Electrical costs

haywgl · Mar 08, 2008 10:02 am

Hi guys

I hope this is in the right forum - i couldn't really find one that suited

I was just wondering roughly what people are spending on the electrical part of building a new home. I have budgeted $10k but would like it to come right down :wink:

Looking at the electrical plan 'M' gave us, we would probably need to;
-install 3 extra TV points
-change from standard battons to oysters in about 13 rooms (we get 20 free downlights so I have not included these)
-add approximatly an extra 10 double pp's throughout and maybe 2 quad pp's
- 3 telephone points
- Foxtel cabling in 1 room

I think thats about it - have I missed anything substantial? Looking at my 'needs' do you think I should come under budget?

We won't be having a home theatre so maybe thats a big saving there

Cheers
Belinda

Leece · Mar 08, 2008 10:27 am

other things we included were outdoor powerpoints, adding additional outdoor lighting, fans/heat lights in the bathrooms, dimmer switches, fan junction box for alfresco.

all our extras at this stage cost us about $4000.

haywgl · Mar 08, 2008 10:51 am

I didn't even think of fans and extra lights outside...hmm $4000 sounds pretty good to me

Did that cost includes stnadard battons only or did you add downlights/oysters too?

ahuang · Mar 08, 2008 8:55 pm

In Sydney, if you want electrical cables to connect to your house through underground plus setup a private pole at the front (looks better then connected directly on the roof), it would cost about $8K extra if done by builder.

You might want to add fan + heater +light in all your bath rooms.

You might want to add some sensor lights outside.

You might want to install alarm system or intercom or some sort of door bell (don't use battery operated wireless ones)

You might want to put a juntion in first, then connect to future landscape/garden lights at the front or back.

If you got air con, you will need to upgrade to 3 phase power, don't know how much that cost as ours it included as part of the air con package

FYI, our builder charge us:
$48 per light point (wire only)
$48 per single power point
$55 per double power point
$97 weather proof external single power point
$108 weather proof external double power point
$127 connection point for satellite tv
$310 ducted exhaust fan (wire, supply & install)

Hope this helps...

haywgl · Mar 08, 2008 10:04 pm

Thanks Allan that does help = so much I didn't think of electrical wise....I'm thinking that the $10k should cover majority of what we want done.

I didn't even think of the powerlines coming from the roof, the house we are looking at buying and knocking down definatly has this because I wanted to know where the nearst pole was so I could add it to site costs and it is across the street with all the wires running across the road from the roofline...

Don't know if I'd be willing to pay $8000 to remove this though

vpande · Mar 08, 2008 10:11 pm

check with the builder for getting undreground wires. especially in knock down and rebuild cases they recommend u to get it done beforehand. costs approx 1K

haywgl · Mar 08, 2008 10:14 pm

$1000k I can handle

I'll speak to 'M' about it....

Arc · Mar 08, 2008 11:16 pm

You might want to check with your local council on the power connection from the street. A mate is considering knocking down and building a new house on his block and the council has told him he has to change to underground power. I think it was going to cost $4000, possibly more. He has no choice if he wants to go ahead.

Cabinfever · Mar 08, 2008 11:32 pm

Why would you get the builder to put in cable TV points ? You can usually get at least two of those for 'free' when you sign up for cable.

First_Timer_Ray · Mar 09, 2008 8:12 am

haywgl

Looking at the electrical plan 'M' gave us, we would probably need to;
-install 3 extra TV points

$132 each

haywgl

-change from standard battons to oysters in about 13 rooms (we get 20 free downlights so I have not included these)

Depends on the light you choose. We didn't really like any that M offered + they don't have a great range. Oysters retail in shops like Light-Up or Beacon for about $20-30. Double it and you would probably be pretty close.

haywgl

-add approximatly an extra 10 double pp's throughout and maybe 2 quad pp's

DBL PP $60 each
QUAD PP $210 each

haywgl

- 3 telephone points

Didn't add any extras as we have cordless phones where only one requires the cable, and a wireless router for broadband, with the telephone point located where the study will be. Guess about the same as a TV point.

haywgl

- Foxtel cabling in 1 room

Not sure, we don't have Foxtel. If Foxtel only charge about $150 to install, M shouldn't be more than $200-300.

Other electricals we added were -
dimmer switch - $80 each
Telstra connection including trench - $330
exhaust fan in laundry - $105
external "junction boxes" (cable only, but it's no extra for them to put a standard battern holder) - $55 each
two way switch (so you can turn it on/off from both ends of the passage) - $50 each
single phase surge protection at the meter box - $189
DBL PP external $110 each

Our total including 19 extra battern points + 27 downlight fittings and all of the above came in at $4551.

On top of this we still need to purchase a wall light fitting for the point above the ensuite mirror, 6 external light fittings, 5 oyster/ceiling light fittings for bedrooms and passage and pay to have these fitted by an electrician. We're hoping that will be no more than another $800 - $1000.

Ray.

haywgl · Mar 09, 2008 9:42 am

Arc - Thanks for that, I will give council a ring and see what they do with power issues....

Cabinfever - We are already signed up to Foxtel, and would just carry the subscription over to our new house, I would have thought they would charge to install points in a new house and therefore thought it may be easier just to get M to do it...

Ray - Thanks! You are so informative

That price sounds pretty good - especially since it includes some downlights too! Maybe we should be alright with the budget I have set aside

I didn't even think of cordless phones - we should only need 1 telephone point then - one in the study for phone/internet, and then I will just buy a cordless phone with 3 handsets

Thanks Ray!

Thanks again guys

VJ · Mar 09, 2008 7:23 pm

Hhmmm... nice budget!
Ours is around $6K including:
- 2 extra heating ducts to ensuite and bathroom,
- pre-cabling/wiring to HT,
- some downlights to entry, family and HT,
- dimmers to some areas,
- step lights to stairs,
- wall lights to ensuite/bath room,
- antenna (package B - suitable for homes with 4 or more tv points),
- Telstra connection (incl. trench excavation and backfill),
- 2 additional telephone points,
- C2000 series wall mounted switch,
- Clipsal Eclipse SL 2000 series switches,
- junction box for future external lights,
- light point with single weatherproof paraflood fitting,
- two-way light switches,
- flourescent lights (1200mm) to some areas (mud room and garage),
- surge protector to meter box,
- double weatherproof power point to alfresco,
- quadruple power points to some areas,
- additional TV points

haywgl · Mar 09, 2008 8:43 pm

Wow VJ - Ok another thing in which I have way overestimated :oops:

I don't even know what half the things you mentioned are :oops:

The only thing that will add extra is if we need that underground power pit, there is a powerpoint directly across the street so fingers crossed we don't!!

First_Timer_Ray · Mar 09, 2008 10:50 pm

First_Timer_Ray

QUAD PP $210 each

Oops, that was for 2, so they are actually $105 each.

Ray.

ahuang · Mar 10, 2008 9:12 am

VJ

- Clipsal Eclipse SL 2000 series switches,

The Clipsal Eclipse switches/power points looks really nice, unfortunately our builder only use the ugly HPM ones :evil:

VJ · Mar 10, 2008 9:17 am

Quote:

The Clipsal Eclipse switches/power points looks really nice, unfortunately our builder only use the ugly HPM ones

CAn you change the cover/plates afterwards?

ahuang · Mar 10, 2008 9:20 am

VJ

Quote:

The Clipsal Eclipse switches/power points looks really nice, unfortunately our builder only use the ugly HPM ones

CAn you change the cover/plates afterwards?

No, the bracket (?) thing at the back is totally different, as it has this special "recess" thing or what ever you call it at the back. We discused with the electrician, once the walls are on, it's very difficult to change as he will need to cut a bigger hole to dig out the bracket, then install the special Clipsal one (as it has to be attached to the stud inside), then put it back. Too much work and we have to give up...

dna · Mar 10, 2008 9:42 am

ahuang

VJ

Quote:

The Clipsal Eclipse switches/power points looks really nice, unfortunately our builder only use the ugly HPM ones

CAn you change the cover/plates afterwards?

No, the bracket (?) thing at the back is totally different, as it has this special "recess" thing or what ever you call it at the back. We discused with the electrician, once the walls are on, it's very difficult to change as he will need to cut a bigger hole to dig out the bracket, then install the special Clipsal one (as it has to be attached to the stud inside), then put it back. Too much work and we have to give up...

What about the HPM Linea range? http://www.hpm.com.au/databank/documents/CATALOGUE_Linea.pdf

We're trying to have these for our place, price difference between them and the standard Excel range is negligible.

ahuang · Mar 10, 2008 9:48 am

dna

ahuang

VJ

Quote:

The Clipsal Eclipse switches/power points looks really nice, unfortunately our builder only use the ugly HPM ones

CAn you change the cover/plates afterwards?

No, the bracket (?) thing at the back is totally different, as it has this special "recess" thing or what ever you call it at the back. We discused with the electrician, once the walls are on, it's very difficult to change as he will need to cut a bigger hole to dig out the bracket, then install the special Clipsal one (as it has to be attached to the stud inside), then put it back. Too much work and we have to give up...

What about the HPM Linea range? http://www.hpm.com.au/databank/documents/CATALOGUE_Linea.pdf

We're trying to have these for our place, price difference between them and the standard Excel range is negligible.

From the brochure, looks like it's also using "a recessed stud bracket". But the rectangular shape is definitely not as beautiful as the Eclipse's oval ones...

Good to know the price difference as well, because the Eclipse one are quite expensive...

Thanks for the info, but it's a bit too late now as we are close to handover. May be the next house :lol:

oznow · Mar 10, 2008 3:08 pm

In canberra the price is depend on which builder.

The most reasonable price is from Blackett, although you have to notify before the initial wiring. Other builders charged at least 1/3 more expensive.

lights/ double gpo/threeway switching $40
single GPO $35
two way switching $30
supply and fit dimmer $45
TV point $45
ceiling exhaust fan $90

installation of light fittings: standard $15
recessed $20