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Category Archives: Wiring
Some people, specifically with regard to rooms in the front of their house, want receptacles under windows so that they are able to install decorative lighting without using extension cords. Even though the National Electrical Code has a “six foot rule” – meaning that there is a twelve foot maximum distance between receptacles – that may not be enough. One of the things that I do not want to see is that you end up with an inadequate number of receptacles, forcing you to use those hideous and unsafe extension cords. I also work with you to take into consideration what you are going to use different receptacles for. Are they going to be general use receptacles or will they require separate circuits because they are going to be used for specific purposes such as window air-conditioning or electronic devices that require surge protection? All of this is best determined before starting a job.
Although today most people use wireless or cell phones, I recommend always considering installing wiring for phone jacks. The reason it is best to have a hard wired jack is so there aren’t any dropped or lost calls; it also protects privacy. All phone jacks should be wired with the highest quality wire available and should all be on separate runs from each jack to the utility location because this way the wire can now be used for internet or Ethernet. I take into consideration not only what the customer’s needs are today, but how they may change in the future. When the walls are open is the easiest and least expensive time to make sure this is taken care of. The same holds true for cable TV and internet, and as long as I’m pulling separate circuits, there’s a lot the customer can do with that wiring. In today’s market I often recommend buying “smart cable” – consisting of coax cable, Internet cables, phone cables, and fiber optic cable. It will handle all of today’s “smart” technology.
There are many issues that you face when you are contemplating having electrical work done in your home; most of them may be questions that you’ve never thought about. I believe that having well-informed customers, both before and during the process, is the best way to ensure that the solutions we design together will meet or exceed your expectations 100% of the time.
For example, if you are thinking of upgrading your service, whether it be for convenience or an increase in amperage to distribute power throughout your house, you should take into consideration not only your current electrical needs, but what you may want or need in the future. The National Electrical Code requires a minimum of 100 amp service per single family residence. In reality, most houses today need 200 amps. Some of today’s larger homes even require 400 amps. One of the worst things that I’ve seen customers do is to pay to have their service upgraded and then find out in the future that it is not large enough and end up having to pay for another upgrade. I can’t tell you the number of times when a customer has decided to save money by upgrading from say 60 amps to 100 amps, to bring their house up to code, and then, a few years later decide to put on an addition that requires even more amperage. At that point, I have no choice but to rip out the up-grade and start over. It happens all the time.
Work with me and I’ll make sure you get the amperage you need now and in the future.