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Original poster

Electrical Plan

10 replies

Doorway · 06/04/2019 14:34

My architect mentioned he was going to start working on the electrical plan for our extension and I want to take a little bit of control over this.

What do we need to think about? Obviously the placement of plug sockets and light switches but is there anything else I should be considering?

I’ve heard of Cat5 cables being handy but what are they even for? Do I just plug one end into my router and one into a device? Can I only use one at a time?

Can we have sky cables put in for in case we get sky in the future even though we don’t have it now?

I feel it’s really crucial to get this right to save having to fix it later.

OP posts:

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 06/04/2019 18:10

When we did ours we looked at were all the furniture would be and where we could set up lights for Crimbo too and all that that entails. Took a week for us to note everything on one set of plans. Then the sparky came in and said we couldn't have electrics that close to the corner of rooms and a few other things - so we pretty much wasted 70% of our time. So unless you are aware of all the rules, I'd let the expert do it then you add comments to what they have done .

johnd2 · 06/04/2019 19:37

If it was an extension then the sparky was wrong, the socket rules are for new dwellings as they have to be accessed by people of reduced mobility. In an existing house as long as the new sockets are no worse than the old you can have them wherever

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 06/04/2019 22:15

Was a new build

johnd2 · 06/04/2019 22:51

Fair enough yes that would be subject to the full part m requirements for accessibility.

MarieG10 · 07/04/2019 07:06

You don't say what type of room you are having so an assortment as below as having done not so long ago

Cat 6 cables. These need locating for a TV....a smart TV anyway. They are hard wired internet cables that are much better than WiFi. You need two.
You don't need anything other for Sky unless it is the primary box location as it will work off WiFi or Cat 6. However, you do need cable for virgin if they are in your location
Put in cables for speakers..whether in roof for ceiling speakers or walls. Save a fortune on wireless speaker systems such as Sonos or Bluesound.

Make sure you also have a conventional TV aerial cable in case Sky etc fails.
Make sure lights work with dimmers if that sort of room....few people want to sit with spots on full pelt.

Don't over egg the amount of spotlights you need as they convince you to have more than you need so having your architect do is a good idea.

Two way switches for outside lights if you have doors into the garden

Loads of sockets and think where you might have table/standing lamps

Good luck!!

MarieG10 · 07/04/2019 07:08

Oh and agree with John2. We didn't have to comply with any rules like that in electrics and ours was a big extension. The only thing is if it is a kitchen or kitchen diner you have to have extractor fans and heat detectors fitted which I think have to be mains wired. However the cooker hood can act as the extractor

Original poster

Doorway · 07/04/2019 12:17

Thanks so much all!
Sorry never even thought to say what rooms it was, silly of me.

It’s a bedroom, a study, a big hallway and a bathroom. Everything you’ve said totally makes sense Marie. It wouldn’t be the primary point for Sky if we got it in the future so won’t worry about that. I spent most of the day reading up on the cat 5/6 cables yesterday so I think we will definitely go with them for Netflix etc on the tv.

If we want a light up mirror in the bathroom will that be wired in or are these run on batteries?

We are planning on having Phillips hue so can’t decide whether we still need dimmers on the wall or just switches.

I think we will want garden lighting in the future but doing the garden is so far off I can’t even begin to consider where we’d have it. Will it be a big issue to do that in the future?

Thanks so much for the replies.

OP posts:

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 07/04/2019 12:23

Double sockets with integral USB charging point by each side of bed.

My bathroom cabinet is from HIB. Love it.
Switch by door turns on top and shower light.
Hidden remote switch under wall cabinet turns it on separately if you want softer light. Good for nighttime wees!
Fan for shower on separate pull cord so it's not chuntering away when not needed

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 07/04/2019 12:24

Cabinet has 2 internal shaver points for electric toothbrush and shave each have their own permanent place

MarieG10 · 07/04/2019 17:20

Light up mirror. Definitely mains wired. You could also have a heated mirror which stops it steaming up.

Definitely go for dimmers. Even if you dint think you will use them, you will and with LED lights they fit now you need specific ones for dimmers.

Also, put in another CAT 6 cable to the bedroom or to a point in the extremity of the extension to support a WiFi booster as if it is a decent extension size you may find you have dead-spots of coverage and the boosters that work from relaying the signal are rubbish.

A rule,I found was putting in wired stuff was much cheaper than wireless and more reliable. My local expert was spot on advising me this as he said WiFi is totally unreliable and use wired connections whenever you can. My friend didn't and really regrets it

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