Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 31, 2015 12:37 am Hi all, Taking the approach that replacing the standards bayonet in each room and getting my own LEDs and electrician done after. Supoisedly cheaper? Anyway what I got told was to ensure i got switches, conduits etc put into walls before hand during build and provide junction boxes. I was told by builder, my understanding is you need one junction box per set of lights you want all on the same light switch. So two or more lights on one switch need a junction box i.e. in kitchen. Another two lights on a second switch means a second junction box? Ami correct and should i be puttinf anything else into my build /ceiling that my electrician will eventually need after handover? Ive photo the current layout where ive added junction boxes to: Family,meals, kitchen, theatre, master suite, ensuite, entrt, activity, bed 2,3,4, study, laundry and bathroom lights in lieu of standard bayonet. Altogether an additional $98. Is this overkill or have i planned right?? Anything im missing that'll make post handover life easier for my electrician or other building processes by adding it into my contract /designs? Im sending variations through tom.... So deciding quickly. Thanks! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 2Aug 31, 2015 1:03 am That sounds about right. I think each Junction Box connects back to 1 switch, so if you want 2 sets of lights in the kitchen (some downlights, and pendants over the island) you need two Junction Boxes. I went to a lighting company before my pre-start and had a plan made up letting me know exactly what I needed. I added a couple of junction boxes, but for the other rooms I just moved the bayonet point to somewhere I would have the downlight later. I only did it this way because I don't know if I will get the lighting installed immediately, and don't want a house with no lights. Junction Boxes would be cleaner and easier for the electrician to work with than having to patch around an existing hole I would think. If you want to add anything later such as extra lights or a ceiling fan etc. make sure you have a conduit behind the light switch. Here is my electrical plan (ignore the weird switch layout for theatre, it is still being corrected). The lighting guy advised getting 2-way switches and outdoor light points done with the builder. The rest, including dimmers, will be done later. Mason Green Estate, Piara Waters with Celebration Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=79358 Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 3Aug 31, 2015 8:32 pm A few of those light switch placements seem a little odd, such as the Ensuite and the Garage. Perhaps they should be closer to the door? Mason Green Estate, Piara Waters with Celebration Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=79358 Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 5Aug 31, 2015 9:30 pm We looked at getting our lighting done after handover, however a) we'd probably never get round to it and b) as we get a credit of $68 back for every standard bayonet fitting deleted we decided to get the builder to do everything and wear the cost. We looked at it, although the builder charged $140 odd for each downlight, we would still need to pay an electrician for them, plus fitting and combined with the credit it didn't end up that bad. Looking at your plan above, have you taken out pretty much all your lights? Will that pass muster in terms of you being handed over a "liveable" home? Our Custom Dale Alcock build in the Village at Wellard https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=78620 Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 6Aug 31, 2015 10:23 pm Brief response as I have to go out, will reply rest later. Isn't the light switches indicated by the dotted lines from the JB's to wall? in ensuite and alfresco lights, I thought th eensuite light is right at the door opening? The alfresco light is on the left wall side as the TV is meant to be between the two windows on the outside wall, with the chairs on the right side (Hence the nib wall on the right side of family room exiting to alfresco). I like the idea of presenting to my builder the electrical plan. I am unsure though as above poster mentioned - does a builder by law not have the ability to sign off on the residence being a 'livable' requirement meeting dwelling to enable me by law to have begun my first home buyer grant conditions as having control of house and 'living in it'?? It actually cost me close to $6.10 to get a junction box put in after taking bayonets out. Not sure how much the credit is to just get bayonets taken out... you bring a up a good point.. but I thought to get led downlights on i was told $110 per light... My parents got an electrician in for $60 a light to install... and most of a good quality hillstone LED lights cost between $30-60 to install depending on watts. On that basis I figured the branded lights I get would be pretty decent DIY? And also placement would be easier??? Has anyone had any experience in whether DIY lighting afterwards when doing LEDS was cheaper than through builder? I'm worried too about not having lights when ig et the house keys but figured as you said... having a hole there when you take the bayonet out would be more awkward. plus to suit LEDs in a room you'd have a bayonet in one LED spot (i.e. in a corner of room - whereas a standard bayonet would light up from middle of room as a default) - so lighting with standard bayonet would be weird anyhow? Is lighting something usually able to change/add and muck around with switches closer to prestart? I was told by my builder that conduits were standard as part of them laying the switch? I didn't think it would be... :S Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 7Aug 31, 2015 11:44 pm It isn't essential to have a separate junction box for every switch 'bank' in the house, though a junction box per room will make life easier for the sparkie. Conduits to light switch locations are a must for future additions of fans etc. If you where thinking about putting lights on pillars or garage walls on the front, this will have to be chased and cabled before its rendered, cant be added easily after. Would take another look at the locations of your switches, make sure you keep them close to doorways as others have mentioned. I'd look at putting a switch to control the entry hallway lights at the entry to the garage and kitchen end of the hallway, you can have as many switches as you want controlling the same light/set of lights. You might also want to look at running conduits in for AC control and alarm panel control if you're not planning on placing those on an external wall. Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 8Sep 01, 2015 12:13 am SaberX Brief response as I have to go out, will reply rest later. Isn't the light switches indicated by the dotted lines from the JB's to wall? in ensuite and alfresco lights, I thought th eensuite light is right at the door opening? The alfresco light is on the left wall side as the TV is meant to be between the two windows on the outside wall, with the chairs on the right side (Hence the nib wall on the right side of family room exiting to alfresco). On your plan it looks like the ensuite switch is over near the toilet door, instead of next to the door into the ensuite. The dotted line does indicate where on the wall the switch would be. Mason Green Estate, Piara Waters with Celebration Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=79358 Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 9Sep 01, 2015 3:59 pm phonat It isn't essential to have a separate junction box for every switch 'bank' in the house, though a junction box per room will make life easier for the sparkie. Conduits to light switch locations are a must for future additions of fans etc. If you where thinking about putting lights on pillars or garage walls on the front, this will have to be chased and cabled before its rendered, cant be added easily after. Would take another look at the locations of your switches, make sure you keep them close to doorways as others have mentioned. I'd look at putting a switch to control the entry hallway lights at the entry to the garage and kitchen end of the hallway, you can have as many switches as you want controlling the same light/set of lights. You might also want to look at running conduits in for AC control and alarm panel control if you're not planning on placing those on an external wall. Good points - i never thought about the front pillars or garage walls.. I have a portico out front - do most put the lighting (that shines both above and below the light) on the front two pillars normally? Logically probably need another light on the far end of the garage front too.. and also more around the outside of house. My understanding is outside walls are double cavity so are 'doable' after handover, with internal walls (single brick) the ones that you really need to get right now due to setting up cabling? Good idea in multi switches - my current house has one at front door for hallway, and the garage (inside garage but next do the house entrance door) and kitchen end of hallways all have a switch that can turn on this hall. Quite nifty. How does one go about having two or multi-way switches though, or even dimmers? Do these have more to do with the switch and cabling? Or do I need some sort of electrician's tool/product (like a junction box) installed into the roof cavity now to allow for this? Or as long as I have conduits and switches added into the walls where I need it, the electrician can set this all up? Didn't think about a potential future alarm system either. It's a rental intended but I guess some may demand security, or if I ever move in.. so I suppose you'd just run conduit to the front of the house/entranceway?? But if you have no security system do they just place a blank switch panel over that wall until you're ready to install??? Similar to air cond, I am getting air conditioning done post-handover. Thinking ducted reverse cycle. Do you need to plan to have conduits in for the eventual electronic panel/controller now? First time building so probably haven't thought this through fully/the best...... Will look at switches closely - I believe this is finalised/done at pre start though? So I don't need to get back to my builder when signing my contracts and making variations now in regards to these? Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 10Sep 01, 2015 4:03 pm oduen On your plan it looks like the ensuite switch is over near the toilet door, instead of next to the door into the ensuite. The dotted line does indicate where on the wall the switch would be. Oh.. I thought you meant hallway to master. You're correct - the ensuite light needs to be moved further right. I think because the door is more to the left normally - it's usually an open ensuite entrance in the middle of vanities... I pushed the door to the right becuase a) I needed it covered as I assumed most rentals and people appreciate doors on bathrooms, and b) to widen the potential 'tv wall space' for which someone could set up a TV across from the Bed (assuming bed is placed against Theatre wall side). Hence I think they put the switch in so far left as this would have been jsut to the left of the open entrance to ensuite... not really thinking actively I'd say (the draftee). Only downside is the shower door clashes with potentail door opening. I know I'd never do it, but some silly renters or people might find this annoying?? Then again who leave sthe shower door open waiting for the bathroom door to be opened into it... I see your in Mason Green estate per your signature. PM me if you feel like a chat but seems like we'll be neighbours. Electricals - am i on right path? 11Sep 01, 2015 4:26 pm phonat It isn't essential to have a separate junction box for every switch 'bank' in the house, though a junction box per room will make life easier for the sparkie. Conduits to light switch locations are a must for future additions of fans etc. If you where thinking about putting lights on pillars or garage walls on the front, this will have to be chased and cabled before its rendered, cant be added easily after. Would take another look at the locations of your switches, make sure you keep them close to doorways as others have mentioned. I'd look at putting a switch to control the entry hallway lights at the entry to the garage and kitchen end of the hallway, you can have as many switches as you want controlling the same light/set of lights. You might also want to look at running conduits in for AC control and alarm panel control if you're not planning on placing those on an external wall. Hi Phonat Can I ask you a question. So for Pendant lights above Islands, stairs and pretty much any other place. Would I get baton lights installed in these places and get them to put longer wiring. I get down lights installation and pillars just not familiar with these ones. Oh and one more thing LED lighting a long the ground (deck), what would I need to ask them to add here, (outdoors) all these I'd like to get done on handover, to make the electricians job easier. I'm happy to hear others advice as well. Thanks in advance Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 12Sep 01, 2015 8:02 pm SaberX, you're right about the external lighting around the perimeter, it will be double brick mostly and this can be cabled afterwars, it can be difficult but you can't really make it any easier. Your portico pillars and garage walls are generally single brick from what I've seen so they will need to be chased, it's a pretty popular option. As far as 'multi switches', 2 switches controlling a light/set of lights is called 2 way switching, 3 switches are 3-way and so on, it's not complicated, I would imagine most builders would know what you where after, again get conduits to switch locations on single brick walls, it's worth it. As far as the AC and alarm control, you're right, they can install a conduit in the wall to an empty wall box with a blank plate over the top. Its easier to patch over a wall box you dont want, than chasing in a cable later. The same goes for any tv, phone/data points you might want to add in, you dont want to be adding anything to internal walls afterwards. Emmz70, pendant lights are the same as any other, if you have a conduit running to the switch you want it controlled from then realistically you dont need to provide a baton, if the switch is fairly close it isn't saving a whole lot of work for the next guy. As for inground lights and garden lights you could probably get them to install a round junction box to the outside of the house down low near to where you wanted the lights installed. Don't know.... I prob wouldn't worry about it, too many ways to do it to prepare for it. Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 13Sep 01, 2015 8:08 pm phonat SaberX, you're right about the external lighting around the perimeter, it will be double brick mostly and this can be cabled afterwars, it can be difficult but you can't really make it any easier. Your portico pillars and garage walls are generally single brick from what I've seen so they will need to be chased, it's a pretty popular option. As far as 'multi switches', 2 switches controlling a light/set of lights is called 2 way switching, 3 switches are 3-way and so on, it's not complicated, I would imagine most builders would know what you where after, again get conduits to switch locations on single brick walls, it's worth it. As far as the AC and alarm control, you're right, they can install a conduit in the wall to an empty wall box with a blank plate over the top. Its easier to patch over a wall box you dont want, than chasing in a cable later. The same goes for any tv, phone/data points you might want to add in, you dont want to be adding anything to internal walls afterwards. Emmz70, pendant lights are the same as any other, if you have a conduit running to the switch you want it controlled from then realistically you dont need to provide a baton, if the switch is fairly close it isn't saving a whole lot of work for the next guy. As for inground lights and garden lights you could probably get them to install a round junction box to the outside of the house down low near to where you wanted the lights installed. Don't know.... I prob wouldn't worry about it, too many ways to do it to prepare for it. Thanks for the help Phonat Re: Electricals - am i on right path? 14Sep 03, 2015 4:05 pm phonat As far as 'multi switches', 2 switches controlling a light/set of lights is called 2 way switching, 3 switches are 3-way and so on, it's not complicated, I would imagine most builders would know what you where after, again get conduits to switch locations on single brick walls, it's worth it. As far as the AC and alarm control, you're right, they can install a conduit in the wall to an empty wall box with a blank plate over the top. Its easier to patch over a wall box you dont want, than chasing in a cable later. The same goes for any tv, phone/data points you might want to add in, you dont want to be adding anything to internal walls afterwards. Thanks phonat. So multi-switches are the electricians concern and don't affect me so far as adding in something (like a junction box) at the builders stage? The only thing I need is the standard conduits/cabling to a blank plate to ensure these multi-switches can be setup in the future? Which probably means thinking hard about where you'll have multi switches anyway i guess... I'm meeting the hillstone lighting guy this weekend, so I'll checkout his light costs plus also see if I can get tips on the lighting placement. Didn't think about the tv/phone data points etc - assumedly these are light any electricals/conduits - get them in now and chased into the brickwork? Makes it hard predicting what tenants or others will want down the track. So once all completed how would one add in extra points? Or it would just be impossible/involve breaking into your wall and replastering, painting etc?? Hello everyone, After some suggestions and ideas about how to put a concrete path around the drop edge beam area on our new build. We are required to have a concrete path… 0 12866 Thank you so much for your response. 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