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