A question that has been on my mind lately, and one I haven’t been able to clarify yet since I don’t have an electrician, is the following: What does a “standard” electrical installation (not KNX or similar systems) look like during the shell construction phase when the cables are routed inside empty conduit on the rough subfloor? Let’s assume that in room X there are 6 electrical outlets, 1 light fixture with a switch, and 1 switch for an electric roller shutter. Does a single cable run from the distribution panel into room X and then get distributed throughout the room via flush-mounted boxes? Or do the cables run individually from each load back to the distribution board? So, in this example, would there be 2 cables for the two switches and 1 cable for the six outlets wired in series? Is this approach repeated from room to room, or are separate cables grouped together at some point?
Conduits are inexpensive, so it’s better to install a few extra. Besides the circuit breakers and separating lighting from power outlets, remember to plan for telecommunications and data cables as well: these are usually not routed together with lighting circuits in the same conduit, and they should be installed without junctions, splices, or similar connections. Today, the “power outlet system” with daisy-chained TAE sockets is no longer recommended*, and you should not overestimate the disappearance of cables just because of Wi-Fi. Also, a double socket requires two cables (each running directly and continuously from the distribution box to the socket). I would currently even consider installing fiber optic cables alongside copper cables for the future.
*) Especially for IT and telecommunications, as a builder you need to educate yourself, since many electricians have not yet adapted: they still wire in the old network topology and believe that just using Cat6 or Cat7 cables instead of the old red star quadrupoles means the future is already built in.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
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*) Especially for IT and telecommunications, as a builder you need to educate yourself, since many electricians have not yet adapted: they still wire in the old network topology and believe that just using Cat6 or Cat7 cables instead of the old red star quadrupoles means the future is already built in.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Lumpi_LE schrieb:
Yes, your picture shows a light and an outlet on the same cable with a junction box. That is no longer standard practice.
Separate lighting and outlets without a junction box.It is definitely acceptable to have one cable per room, but with multiple circuits so that lighting and outlets are protected separately.
I’m currently working on this as well. By chance, the marking starts tomorrow, and over the weekend we will be installing the first electrical boxes.
Since I work mainly in industry, I have spent the last few weeks researching this topic more deeply.
Here are a few tips that might help you when talking to your electrician.
Basically, they should install 5-core cables, not 3-core ones. Technically, both work, but with 5-core cables, you have the option to add 2 additional circuits later on. The price difference shouldn’t be more than a few euros.
Bus systems can also be easily retrofitted over these cables later. Some might object, saying these are not data cables and so on, but technically it works perfectly fine.
Roller shutters:
Make sure to install the wiring so that upgrading to automated control is possible later. Many providers now offer compatible wireless transmitters that allow you to create scenes or similar functions.
Power outlets:
If you are planning an outlet in any corner, just add one more for a double outlet. Installing a double outlet takes less than 5 minutes longer than a single one. You simply install a second socket and bridge the connection between both sockets inside.
Data cables should be installed in conduit pipes. If they are just lying in the screed and get damaged, you will never be able to use them again. Installing new cables throughout the entire house afterwards is too much effort.
Don’t forget about the outdoor area. The wiring only costs a few euros and you’re already in the building phase. Just have one cable installed on each side and additionally a cable with a larger cross-section for an electric vehicle later. Who knows where this will go in the future.
Since I work mainly in industry, I have spent the last few weeks researching this topic more deeply.
Here are a few tips that might help you when talking to your electrician.
Basically, they should install 5-core cables, not 3-core ones. Technically, both work, but with 5-core cables, you have the option to add 2 additional circuits later on. The price difference shouldn’t be more than a few euros.
Bus systems can also be easily retrofitted over these cables later. Some might object, saying these are not data cables and so on, but technically it works perfectly fine.
Roller shutters:
Make sure to install the wiring so that upgrading to automated control is possible later. Many providers now offer compatible wireless transmitters that allow you to create scenes or similar functions.
Power outlets:
If you are planning an outlet in any corner, just add one more for a double outlet. Installing a double outlet takes less than 5 minutes longer than a single one. You simply install a second socket and bridge the connection between both sockets inside.
Data cables should be installed in conduit pipes. If they are just lying in the screed and get damaged, you will never be able to use them again. Installing new cables throughout the entire house afterwards is too much effort.
Don’t forget about the outdoor area. The wiring only costs a few euros and you’re already in the building phase. Just have one cable installed on each side and additionally a cable with a larger cross-section for an electric vehicle later. Who knows where this will go in the future.
K
katara13377 May 2019 11:13I have a new question. Is it possible to run one cable NYM-J 5x2.5 mm² instead of two cables NYM-J 3x1.5 mm² for two circuits into the room, and then split this into two cables NYM-J 3x1.5 mm² for the outlets and lights? And how does this affect the cable length? Would the 17 m (56 feet) on 1.5 mm² be measured from the distribution board or from the split after the 2.5 mm² cable?
Also, I assume I can split the 2.5 mm² cable at the distribution board onto two separate breakers, right? So I would have outlets and lighting on separate circuits?
Also, I assume I can split the 2.5 mm² cable at the distribution board onto two separate breakers, right? So I would have outlets and lighting on separate circuits?
katara1337 schrieb:
I have a new question. Is it possible, instead of using 2 cables NYM-J 3x1.5 mm² (3x1.5 mm²) for 2 circuits, to run 1 cable NYM-J 5x2.5 mm² (5x2.5 mm²) into the room and then split it into 2x NYM-J 3x1.5 mm² (3x1.5 mm²) for outlets and lighting? And how does this affect the cable length? Would the 17 m (56 feet) at 1.5 mm² be measured from the distribution box or from the split point at the 2.5 mm² cable?
Also, could I split the 2.5 mm² cable at the distribution box into 2 breakers? That way, would outlets and lighting be separated circuits? Technically, this can work, at least partially. But this is not standard practice. You would end up having 2 circuits combined somewhere in a junction box. If these circuits are on different phases, it could almost cause a short circuit.
If this is for a bedroom, you could simply use 5x1.5 mm² (5x1.5 mm²) cable and have one circuit for outlets and lighting.
In a living or dining room, I would recommend running 2 cables, each 5x1.5 mm² (5x1.5 mm²), one for outlets and one for lighting.
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