OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

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lile001

lile001

Senior Member
Location
Midwest
Let's say you were having a house built for yourself, and had set aside a generous budget for electrical wiring. Not that money was no object, but that you had finally convinced your "significant other" that spending a little cash on the electrical wiring will pay off better than, say, drapes.

What would you include?
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Here is my personal wish list:

Lightning rods and down conductors

TVSS on the main panel

X-10 lighting control: All lighting powered from 3 adjacent circuits (3,5,7 for example) to make X-10 powerline carrier signals easy to use. I want to be able to turn on all the lights inside and out EXCEPT the ones in my bedroom, so that any "targets of opportunity" are lit up, and I am not! Also want to be able to turn off the major lights in the house from my bedside.

Ufer ground. We don't need no stinkin ground rods!

A dedicated circuit for every two outlets in the Kitchen, outlets on 24" centers

220V 50A in the shop

Many of the outlets, for example in the office, shop and bedroom, at 48" so they are not behind the furniture.

Solar + battery + inverter power for key systems that need to survive a power outage: freezer, computer, furnace, lights in key rooms, water well.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

P.S.

Every outlet labeled with which circuit breaker is is fed from. Ugly, but effective.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

I have given that question some thought from time to time. My wish list might include:</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Except for the doorbell, nothing smaller than #12.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In every room, receptacles set up such that you can't turn them all off with one breaker.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Separate branch circuits for receptacles and for lighting.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dedicated branch circuits for fridge, freezer, microwave, disposal, and dishwasher.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Separate panel in garage. I like your 220V, 50 amp idea.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Back up generator set up as an SDS, powering a separate "optional standby loads" panel. This panel would supply the fridge, the freezer, a few lights and receptacles, the main entertainment (i.e., TV) center, the office (i.e., computer) receptacles, and HVAC.</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LV outlet box (cable TV, phone, and network) in each bedroom, den, and office.</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Originally posted by lile001:Ugly, but effective.
Click to expand...
Not ugly if the label is on the inside of the cover plate and/or the inside of the outlet box.

Aside to e-scott: I thought it was spelled "knowd." :D
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

1. All 20A circuits.

2. more receptacles everywhere.

3. 4 gang receptacles where computers or entertainment equipment is likely to be.

4. seperate BCs for each appliance.

5. panelboard in basement, garage, and maybe each floor or even each end of the house.

6. empty pvc pipe conduit run to each room for future additions.

7. 100baseT ethernet, phone line, and cable home run to each room, also to garage and deck.

8. each BC supplies only stuff in a single room, and at least two BCs in each room.

9. switched outlets consistent throughout the house.

10. maybe put afcis for each bedroom in a small PB in the bedroom.

11. lots of ourdoor outlets.

12. gas fired backup generator with ats for designated loads.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

I like the preceding except for all those 20 amp circuits. I would increase the number of 15 amp circuits, except of course where req'd by NEC.

"targets of opportunity" ;) I like it!!

Other stuff:

All boxes to be largest volume available.

All outlet boxes to have no more than two cable entries, except lighting outlets (ceiling) can have third for switchlegs

Provide future provisions into attic, underfloor, and UG stub out. Two 3/4 each location.

Switched recep's under eaves for holiday lighting.

Switched recep's and ceiling outlets each room except kitchen and bath

Switchlegs to be 3 conductor from outlet to switchbox
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

I agree with some of the things here. Some I don't see any additional value.
All #12 wire?
All 20 amp circuits?
Every receptacle marked with circuit number?
At least two branch circuits for each room?

Not saying these are bad ideas just wondering the why for these ideas.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Subpanel on each floor
All bolt on panels (Square D NQOD)
TVSS at service entrance
XMAS light boxes under all the apropiate eves
one lighting and one power circuit for each room
All metal 4s boxes/plaster rings
Either smurf tube or EMT for everything ($ or $$$)
At least 2 data/comm/catv smurf tube home runs from 2 boxes in each room
And if I was reaally rich, a Lutron Homeworks system on all the lighting!

That's just a start, I could really go nuts if it was my house!

mike
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
I agree with some of the things here. Some I don't see any additional value.
All #12 wire?
All 20 amp circuits?
Every receptacle marked with circuit number?
At least two branch circuits for each room?

Not saying these are bad ideas just wondering the why for these ideas.
Click to expand...
If you use 20A circuits you are required to have #12 wire - right? The way I see it is you can never have enough juice. I would not object to having 15A outlets on the 20A circuits. Plus, lights don't dim as much when a big appliance comes on if it is on the same circuit.

I don't care about marking on the outlets as long as the PB is clearly labeled.

It is pretty easy to load up a singkle branch circuit in many rooms. Better to have at least two. Think two people using hari dryers at the same time in the bathroom.

Or an electric heater plugged in the living room at christmas time when you have the tree full of lights.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Thanks for the reminder, Bob.

I will add to my wish list a few permanently mounted, GFCI-protected, outdoor receptacle outlets in convenient locations, to serve holiday lighting.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

my adds would be to do a pre-smart house with all circuits going to relay panels so that any outlet can be controlled from 24 v relays, complex lighting and panic equipment/lighting can be controlled by relays controlling other relays.

I really agree with the pipe to rooms. I think at least 2 1/2 to 3/4 for each phone/tv/internet/office location.

design the rooms prone to moving furniture to have removable baseboard for relocating equipment wiring, speakers, phone,cable, etc.

paul
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Instead of install receptacles in a lot of locations, I would use a surface mount divided wireway, that looks like basemold. Then if you need to add a recp, you just pop one in. Each room would have a home run from the ww to the panel. Same for telecommunications wiring.
The advantage of this is you don't have recps in the outside walls.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Well I am easy to please. I wouldn?t care so much about being able to extinguish all the lights at one time but I could use another funnel for filling them.

m1shade.jpg
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Originally posted by lile001:
P.S.

Every outlet labeled with which circuit breaker is is fed from. Ugly, but effective.
Click to expand...
Ya know, one of those p-touch label maker companies oughta make a machine that laser prints or laser etches on any standard decora-style receptacle or switch.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Shielded walls/windows/roof ... keep those dam aliens out of my head! ;)

c
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

I once lived in an "old" ( 1900) house, and renovated the house room-by-room.

When complete the entire wiring, including telephone outlets, was in EMT.
 
Re: OK, how would you wire your OWN house?

Generator??
I don't need no stinkin' generator. I'll watch TV by candle light if I have to!!! :D

[ November 17, 2005, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: ramdiesel3500 ]
 
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