Electrical Work

When evaluating or building an individual house, electrical work is one of the most important aspects — both for safety and long-term usability. Here's a comprehensive breakdown to help you ensure good electrical quality, safety, and planning:

⚡ 1. Wiring & Cabling

✅ What to Use

• Concealed copper wiring (ISI marked) – safer and lasts longer.
• Standard wire size:
  • 1.0–1.5 sq mm for lights/fans
  • 2.5 sq mm for power sockets
  • 4.0–6.0 sq mm for AC/geyser
  • 10+ sq mm for mainline
• Best Brands: Finolex, Polycab, RR Kabel, Havells, KEI

🚫 Avoid:

• Aluminum wiring
• Cheap local wires (fire hazard)

🛑 2. Safety Measures

✅ Must-haves:

• MCB (Miniature Circuit Breakers) for each circuit (lights, plugs, heavy appliances).
• ELCB/RCCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker): Prevents shock from current leakage – must-have for bathrooms/kitchen.
• Proper Earthing: Ensure grounding rod is installed (minimum 2 meters deep copper plate with salt/charcoal in soil).

🔥 Protection:

• Use FRLS (Flame Retardant Low Smoke) cables in kitchens and wooden interiors.

🏠 3. Load Distribution

• Get a load calculation done based on:
  • Number of appliances
  • ACs/geysers
  • Inverter/load backup
• Ensure separate circuit for:
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • A/C
  • Inverter

🔌 4. Switches, Sockets, & Panels

• Use modular switches (e.g., Legrand, Anchor, Schneider, GM)
• Plan multiple sockets:
  • Living Room: TV, router, lamps, charging points
  • Kitchen: Mixie, grinder, oven, fridge, water purifier
  • Bedroom: Mobile chargers, lamps, A/C
  • Bathroom: Geyser with separate MCB
• Height Guidelines:
  • Switchboards: 3–4 ft from floor
  • AC point: 7 ft from floor
  • Geyser: 6 ft or above

💡 5. Lighting Planning

Energy Saving:

• Use LED lighting (ceiling lights, wall lights, garden lights)
• Add dimmers in bedrooms/living area for mood lighting
• Motion sensor lights for:
  • Bathrooms
  • Staircases
  • Outdoor/garden area

🔋 6. Backup & Inverter Wiring

• Inverter line should be pre-wired separately for selected lights/fans.
• Use 1 kVA–3 kVA inverter depending on house size.
• Ensure backup is not connected to heavy-load items (ACs, geysers).

🌩️ 7. Lightning Arrestor (if 2+ floors)

• For houses in open areas or >2 floors, consider installing a lightning arrestor on rooftop.
• Protects appliances and wiring during thunderstorms.

✅ Checklist Before Buying or Taking Handover

• ☐ MCB panel with proper labelling
• ☐ Earthing check done
• ☐ No loose wires or spark/smell from sockets
• ☐ Geyser and AC have separate circuit breakers
• ☐ Inverter wiring in place
• ☐ ISI-marked wires used
• ☐ All switches/sockets aligned and functioning