To install electrical wiring in a home, you don't necessarily have to spend money hiring a team. You can do it yourself with some basic knowledge, attention to detail, and high-quality tools that will enable you to complete the necessary tasks quickly and efficiently.

Planning and Preparation

The first step is to route the wiring throughout the rooms. For homes with brick or concrete walls, the standard practice is to have concealed wiring in grooves or channels created specifically for housing the electrical wiring. According to the electrical wiring diagram, you need to create channels along all the walls of the room, starting from the entry point into the house and leading to the intended locations for distribution boxes, sockets, switches, and other electrical devices.

Keep in mind that routing channels in floor slabs is not recommended. To connect ceiling fixtures, you should use the existing wiring (typically installed by professionals within the floor slabs during construction) or route the wiring openly and cover it with a suspended ceiling.

Routing Electrical Wiring

There are several methods for creating channels, depending on the tools available. In home settings, a commonly used tool for creating channels is a rotary hammer drill. With a rotary hammer drill, you can complete all the necessary work in a house within a few days. However, ensure that the rotary hammer drill has a chiseling mode without rotation. You will also need a specialized chisel bit for this purpose.

It's important to note that routing channels with a rotary hammer drill may not always be feasible. In certain types of walls, such as aerated concrete, the drill may cause excessive damage, requiring additional expenses for repairing the channels. The same issues can arise if the wall is already finished; using a rotary hammer drill can damage the surface, necessitating additional finishing work. In such situations, it is recommended to use an angle grinder (with a 125 mm diameter disc) for dry cutting through the concrete and then create the channels using a flat chisel.

For small-scale projects, using an angle grinder is acceptable. However, it can be challenging to maintain consistent distances and depths between the channels. For larger-scale projects, it is advisable to use a wall chaser with a similar disc diameter of 125 mm. This tool features two discs mounted on the axis and includes a depth stop to control the depth of the discs' immersion into the wall. A wall chaser enables faster work, resulting in neater channels and requiring minimal effort for subsequent finishing.

If you plan to route channels in a wall with existing wiring, it is crucial to ensure that the future channels won't intersect with the existing wires. For this purpose, a wire detector is used. It helps you identify the existing wires, significantly simplifying your work.

Installation of Electrical Devices

Sockets, switches, and dimmers are mounted in standard-sized installation boxes known as "back boxes." You can create holes for these boxes using a rotary hammer drill with a regular drill bit, ensuring that the holes are suitable for the box sizes commonly used in the UAE.

At this stage, you will need a screwdriver or a power drill to attach the installation boxes securely into the created holes. Using a power drill will make the process faster and more efficient.

Once the walls are prepared, and the installation boxes are in place, you need to run the cables and connect them according to the wiring diagram. You will need to strip the ends of the cables, removing the outer insulation and exposing small (5-10 mm) sections of the wire ends. If you have a large number of connections to make, it is recommended to use a specialized tool for stripping the insulation, as it will make the process significantly faster and save your energy for other tasks.

Diagnostic Check: Follow Safety Rules

After completing the preparation of the electrical wiring, you can connect the entire system to the main electrical panel or distribution board. However, before doing so, it is essential to carry out a diagnostic check to ensure the wiring is correct and that all connections are secure. A diagnostic check involves using a voltage tester or a multimeter to verify that the electrical current is flowing correctly through the system and that there are no short circuits or other issues.

It is crucial to follow all safety rules and regulations when working with electrical wiring. Make sure to turn off the power supply to the area where you are working, wear appropriate safety gear such as gloves and safety goggles, and test the circuits with a voltage tester or multimeter before handling any wires.

Please note that electrical work can be complex and potentially dangerous. If you are not confident in your abilities or have limited knowledge in this area, it is recommended to consult with a licensed electrician or professional to ensure the job is done safely and effectively.

What hand tools will also be needed?

During most stages of electrical installation, you will need special hinged-jaw tools such as pliers, needle-nose pliers, and wire cutters. All of them must have insulation coating to protect against electric shock in case the wire you are working with happens to be live at that moment. Therefore, when purchasing, please read the description on the website or the tool's manual. It is important that the tool is approved for use at voltages up to 1000V.

Another indispensable helper for an electrician is a set of insulated screwdrivers, as mentioned above. However, it is important to remember that screwdrivers specifically used for electrical work, which directly involve handling wires, should have an insulated shaft. This will help you avoid short circuits when working with a group of wires.

That's the complete list of tools you need to do your own electrical work at home. The most important thing is to be attentive and follow all safety rules. When necessary, use protective equipment, and most importantly, take your time. Working with wires is a meticulous task that requires time and patience. But in the end, you will be extremely satisfied with the result when all the sockets are placed in the right locations and the switches are at a convenient height for you.

Tools Summary: 

• Standard pliers
• Needle-nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Angle Grinder or Rotary Hammer Drill
• Insulated Screwdrivers
• Power Drill
• Voltage Tester (Screwdriver) or Multimeter
• Wire Stripping Tool
• Chisel Bit (for rotary hammer drill) or Dry Cutting Disk (for angle grinder)