Walker House Design: Electrical Drawings & Notes

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Notes

These "Grandma Moses" drawings are the best I can do to convey our ideas about the electricals; because they are crude and hard to read, I have supplemented them on this page with extensive text. Because the drawings are fairly large-scale, they will likely each take some time to fully download to your screen--please be patient. (The files are large because these drawings are in color, to help make comprehensible the spaghetti tangle of circuits and light types.)

The major appliances each require their own dedicated circuits, which I have not drawn in here. Those circuits, as best as I can see, would be these:

I have also omitted the kitchen over-counter under-cabinet fluorescent fixtures from the drawings, but the circuits and switching are described in their turn below. Also, a few of the items on the list above--the tank water pump and the garage-door opener--are nevertheless mentioned in the text below.

The most recent revisions to the full specifications describe in full all wiring other than the location of lights, switches, and outlets; nevertheless, for completeness in defining the electrical work, the descriptions of that other wiring are repeated here (in less pompous language than used in the specifications).





Lighting Fixtures & Switches

Drawings

On these drawings, the fixtures are not drawn to scale as to either size or exact location (see the room-by-room notes below). Despite the partial overlap of the drawings, a given fixture appears on only one of the drawings, to avoid erroneous double-counting (but the numbers of each type of fixture required are called out in the specifications). The fixtures intended are color-coded this way:   House Lighting Plan: 1 of 3
  House Lighting Plan: 2 of 3
  House Lighting Plan: 3 of 3
  Garage/Enclosed-Area Lighting Plan

Many of the fixtures are switched by two-way controls (either of two switches works them); in the descriptions below, switches that are one of two are marked with an * asterisk.


Room-By-Room Light-Fixture Notes

Entranceway--

Fixtures:
The two tracks are wired together as a single unit; they are fed by raceway from the partition containing the door to the Living Room. They are placed under the truss that is about four feet out from the wall surface.


Switches:
There are two 2-switch plates: one just south of the entrance door and one just east of the door to the Living Room. Each plate has a switch* controlling the Entranceway overheads; the entrance plate also has a switch* controling lights in the house-garage walkway area and the plate by the other door has a switch* controlling the 5-unit track bank in the Living Room.


Living Room

Fixtures:
The five north-south tracks are wired together as a single bank; they are placed under the truss that is about four feet out from the wall surface. The collinear pair of east-west tracks are wired as a single unit and are roughly ten feet out from the north wall line and centered on the masonry heater. All other fixtures are individual, placed about four feet out from the north wall (matching the setback of the five-unit bank). Besides the five track units (the two banks and the three solos), there are two CFL flood fixtures each about seven feet out from the north wall and about four feet out from the centerline of the masonry heater (under a truss), plus a fixture for a hanging lamp (which we will supply) centered on and about four feet out from the cabinets along the east side of the room.


Switches:
There are two switch banks, one on either side of the masonry heater; each contains four switches. The west bank of switches controls: the bank of five tracks; the solo track west of the heater; the west CFL flood; and the bank of two tracks*. The east bank of switches controls: the bank of two tracks*; the solo track east of the heater; the west CFL flood; and the solo track at the east end of the Living Room. (The incandescent hanging lamp is controlled from the south hallway, as described further below.)


Bedroom

Fixtures:
The two tracks are wired together as a single bank; they are centered on the south and west walls of the room. They are fed by raceway from the east partition wall.


Switches:
There is a one-switch plate just south of the door; it has a dimmer control instead of a toggle switch.


Dressing Area

Fixtures:
The two tracks are wired together as a single bank and are centered in the room. They are fed by raceway from the west partition wall.


Switches:
There are two one-switch* plates, each controlling the two-track bank: one just west of the door to the living room and the other just south of the door to the Bedroom.


Master Bath

Fixtures:
The two collinear tracks are wired together as a single bank and are centered on the north wall and aligned with the centerline of the door; they are fed by raceway from the west partition wall. There is also a track mounted on the wall over the sink (above the mirror).


Switches:
For the overhead two-track bank, there is a one-switch plate just south of the door to the Dressing Area. For the over-sink track, there is a one-switch plate at the north end of the west side wall around the sink.


Toilet/Bidet Room

Fixtures:
There is one track, centered on the north wall and aligned with the centerline of the door; it is fed by raceway from the west wall.


Switches:
There is a one-switch plate just south of the door.


Utility-Service Area

Fixtures:
There is one track, mounted at the top edge of the west wall.


Switches:
There is a one-switch plate just south of the door.


Laundry Room

Fixtures:
All fixtures here are fluorescents. The two collinear fixtures are wired as a single bank, fed by raceway from the north wall; they are centered north-south in the open-space area and are as nearly centered east-west as lying under a truss will allow. There is also a single fixture over the washer and dryer.


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate just north of the door, one for the solo and one for the two-unit bank.


South Hallway

Fixtures:
There are three collinear track fixtures, wired as a single bank. They run down the centerline of the hall; they start about two feet in and are separated by about two feet. They are fed by raceway from the east wall (the wall with the door).


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate at the west end of the wall stub at the east end of the hallway; those switches control the Hallway overhead track bank* and the one track just inside the Kitchen. There is a three-switch plate at the west end of the wall stub at the west end of the Hallway; the leftmost position is a dimmer that controls the incandescent fixture for the hanging lamp in the Living Room, the rightmost switch controls the Hallway overhead track bank*, and the center switch controls a special outlet in that wall (see Sockets further below).


Office

Fixtures:
There is a single track fixture, a single fluorescent fixture, and a pair of CFL task lights (those are 18- to 24-inch units with asymmetric reflectors designed to throw a sheet of light onto a desktop from the side). The track is centered on the open space and fed by raceway from the north wall; the fluorescent is about two feet in from the north wall and about six inches in from the east wall; the task lights are mounted in the open "passthrough"-type area, on each side of the desk surface, at a height above the desk as recommended by the lumiere maker for desktop task lighting and are wired as a single unit.


Switches:
There is a three-switch plate at the east end of the south wall stub defining the passthrough; each switch controls one unit (the track, the fluorescent, and the task lights).


Kitchen

Fixtures:
Undercounter: There are to be four circuits for those lights: one for those over the desk; one for those over the freezer and refrigerator (and associated countertops); one for the area from the north end of the refrigerator around to a spot on the east countertop opposite that end; and the last over the remaining countertop, including the cooktop area.

Other: There is one overhead track fixture, centered east-west and aligned with the pantry, and one task light (the same as the ones in the Office) mounted to the right of the desk.


Switches:
There is a six-switch plate (two rows of three) at the east end of the south wall stub defining the desk; it controls the four under-cabinet circuits, the desk task light, and the track light*. There is a three-switch plate in the north wall, over the dishwasher (and under the cabinets); each switch in that bank controls one of the four undercabinet circuits, omitting the over-desk under-cabinet lights.


Second Bath

Fixtures:
The three collinear tracks, centered in the open space, are wired together as a single bank; they are fed by raceway from the east partition wall. There is also a track mounted on the wall over the sink (above the mirror).


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate just south of the door; one switch controls the three-track overhead bank and the other the over-sink track.


Workshop

Fixtures:
There is a single track, centered on the shelving and about three feet out from the east wall (so as to lie under a truss); it is fed by raceway from the north wall. Over the workbench are two fluorescent fixtures, wired as a unit, centered north-south on the bench (lying under a truss) and fed by raceway from the west wall.


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate just north of the door; one switch controls the two-unit fluorescent bank and the other the solo track.


East Hallway

Fixtures:
There are two collinear track fixtures, wired as a single bank, centered on the axis of the hall and spaced evenly along its length; they are fed by raceway from the west wall to their center.


Switches:
The two-track bank is switched by a one-switch plate just south of the door to the Workshop.


TV Room

Fixtures:
There are three collinear track fixtures, wired as a single bank, centered east-west and six feet north of the south wall; they are fed by raceway from the west wall. (Note: as explained under Sockets, below, the raceway continues out the east end of the fixtures then down the east wall to a surface-mounted socket near the floor.)


Switches:
The three-track bank is switched by a one-switch plate just north of the door.


Garage

Fixtures:
There are eight fluorescent fixtures total, wired as three circuits: the three collinear fixtures parallel to the east wall; single fixture near and parallel to the south wall; and the remaining four fixtures (which form a sort of U shape with its long base parallel to the west wall). There is an outdoor CFL light outside, over the west entry door. And there is another outdoor tri-fixture CFL light outside on the north wall, about half way between the garage door and the north walkway entrance door.


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate on the west wall just south of the door; one switch* controls the four-light U-shaped bank and the other the external light over the west door. There is a one-switch plate on the south wall controlling the single fluorescent just by it. There is a four-switch plate on the east wall, just south of the door: one switch controls the three collinear fixtures, one switch* controls the four-light U-shaped bank, the third switch* controls the walkway light fixtures (which are on a 3-way circuit), and the last controls the outdoor lights on the north side of the garage.


Walkway

Fixtures:
There are two centered collinear fluorescent fixtures, spaced about three feet apart, wired as one circuit. There is also an outdoor CFL light outside, over the north entry door.


Switches:
There is a two-switch plate on the north wall, west of the door; one switch* controls the collinear fixtures (which are on a 3-way circuit) while the other controls the outdoor light.


Storage Area

Fixtures:
There are two centered collinear fluorescent fixtures, spaced about three feet apart, wired as one circuit.


Switches:
There is a one-switch* plate on the north wall, east of the door, controlling the collinear fixtures; there is another such*, with the same function, on the south wall west of the door.


Tank Room

Fixtures:
There are four collinear track banks parallel to the south wall and about two feet out from it wired as one circuit. There are two collinear track fixtures parallel to the west wall and about four feet out from it wired as one circuit; they begin about a foot south of the north wall and have about a foot between them. And there is a single fluorescent fixture on its own circuit; it is placed roughly over the water pump and parallel to the north wall.


Switches:
There is a three-switch plate on the north wall, east of the door, with one switch for each of the three light circuits.


Outdoors

Several outdoor fixtures, and their controlling switches, have already been mentioned in the lists for the Garage and the Walkway, described above. There are some others, not closely associated with any one indoor room or area, and those are described next.
Fixtures:
(To be supplied)


Switches:
(To be supplied)





Outlets

Drawings

On these drawings, the outlets are not drawn to scale as to exact location (see the room-by-room notes below). Despite the partial overlap of the drawings, a given socket appears on only one of the drawings, to avoid erroneous double-counting. The sockets intended are color-coded this way:   House Outlets Plan: 1 of 3
  House Outlets Plan: 2 of 3
  House Outlets Plan: 3 of 3
  Garage/Enclosed-Area Outlets Plan

Most of the intended sockets are standard two-plug types, but some are four-plug units; the latter, in the descriptions below, are marked with an * asterisk. Unless otherwise noted in the individual room discussions below, all outlets in a given room or area are to be on one circuit (and no rooms or areas share circuits).

Room-By-Room Outlet & Circuit Notes

Entranceway--

Two sockets: the one in the southwest corner is on the south partition, not the west wall.


Living Room

The six sockets shown in front of built-ins are to be placed in the 2x4 kick-space runner (with the sockets, of course, horizontal) of the appropriate built-in.

The "special" socketing shown by the audio cabinet is either a pair of two-socket plates or a single four-socket plate; details of placement are to be discussed with respect to the cabinet design. That socketing shall be on its own circuit.


Bedroom

The two sockets on the north wall are to be fed by surface-mounted raceway brought out from the west room wall; the first socket is about two feet east of that wall and the other (where the raceway terminates) about ten feet in from the wall (that is, eight feet from the other socket).

The other four sockets are standard near-floor twin-socket plates. The ones in the south corners are actually on the east and west walls.


Dressing Area

There is one standard near-floor twin-socket plate.


Master Bath

There is one standard near-floor twin-socket plate and another such plate on the east wall, in the southeast corner, over the countertop.


Toilet/Bidet Room

There is one two-socket plate mounted, like those in the Living Room, in the 2x4 kick-space runner of the built-in (with the sockets, of course, horizontal).


Utility-Service Area

There is one four-outlet* plate.


Laundry Room

There are two standard near-floor twin-socket plates. There are two other twin-socket plates mounted in the east wall at about 42 inches off the floor.


South Hallway

There are three standard near-floor two-socket plates. There is also a switched outlet (see Lighting Fixtures above) of special construction.

There is to be, in that partition-wall stub, on the south face, a small unfaced opening of about five by five inches, centered east-west and roughly 54 inches above the floor. The socket is to be mounted inside that opening, at right angles to the face of the wall, surface-mounted against a partition stud. (The purpose of this construction is to allow a hanging object requiring power to be surface mounted on that wall face, with the cord entering the opening behind it.)


Office

There are two four-plug sockets* mounted just above the desktop. There is also a two-plug socket in the built-in cabinet/bookcase unit; that socket, which is to be a separate circuit, is to be just above the height of the cabinet top (about 16 inches above floor level).


Kitchen

All outlets are to be above the countertop and below the over-counter cabinets, at standard height above the counter for such service outlets.

The two outlets on either side of the freezer and the outlet between the cooktop and the oven are to be two-socket plates and shall constitute one circuit. The "special" outlet just north of the stove is to be a two-socket plate, while the other five outlets are all to be four- socket* plates; each of those outlets, including the "special," is to be a separate circuit. (Modern countertop appliances draw a lot of power.)


Second Bath

There are two standard near-floor twin-socket plates plus another such plate on the east wall, in the southeast corner, over the countertop.


Workshop

There is a standard near-floor twin-socket plate and there are two four-plug sockets* on the west wall about six inches above the workbench top surface.


East Hallway

There are three standard near-floor twin-socket plates.


TV Room

There are two standard near-floor twin-socket plates in the west wall. On the east wall, raceway from the east end of the overhead track-light bank (see Lighting Fixtures above) is to run east to the wall then down to standard near-floor height, where there is to be a surface-mounted two-plug outlet; from that outlet, further raceway is to run north to another surface-mounted two-plug outlet, also at near-floor height, just south of the window. (To keep those outlets distinct from the lighting circuit, outlet circuit wire will need to run in the ceiling raceway along with the supply to the lights themselves.)

The "special" socketing shown by the T.V. cabinet is either a pair of two-socket plates or a single four-socket plate; details of placement are to be discussed with respect to the cabinet design. Those outlets are to be a special circuit.


Garage

There are nine near-floor outlets, all four-socket: eight are on a single circuit and the ninth, the one near the center of the south wall, is on a circuit of its own. The garage-door opener will also require power, and is to be on a circuit of its own.


Walkway

There is a single four-socket near-floor outlet, centered on the south wall.


Storage Area

There are four four-socket near-floor outlets, each centered on one of the walls. The outlets on the south and east walls (which are insulated) are to be surface mounted and supplied by raceway from one of the other walls.


Tank Room

There are five four-socket near-floor outlets. One is the dedicated-circuit water-pump circuit; the other four are on a single circuit of their own. All outlets are to be surface mounted and fed by raceway, with power coming into the room from the east wall near where the cold-water supply pipe passes through. The outlet on the south wall, centered on that wall, is to be below the bottoms of the windows.


Outdoors

(These are not shown on any drawing.) There are to be six outdoor socket sets, each a weatherproof four-socket type with each individual socket covered by a watertight metal flap. These sets are to be located approximately at the four corners of the structure and in the midpoints of the two long walls (the one at the midpoint of the south wall is to be well below the bottoms of the windows). They are to be fed by buried conduit, with power from the house emerging in the Service Area, except that the two west-corner sets may be fed through the garage wall. The north three sets and the south three sets are each to be a separate circuit.





Telephone Jacks

All telephone jacks are to be wired with in-wall unshielded twisted-pair ("UTP") "Category 5" 24-gauge 4-pair cable, and each wall plate is to have four RJ-11 female jacks, one per wire pair. Each plate is to have its own run of cable from the intake connect in the Service Area: no outlets are to be wired in series.

There are to be five telephone outlet plates in the house:







Special Wiring

Data Cabling

"Data cable" is in-wall unshielded twisted-pair ("UTP") "Category 5" 24-gauge 4-pair cabling with, at each cable end, a wall plate with an RJ-45 connector wired in accord with the TIA 568A standard provided. All data cable must run at least 3 feet away from any approximately parallel power wiring. Each wall plate described below is to run to a corresponding wall plate located in the Service Area; all Service-Area plates are to be clearly labelled as to which room plate they connect with.

There is to be a wall plate on the north wall of the Office, just over desktop height. There is to be another wallplate in the Kitchen, on the west wall by the desk, just over desktop height. There is to be a third wallplate in the T.V. cabinet, at approximately the same location as the satellite-system cable wall plate.


Video Cabling

"Video cable" is in-wall RG-6 coaxial cable with, at each cable end, a wall plate with a Type F female connector provided.

There is to be a wall plate in the T.V. cabinet, near the other wall plates (data cabling and satellite-system cabling), wired to a wall plate in the Laundry Room on the west wall, about three feet off the floor and about two feet north of the south wall.


Audio Cabling

"Audio cable" is in-wall, good-quality, 4-conductor cable specifically intended as speaker wiring, such as Monster Cable brand, with, at each end, wall-plate connectors of the "push and lock," banana-jack, or multi-connect type provided.

Each wall-plate location shall actually comprise two two-conductor wall plates wired as a pair back to a corresponding four-conductor wall plate in the Living-Room audio cabinet (their placement there is a part of the detailed design of that cabinet).

The plate-pair locations are:


Satellite-System Cabling

The "satellite-system cable" is special multi-conductor cable, to be supplied by us, to run in-wall from a special through-wall coupler (also to be supplied by us) in the Service Area to a special wall-mount plate (again, supplied by us) in the T.V. cabinet, centered on the T.V. space in that cabinet and behind the second shelf up (over the T.V. space proper).


Gate-Control & Intercom Cabling

The type of wiring needed will be determined by the specifications of the gate opener and of the intercom. The intercom system has two inside stations; those shall be located, each at a height of about five feet off the floor, in the:

HRV Control Wiring

There are to be controls for the HRV (heat-recovery ventilator) as follows: Suitable wiring will need to be run for those controls to the HRV.


Heater Wiring

"Heater wiring" is 220-volt service capable of supplying an in-wall room heater of up to 2500-watt size. There are in this design no such actual heaters (this is a reserve capability); all such wiring is to terminate in a wall box covered by a blank wall plate, at a height and location appropriate for an in-wall heater. Note that there is also to be provided, at every such blank termination, in-wall wiring for a thermostat if a heater is ever installed (see the specifications for details). Each heater run is to be a separate circuit.

The approximate locations for such heater-wiring termination boxes (all to be at the same near-floor height as is appropriate for such heaters) are:



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