Planning electrical installation – Complete guide for your building project
Electrical installation is the nervous system of every building. Once laid, cables can hardly be changed later. This guide shows step by step how to plan your electrical installation.
The 3 phases of electrical planning
Phase 1: Needs analysis and basic planning
Determine requirements: How do you use each room? Where is furniture? Which devices are operated where?
- Review floor plans and sketch furnishing
- Determine number and position of sockets, switches, connections
- Note special requests (USB sockets, network sockets)
Phase 2: Plan circuits and distribution
Each room needs its own circuits to prevent overload.
- Separate circuits for kitchen, bathroom, heating
- Size meter cabinet
- Calculate cable cross-sections
Phase 3: Future-proofing and special functions
Think about e-mobility, photovoltaics, smart home – consider this in planning.
- Conduits for later extensions (wallbox, PV)
- Network cables to important rooms
- Space in meter cabinet for extensions
Electrical planning room by room – Checklists
Kitchen
The kitchen has the highest power demand in the house.
- Cooker connection (400V, 3-phase, dedicated circuit)
- At least 6-8 sockets for worktop
- Separate sockets for dishwasher, refrigerator
- Under-cabinet lights with switch
Bathroom
Special safety regulations apply in bathrooms due to moisture.
- 10 mA RCD for all sockets
- Sockets with hinged cover (splash protection IP44)
- Lighting: mirror light, ceiling light
Living room
The living room is the multimedia center.
- TV wall: 4-6 sockets + antenna/SAT socket + LAN
- Sockets every 3-4 m on walls
- Dimmer for ceiling lighting
Bedroom
Comfort and peace are important in the bedroom.
- Two-way switches (door + both sides of bed)
- 2 sockets left and right next to bed
- Optional: USB sockets directly at bed
Properly size meter cabinet and circuits
The meter cabinet is the control center of your electrical installation.
Size and expandability
A single-family house needs at least 24-36 spaces for circuit breakers.
Labeling and documentation
Label each circuit clearly and unambiguously.
Typical circuit distribution
Separate circuits for: cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, heating.
Future-proofing: Preparation for e-mobility, PV, smart home
E-mobility (wallbox)
Install conduit from meter cabinet to garage.
Photovoltaic preparation
Reserve space in meter cabinet for PV inverter.
Smart home preparation
For KNX: Install bus line parallel to 230V line.
Battery storage
Plan space in technical room (approx. 1 m² per 10 kWh).
The 4 most common planning mistakes – and how to avoid them
Too few sockets
Plan 20% more sockets than currently needed.
No conduits for extensions
Install conduits at strategic locations.
Switches in impractical locations
Light switches should always be on the door handle side.
Network forgotten
Install network cables – WLAN repeaters work perfectly via them.
Conclusion: Good planning is half the electrical installation
Well-planned electrical installation is worth gold. Take time for planning, think about the future.
Tip: Use digital tools like floor plan apps for visualization.