Hello dear forum members,
I am currently working on our electrical planning, and somehow my plans are getting more and more colorful.
I know that you need a switch to get light and that power comes from the sockets, but two areas are really confusing me:
1) The outdoor area: we want to illuminate the front and back of the house each with one spotlight. Of course, outlets will be planned that can be switched from inside (near the front door).
A carport is planned (with lighting and motion detectors later?), and the garage, which is 2 meters (6.5 feet) away from the house, should also receive power for future use (sockets, lighting, possibly electric roller shutters). Furthermore, the garden should be illuminated later on.
Question: Is it enough to communicate these needs to the electrician? Will they install one feed line to the carport, another to the garage, and a third cable towards the garden? Can multiple garden lights then be connected from one cable?
How does it work if the lighting is upgraded only later (after moving in)?
2) The staircase area to the upper floor: the stairs lead (unlike most) from the open living area to the upper floor. The living area is open to above (no intermediate ceiling). Upstairs, the stairs lead to a small gallery (hallway).
On the other side of the stairs downstairs is a wall with two planned spotlights. I have somehow planned this now: downstairs a light switch for the stair spotlights, upstairs a switch for the gallery. Is that switching too much? Would it be better to also illuminate the gallery together with the stairs? I have already thought about a motion detector at the base of the stairs, but since the living room is there as well, the stair light would always come on when passing by. The living area lighting (three large pendant lights) hangs in the open space. Could this lighting possibly be sufficient for the stairs so that the spotlights can be omitted? However, then the main light in the living area would need to be switchable from upstairs as well?!
Can anyone give me a tip on how to solve this best?
I am currently working on our electrical planning, and somehow my plans are getting more and more colorful.
I know that you need a switch to get light and that power comes from the sockets, but two areas are really confusing me:
1) The outdoor area: we want to illuminate the front and back of the house each with one spotlight. Of course, outlets will be planned that can be switched from inside (near the front door).
A carport is planned (with lighting and motion detectors later?), and the garage, which is 2 meters (6.5 feet) away from the house, should also receive power for future use (sockets, lighting, possibly electric roller shutters). Furthermore, the garden should be illuminated later on.
Question: Is it enough to communicate these needs to the electrician? Will they install one feed line to the carport, another to the garage, and a third cable towards the garden? Can multiple garden lights then be connected from one cable?
How does it work if the lighting is upgraded only later (after moving in)?
2) The staircase area to the upper floor: the stairs lead (unlike most) from the open living area to the upper floor. The living area is open to above (no intermediate ceiling). Upstairs, the stairs lead to a small gallery (hallway).
On the other side of the stairs downstairs is a wall with two planned spotlights. I have somehow planned this now: downstairs a light switch for the stair spotlights, upstairs a switch for the gallery. Is that switching too much? Would it be better to also illuminate the gallery together with the stairs? I have already thought about a motion detector at the base of the stairs, but since the living room is there as well, the stair light would always come on when passing by. The living area lighting (three large pendant lights) hangs in the open space. Could this lighting possibly be sufficient for the stairs so that the spotlights can be omitted? However, then the main light in the living area would need to be switchable from upstairs as well?!
Can anyone give me a tip on how to solve this best?
N
nordanney20 Aug 2013 14:19Elektro1 schrieb:
a small off-topic:
Do you happen to know the typical amount budgeted for electrical work according to the standard building scope?
We received two quotes here, and they only offered a credit of 2900€ for the electrical work.
Although I come from the industrial sector and don’t know the prices 100%, in my opinion, no electrician can deliver a compliant installation for 2900€. Well, the standard scope usually doesn’t cover much anyway. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to influence the credits, as these are specified by the construction company.
We will definitely use the electrician provided by our home construction company. On the one hand, we have great trust in the company’s standards, and on the other hand, we intentionally chose a turnkey construction. So far, we have not been disappointed by the individual subcontractors either, as they also know the company’s standards.
Of course, we will have to pay for the electrician’s work according to their standard!
However, landscaping and any future work will probably be done by a local contractor from the area (possibly someone we know).
Of course, we will have to pay for the electrician’s work according to their standard!
However, landscaping and any future work will probably be done by a local contractor from the area (possibly someone we know).
So, now about your staircase.
Using the living room lighting as stair lighting seems somewhat impractical to me, as this would require a very high light intensity, which would make the living space feel very uncomfortable.
You correctly pointed out the motion sensor issue; it might be possible to install a motion sensor on the ceiling at the top of the staircase (360° ceiling mount). This would cover only the staircase area below but would also detect people walking past. Good motion sensors have adjustable range settings.
My proposed solution:
A two-way switch system for the staircase (switch at the bottom and switch at the top). The spotlights should be adjustable so they can illuminate the stair treads (there might be a risk of glare). You could also consider installing a swiveling lamp on the open edge of the ceiling above the stairs.
I would operate the gallery lighting only from above, but it could also be connected with the staircase lighting. However, do you always want everything brightly lit (e.g., at night)?
A small note:
There are too few power outlets in the living room.
What about a multimedia corner in the living room? TV, AV receiver, Blu-ray player, game console, charger for universal remote, subwoofer.
That’s already six outlets (I would recommend making these switchable from a central point).
Speaker connection sockets for a Dolby Surround system? Even if not necessary now.
I miss network and telephone connections. (Network might also cover phone functions.)
Network technology will increase significantly in the coming years, and relying solely on wireless solutions is rather impractical and comparatively expensive.
An example of the future: a network-enabled refrigerator. Nobody really needs it, but it will come—the fridge will be able to automatically reorder groceries by itself.
Best regards
Using the living room lighting as stair lighting seems somewhat impractical to me, as this would require a very high light intensity, which would make the living space feel very uncomfortable.
You correctly pointed out the motion sensor issue; it might be possible to install a motion sensor on the ceiling at the top of the staircase (360° ceiling mount). This would cover only the staircase area below but would also detect people walking past. Good motion sensors have adjustable range settings.
My proposed solution:
A two-way switch system for the staircase (switch at the bottom and switch at the top). The spotlights should be adjustable so they can illuminate the stair treads (there might be a risk of glare). You could also consider installing a swiveling lamp on the open edge of the ceiling above the stairs.
I would operate the gallery lighting only from above, but it could also be connected with the staircase lighting. However, do you always want everything brightly lit (e.g., at night)?
A small note:
There are too few power outlets in the living room.
What about a multimedia corner in the living room? TV, AV receiver, Blu-ray player, game console, charger for universal remote, subwoofer.
That’s already six outlets (I would recommend making these switchable from a central point).
Speaker connection sockets for a Dolby Surround system? Even if not necessary now.
I miss network and telephone connections. (Network might also cover phone functions.)
Network technology will increase significantly in the coming years, and relying solely on wireless solutions is rather impractical and comparatively expensive.
An example of the future: a network-enabled refrigerator. Nobody really needs it, but it will come—the fridge will be able to automatically reorder groceries by itself.
Best regards
Just came to mind:
My neighbors have a similar staircase situation.
The solution there was a wall outlet (basically on the left side of the stairs), where a huge, stylish lamp is hanging.
However, the staircase is only open on one side to the living area.
Indirectly illuminated stair treads would be another option.
By using strain gauges on the lowest and highest stair treads, the light could be switched on via a timer when stepping onto them.
My neighbors have a similar staircase situation.
The solution there was a wall outlet (basically on the left side of the stairs), where a huge, stylish lamp is hanging.
However, the staircase is only open on one side to the living area.
Indirectly illuminated stair treads would be another option.
By using strain gauges on the lowest and highest stair treads, the light could be switched on via a timer when stepping onto them.
We visited the shell construction today and I noticed that the load-bearing wall (at the staircase) is wide enough to install the switches on its end face. That would definitely be better. provided the switch can be clearly assigned to the staircase.
If you combine this with a stair spotlight and a spotlight in the gallery, you would have compact accent lighting that also illuminates the staircase and the traffic area without harsh main lighting (it could be switched on even when no one is home, or during a cozy evening. It would also be more pleasant for a nighttime walk to the fridge). This lighting could then be controlled centrally from the front door, the living area, and upstairs. The main gallery light would of course be separate. also a good option. Thinking further, a relay switch could either turn on all accent lighting (always with priority) or, with the stair light switch, only the lighting at the staircase (a subordinate wiring).
Two weeks ago, we already ordered a rotatable LED spotlight (5 watt LED, dimmable) to test the lighting. Unfortunately, they are experiencing delivery delays. The brightness of that alone won’t be sufficient.
Look into MR16 adjustable and LED spot GU10 2700K (warm white) (for example, from Philips). This solution is cheaper than ready-made adjustable LED recessed lights and does not require a transformer.
In the living area, a 3-socket and a 2-socket outlet are planned for the TV setup. Currently, we have TV, receiver, Wii, and DVD connected to a power strip that can be switched separately. The plan is similar, but Wii and DVD are to be on separate circuits. Is that a bad idea? Should there be a switch for the TV and related devices? Why separate Wii and DVD? These devices only work together with the TV anyway.
Think about which devices must always operate together; these should be grouped on a switchable power outlet combination.
I hope you don’t mean a simple power strip from a hardware store when you say power strip. In an existing building, that might be okay, but please avoid that in new construction.
We also have LAN installed in the living room, bedroom, and guest room. The telephone is located in our utility room, where the Wi-Fi system is also planned. LAN should be installed wherever a TV, PC/MAC, router, laptop, etc. might be placed. Maybe even for the refrigerator. Don’t forget the garden; with an outdoor socket, the Wi-Fi can easily be expanded there.
Similar topics