What is Low-Voltage Wiring?

Low-Voltage Electrical

As one of the most critical elements in a home, electricity is essential to how your home functions. From powering heating and cooling systems, providing energy to appliances, and giving energy to light homes, we rely on electricity to power our everyday lives. While it’s easy to overlook this element of building a home, you may want to consider the wiring you’d like to incorporate in your new home. Low-voltage wiring is becoming a more common supplement to traditional electrical wiring. But what is it, how can it benefit your new home, and do we offer this service at Arive Homes? Read on to learn more.

A Brief Intro to Your Home’s Electricity

Let’s start with some basics about electricity. It arrives in the home from a local utility company via a power line or an underground conduit. Once at the house, it’s distributed from the main panel throughout the home in two ways: one hot wire and one neutral wire power lights and outlets. For larger appliances, two hot wires and one neutral wire provide power. The cables operate on a circuit around the home, supplying power along the circuit.

The power supplied to most homes in the United States is on a split-phase system. The strength of the power entering the house is 240 volts. Once arriving at the home, the volts are split at the main circuit breaker panel into 120 volts. Why does this happen? It is broken down into lower voltage levels because many outlets in the home require 120 volts, while larger appliances, such as water heaters and clothes dryers, require a 240-volt circuit. The voltage and wiring being distributed around the home change based on the outlet and the appliance needing electricity. In short, the home is wired to accommodate and distribute the electricity appropriately where it is required.

Why Low-Voltage Wiring is Trending

Low-voltage wiring is any wiring in the home designed to carry 50 volts of electricity or less. The incorporation of low-voltage wiring in a home is known as structured cabling. Structured cabling is built on a network separate from a home’s standard wiring. So what is the benefit of incorporating low-voltage wiring throughout the house?

Low-voltage wiring is becoming more common in home construction for several reasons. Because many of the home’s electronics do not need a high voltage to function correctly, low-voltage power is considered more sustainable. After all, low voltage means less electricity is being used. In addition, using less power ultimately means less money you’ll pay for utilities.

What Can Low-Voltage Electrical Wiring Be Used for?

Many small electronics that are integral elements in a home can be powered with low-voltage wiring. Such electronics include:

• Telephones

• Doorbells

• Thermostats

• Internet network

• LED lighting

• Garage door openers

• Lighting controls

• Security cameras

• Alarms

Electricians can pinpoint specific low-voltage wires to certain locations throughout the home.

How Do You Add Low-Voltage Wiring to Your New Home?

As previously mentioned, structured cabling is often completed after the main electrical components have been installed. A separate low-voltage wiring contractor will design and construct the infrastructure for the low-voltage wiring.

If you’re interested in adding low-voltage wiring to your home, it’s best to do this during construction. As the house is built, electricians can add these elements instead of going back through and re-wire or changing anything later.

Build Greener & Smarter with Arive Homes

At Arive Homes, we’re committed to building sustainable, smarter homes that you are proud to call home. Instead of sticking to standard, one-size-fits-all homes, we constantly search for better ways to build homes, offering you upgrades and customizations along the way. Whether you’re looking for new homes in Salem or quick move-ins, we’ve got you covered. Check out our floor plans, including single-family floor plans, to find the one that best fits your lifestyle. Enjoy the exceptional experience that only Arive Homes can offer. Contact us today to get started on your dream home.