Expert Guide to Basement Wiring Installation
Have you ever been tempted to do basement wiring installation by yourself? If you want basement wiring installation, read this article from KCS Group.
In this article, I have explained the necessary guidance for this project. Let’s start with the fact that you can wire your basement yourself. It is something you can do on your own with the proper guidance.
Of course, if you’re busy or worried you won’t be able to wire your basement correctly, call KCS Group. Our technicians have years of experience in basement wiring and bring electricity to your building safely and beautifully.
Basement wiring is simple. It is a 2-phase project that includes the rough-in electrical phase, which consists of installing electrical wiring, and the finished electrical phase, which provides for installing outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures.
Wiring of basement switches, sockets and lighting
Outlets and switches are an essential part of your basement’s electrical wiring. In the first stage of basement wiring, think about what devices you want to connect to the electrical outlet. Then it would be best if you thought about what will be controlled by the switches (such as switch sockets, fans and lights). Of course, you should remember the lighting because it is necessary to use the basement.
After you have completed the above steps in the basement wiring installation process and determined the outlet’s location, the next step is to start the process by repairing the plugs. Then proceed to fix the switches and then the lights.
Basics of basement wiring installation
Before starting your basement wiring project, you must decide what electrical source you have. You have a sub panel in your home. So, you need to run basement wiring under the existing panel or install a new one.
If you use a panel already in your house, make sure you have enough empty ports for all the routing you need in your basement. It would help if you also considered how easy it would be to run the wires from under the existing panel to the basement.
If you need to know if your old panel fits, you’ll need to install a new subpanel in your basement. A basement sub-panel is easy to install and makes your electrical work easier because you run the wiring from under the sub-panel rather than outside.
Phases of the basement wiring installation
The basement electricity project is a 2-stage project. It includes the rough-in and the finished electric stage. Let’s briefly look at these two steps.
Rough-in electrical phase
The first part is framing, and the next step is roughing. This step requires installing the electrical wires before installing the drywall. During the construction of the house, we did the basement wiring before the walls were completed. Let’s look at the essential steps in the rough-in phase of basement wiring:
Step 1: Mark the location of the boxes on the studs and install a 2×4 block on the studs while marking the center of the box on the studs.
Step 2: Place each box where you marked and carefully attach it to the studs.
Step 3: Mark and drill the wiring path and place it about eight inches above the surface of the outlets. Make sure the holes are 1¼ inches behind the studs.
Step 4: Run the cable between the studded boxes through the stud holes.
Step 5: Fasten the cable to the studs with cable staples to hold it in place.
Step 6: Route the cable to the breaker box, leaving about four feet of extra cable when connecting the circuit to the breaker.
Step 7: Group the similarly coloured cables on each box and tie them with a zip or tape to complete the electrical roughing step.
The finished electrical phase
The second phase, the last stage of basement wiring installation, completes the termination of the wiring placed in the circuit panel. Next, you need to place the electrical components on the box of each device.
These electrical components are the outlet sockets that we install to connect devices such as smoke detectors and lights and light switches to control sockets and lights. It is worth noting that every electrical component on a circuit must be wired appropriately before turning on the circuit.
The Canadian Electrical Code requires you to place your bathroom in a dedicated circuit, as the bathroom requires a ground fault indicator or GFCI outlet. The best practice is to use #12 gauge for plugs that are 20 amps.
Read more: Staying Up-to-Date on Commercial Wiring Codes and Standards.
If your electrical wiring is under government inspection, use #12 wire for the plug because they cause less trouble or break your breaker and can handle more oversized loads.
Before connecting power to wires, outlets, switches, or lighting fixtures, complete the initial and final electrical phases. It is to ensure your safety and prevent the risk of shock.
Can you do the basement wiring installation yourself?
Yes, Sure. If you don’t need an electrical license, you can do the wiring yourself in the basement and other parts of your home. But if you want to distribute electricity legally in your basement, you should seek the help of reputable technicians, such as KCS Group.
However, there is a requirement. Depending on the requirements of your city’s electrical code office, you may have to have your finished basement electrical wiring inspected by a certified professional. It is often part of the building permit process in some cities.
You should contact the local building code office in your city to make sure of the requirements. The best part about working on the electrical side of your basement wiring installation is that it gives you the confidence to do it again.
So, you will easily do it without calling an electrician when you want to change or add a light bulb or change an old socket or light switch in your home. It will save you time and money, but it’s not legal.