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  • Powering the House: Electrical Rough-In
    		•
    From "Home IQ"
    episode DHIQ-111


    PHOTO

    Figure A
    Before the electrical contractor can start with the rough-in, all of the homeowners' lighting and electrical decisions must be made and documented on the floor plans. If this is done beforehand it makes life much easier on the electrician.

    Brad Oberg worked with site supervisor, Greg Allen, to determine where the light switches would go (figure A).
    advertisement


    What Is the Rough-in Stage

    • This is the first stage where all the wiring is done "prior" to covering the walls with drywall.

    • At this point all the boxes for the light fixtures, switches and receptacles go in.

    • All the cables from all the boxes will be run back to power panel, which is also installed during this stage.

    At the "beginning" of the rough-in stage, the site supervisor and the electrical contractor review the lighting decisions.

    • After becoming familiar with the home's needs, the electrician then determines where the electrical panel (figure B) will be located. This is where the power enters the house.

      Note: For most houses, wherever the outside electrical panel is, the indoor panel will be at the same location on the inside.

    • The inside electrical panel is usually a large box with several breakers, but some homes, including the Oberg house (figure C), require two breaker boxes.

    • Next the electrician marks all the locations in the house for all the plugs, switches and lighting fixtures. He even goes outside to mark where the exterior fixtures will go.

    • And since the ceilings aren't in yet at this point, the electrician will mark the floors (figure D) for the overhead lighting fixtures.

    • The cost for the electrical rough-in depends largely on the number of outlets requested -- price per outlet in other words.

    • As the electrician marks the locations for the outlets and switches, he follows the local code set by the township -- Cranberry township in the case of the Oberg home.

    In the next segment the electrician runs the wiring.
    Photo

    Figure B
    		Photo

    Figure C
    		Photo

    Figure D


    RESOURCES :

    Lighting for Oberg Home (Lutron Electronics and Sterling Lite)

    Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.
    Website: www.lutron.com

    Sterling Lite, Inc.
    20800 Rt. 19
    Cranberry Township, PA 16066
    Phone: 724-772-7474
    Fax: 724-772-3286
    E-mail: sterlite@stargate.net


    GUESTS :

    Brad and Lynn Oberg
    Homeowners
    Company: IBACOS (Brad)
    Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
    Website: www.ibacos.com

    Greg Allen
    Site Supervisor
    Hendolhurst Homes
    955 Markman Park Rd.
    Baden, PA 15005
    Phone: 724-935-5658
    Fax: 724-935-0884
    E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net
    Website: hendolhursthomes.com

    John Holton
    Senior Architect
    Ibacos
    Website: www.ibacos.com

    Phil Scheetz
    Residential Systems Sales Rep.
    Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    7200 Sutter Rd.
    Coopersburg, PA 18036
    Phone: 610-282-6274
    E-mail: pscheetz@lutron.com
    Website: www.lutron.com

    Alvin Sain
    Professional Engineer
    E-mail: alsain@zbzoom.net

    Caren Carter
    Lighting Sales Consultant
    Sterling Lite, Inc.
    20800 Rt. 19
    Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6006
    Phone: 724-772-7474
    Fax: 724-772-3286
    E-mail: sterlite@stargate.net

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  		• Powering the House: Introduction
  		• Powering the House: Electrical Rough-In
  		• Powering the House: Running the Electrical Wiring
  		• Powering the House: Let There Be Light