1st fix electrical next week - what do I need to include?

[Zippee]

So we have 1st fix electrics on our extension next week, aside from sockets what else do I need to future proof complete technophobes?

We have lighting and socket locations sorted including external light and ring doorbell hard wire.
Also have alarm cables to keypad and siren box plus the video cable for a CCTV camera.

What am am I missing tech wise? Do I need ethernet cabling to plug sockets etc? The whole downstairs has no ceiling or plaster as yet along with half the upstairs so its a 1 time chance to get it right but without going too overboard.

[z4RRSchris]

i banged cat 6 in to everywhere, back to the Utility room

[B'stard Child]

Add far more sockets than you'll ever think you need - especially in a kitchen

[No ideas for a name]

Zippee said:

....Also have alarm cables to keypad and siren box plus the video cable for a CCTV camera.

I wouldn't bother with video (co-ax) cables. Just use IP based CCTV and as other posters have already said, wire for ethernet in strategic places.

[Mr Pointy]

Maybe a 5A lighting outlet arrangement?

A few network outlets might be wise, especially near any TV position or in the ceiling for an AP.

[Panamax]

The ultimate future-proofing is to run some decent ducts so you can run anything you like through them in future. Particularly useful for wall-hung TV's and multi-speaker systems as well as computers. You don't even need to have openings into the ducts at the outset so long as you make a careful map of where they are. Don't forget to leave a string through them or you'll need to be handy with that whippy, fibreglass fishing rod..

[worsy]

Been a few threads on this so do try searching for other ideas.

Consider

Outside lights
Air Con future proof so 16A/32A feed to external unit site.
Outside Sockets.

What is the extension housing, that might be useful to know for suggestions.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Depends where the extension is......

Outside lighting & switches for said lighting.
Outside sockets
Cable for a charger for an electric car
Cable for a hot tub if that's your thing

Not electrics - but plumbing for an outside tap ?

[OutInTheShed]

Cabling for audio?
Ducting for MVHR?

Lighting wiring which is easily upgradable to smart control?

Outdoor lights and control thereof?

[Zippee]

Thanks all, its a 2 storey to the front. New dining room, hall, stairs, landing and bedroom. Plus internal remodeling downstairs so pretty much everywhere is accessible.
Ethernet cables I guess study and lounge by the TV?
I'm not massively techie but just want to ensure I dubr miss anything obvious, the cable ducting is a great idea if not thought of

[AW10]

Mr Pointy said:

Maybe a 5A lighting outlet arrangement?
.

PO of our house did that in lounge and glass room - v useful. Wall lights on one switch, floor and table lights on another.

[Zippee]

AW10 said:

Mr Pointy said:

Maybe a 5A lighting outlet arrangement?
.

PO of our house did that in lounge and glass room - v useful. Wall lights on one switch, floor and table lights on another.

For the numpties here what does this mean?

[amateurdad]

Zippee said:

For the numpties here what does this mean?

A series of these on their own circuit, operate by its own switch, similar to your usual ceiling lights but for your low level lighting.

Actually very into this idea!

[Jakg]

Mr Pointy said:

Maybe a 5A lighting outlet arrangement?

Also going to be my suggestion. But make sure you put a couple in as you can never guess where the lamp will actually go...

[foggy]

Rather than CAT6 to every room, we put in a couple strategically placed cables to give good wifi coverage over the whole house upstairs and down, garden, garage and drive. If extending, bear in mind old external walls become internal wifi blockers! Foil back plasterboard knackers wifi signal too.

Also consider where anything smart/connected will go e.g. doorbell, cameras, appliances, heating controller etc. and ensure they have a stable, ideally strong connection.

Think if you want to change how any doors will open, and where light switches should be relocated. And any lighting as mentioned - ceiling, wall, low level, light trays etc., car charger and a beefy garage supply, just in case.

[fat80b]

foggy said:

we put in a couple strategically placed cables to give good wifi coverage.

I did this in our extension (along with direct connection for any TV). Eat thing about our extension (tech wise) is the wifi coverage. 200/200 in the garden

I’d also put in hdmi cable to any tv that comes out where you might want a console in the future.

[LooneyTunes]

fat80b said:

foggy said:

we put in a couple strategically placed cables to give good wifi coverage.

I did this in our extension (along with direct connection for any TV). Eat thing about our extension (tech wise) is the wifi coverage. 200/200 in the garden

I’d also put in hdmi cable to any tv that comes out where you might want a console in the future.

The thing with Wi-Fi is that (aside from attenuation due to walls) as speeds increase, range decreases. You also get lower throughputs the more devices you have running off an AP and the more SSIDs you operate. As a result, to get peak performance into the future (especially with fast internet connections) you may find a need for more APs than at present.

We’re stripping back a place at the moment and the goals for networking are that:
1) Unless it’s portable, it shouldn’t be on wifi (so plenty of wired points in key locations);
2) each major room will have somewhere that a wireless AP can be connected to serve that room;
3) There also needs to be decent Wi-Fi coverage in the garden (so adding a couple of external APs).

Won’t be home-running the lighting circuits on this one but will be getting neutrals to light switches and deep back boxes to allow installation of smart switches in the future.

If your works impact the kitchen, nice meaty feed for induction hob. Some of them draw significantly more than other electric hobs.

[andy ted]

You could consider hard wiring smoke alarms too if you haven’t already?

[worsy]

andy ted said:

You could consider hard wiring smoke alarms too if you haven’t already?

Should be covered by regs anyhow.

Another suggestion OP, as you said it will be a bedroom upstairs. Think about if you wanted to retrofit aircon in the future. Summers are hearing up and you'd need a 16A external feed for a double unit to service two rooms.

[Mr Pointy]

LooneyTunes said:

If your works impact the kitchen, nice meaty feed for induction hob. Some of them draw significantly more than other electric hobs.

Diversity calculations could save you some unecessary expense:
https://youtu.be/QQduU8RkjD8