Electrical and Lighting Appointment

The electrical and lighting appointment is at the Clipsal Powerhouse at Macquarie Park. Basically, this is when you decide where the power outlets and the lights (and light switches) go. You'll also need to decide what type and how many you want to install.

Prior to the meeting, Clipsal posted me a list of the standard inclusions provided by my builder, a list of upgrade options and their prices, the 92-page Essential Checklist magazine showcasing their product range, and an empty floor plan for me to fill in. I have no idea how many powerpoints I need in a room, batten holders or downlights, how many lights in the kitchen, where to install the phone/data/TV points, etc. Spent a few days reading up on the forums to see what others are doing.

Anyway, these are my standard inclusions:

• 15 batten holders
• 15 light switches
• 2 light circuits
• 2 power circuits
• 7 single-socket power points
• 14 two-socket power points
• 1 outdoor single-socket power point
• 5 TV points
• 1 pay TV point
• 5 phone sockets
• 3 data sockets
• 2 heat/fan/light lamps
• 2 smoke detectors
• 1 Hills alarm system
• 1 meter box
• power points for the cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher, microwave oven, fridge, alarm system, garage door, hot water unit, washing machine, and NBN hub

On top of these, I added the following variations:

• 2 batten holders
• 4 11w LED downlights for the living room
• 5 15w LED downlights for the kitchen
• 9 two-socket power points

For an additional $1,521.


Based on Clipsal's recommendation and from what I've read from the forums, I've added extra power points on every room. The more the merrier. External light points for the patio and alfresco area, batten holders (under eaves) outside the garage and the living room - to be converted into floodlights. Batten holders along the length of the hallway with a special note to the builder that these are for future downlights. As such, the builder should not fix them to the timber trusses. Three-way switches so the hallway lights can be controlled via the front door, the garage door, or the kitchen area. For the main bedroom and kitchen area, TV point and power point located 1.6m above the ground for wall-mounted TVs. The only downside if that if you don't install the TVs immediately, those TV/power points become an eyesore. My brother's suggestion is to hang some paintings over them. Power point and phone point in kitchen and living areas for cordless phones. Power point, data, and TV point for the Internet-enabled TV in the living room. Bench-height power point on the kitchen island bench. Good thing I didn't go for waterfall edge, or this won't work. I originally wanted a 15A power point in the garage, but Clipsal is charging me $300+ for it. No thanks.