For many people, electrical power is often like that old adage of children.
To be seen and not heard.
With electricity, the power is used but the method of supply is seldom seen or thought of. The ability to flick a switch and instantly turn on a light, or provide power to our appliances is taken for granted, yet there is a complex web of cables and technology hidden throughout our homes.
And there is the problem. For rather obvious safety reasons, all of the electrical supply cablings must be safely hidden out of sight, perhaps buried in the cavity of a wall, or in tubes.
The minimum standard requirements for most aspects of building works also apply to electrical works, naturally with safety being the primary consideration. Cables must be protected against all kinds of damage, however, caused, and the quality standards of materials used are constantly being upgraded. In a modern home, it is probably rare to find faults in the electrical system, though recent reports indicate that problems can arise, even with brand new houses. Because standards of quality and workmanship are continually being raised, if the house being purchased is twenty or more years old, it would be wise to have an inspector check out the electrical supply. Quite apart from the quality of the connections, materials and fittings, the age and condition of the cabling may be of some concern.
Once an inspection has been made, rewiring costs (if necessary) can be established, becoming a bargaining point when considering putting in offers. With the high growth in the use of modern electrical appliances over the past few decades, so the need for the number of electrical power points has also increased. Quite typically a modern living room will need access to a power supply for a sound system, TV, video, heating, computer, telephone answering service, table lamps and so on. In older homes rarely will provision have been made for this number of power outlets, because the need was simply not there at the time. Hence the use today of multiple extension power boards. However, it can be possible to overload the electrical system if too much power is taken from a single point. This is typically why fuses blow. It is thoroughly recommended that a count be made of the power points in each room, and a list drawn up of the items likely to be needed. In this way, it should be readily seen if there are enough power points. Particularly important are the living, will be. The ideal is a powerpoint for each appliance, with adapters or power boards usage kept to a minimum. Because the ideal can seldom be achieved, the options are:
- To convert an existing single power point into a double
- To arrange for an electrician to lay in another ring main, of say six to eight power points
- To use one or more power board extensions
