fire hazard which could ultimately destroy everything you have worked so hard to create. Namely your home. It isn't worth the possibility just to try and save a few bucks by doing it yourself. I remember when my son in law and my husband were removing a wall in their home and they sawed through a wire that they didn't know was there. An electrician was there and he was going crazy to shut down the electricity so as to protect the whole house from catching on fire. It didn't burn and it wasn't a problem because it was a dead wire, but the possibility was there. Only one who knows the electrical field well, a professional, should do the wiring.
3. Rough phase wiring
Assuming you have your electrical hook up already, then the next phase of the wiring will be the rough phase. This includes wiring both 120 and 220 volt wire. You may also use low voltage, especially if you put up low voltage night lights both inside and outside the house.
120 lines are used for most of your wiring throughout the house. These connect to lights and plugs which are placed 4 or 5 feet apart on most walls. If you have chandeliers in the center of your rooms, it will also connect to them. The switches will be wired for so you can turn on the various lights from two or even 3 different places. This takes a lot of skill and know-how.
220 lines connect to the dryer and electrical stove, plus the furnace. If you have a tankless electric water heater it will need a 220 line also. Most everything else in your home will use a 120 line. Knowing how to connect the 220 line is essential to the comfort and safety of your home.
4. Finish phase electrical
After all your switches and plugs and their associated boxes have been established, and all the lights and fans have been wired for, then the wallboard can be installed. Once the wallboard is finished the drywall can be finished and painted Then your electrician needs to come back to finish his job.
He will install all the can lights, fans and hanging lights plus bedroom lights and chandeliers. Everything you need will be prepared so that all you have to do is plug in the stove and dryer. Your HVAC man will connect the furnace line, if it is electrical. The water heater will also plug in.
In conclusion, wiring a home is very complicated and takes a vast amount of skill and knowledge and should be left to the professional to perform tasks associated with it.
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