Electrical Installations or Upgrades to Consider for Your Home Office
People increasingly work from home, either full-time or part-time. Consider turning one of your rooms into a dedicated home office if you want to make the transition. You may need to upgrade the room's electrical wiring as part of the transition, however. Below are some aspects of your wiring that may need installation or upgrading.
Electrical Outlets
Make sure your office has enough outlets. Otherwise, you might resort to extension cords, which are dangerous because:
- They increase the risk of circuit overload
- They can make you trip
- They can suffer damage and trigger electrical mishaps
The number of outlets should depend on the number of electrical equipment you intend to have. Add an extra outlet or two for when your electrical equipment grows.
Surge Protector
Unstable power can easily damage your office equipment. For example, a power surge (temporary spike in electrical voltage) can fry your printer or scanner. Invest in protective devices to protect the equipment.
Note that surge protectors have ratings that determine how much voltage they can protect your equipment from. Thus, only buy a surge protector once you know your equipment's sensitivity and tolerance to electrical fluctuations.
Dedicated Computer Circuit
Many people use computers in their home officers. However, computers feature sophisticated electronics that can suffer damage even with minor electrical disturbances that might not affect other electrical equipment. Thus, the protective devices for conventional electronics might not be adequate for the computer.
One way to protect your computer is to isolate it from other equipment. You can do this by plugging in the computer in a dedicated circuit. That way, a disturbance in a circuit (for example, if one piece of equipment draws a lot of power during startup) will not affect the computer.
Another way is to use a power conditioner, not only for the computer but also for other sensitive electrical equipment. A power conditioner filters power from the outlet to remove fluctuations and deliver consistent power.
Hardwired Internet Connection
If you need office internet, as most people do, then consider a hardwired connection over WiFi. A hardwired connection is superior because:
- The connection is more secure than WiFi
- Environmental obstacles don't affect it
- Other wireless signals don't affect it
- You don't need to move around the office looking for strong signals
What is more, upgrading to a hardwired internet connection is not that resource-intensive for many homes.
Lighting System
Your existing lighting system might not be adequate for your office. Say you have used the room with a single ceiling light. You may need to enhance the lighting experience by:
- Adding task lighting, such as a desk lamp
- Installing light fixtures without glare
- Avoiding glare by using indirect light
The exact lighting design will depend on your work, room size, and natural light availability.
Backup Power Source
Consider a backup power source for your home office. That way, your productivity will not drop, and you will not miss targets even if your main power is out. Backup options include:
- A generator
- A solar system
- A battery backup system
Consider these factors when choosing a backup plan:
- How much power your office consumes
- How reliable you are on electricity
- What the initial cost of the backup is
- What the running expenses of the backup are
For example, you may get more power from a generator than a UPS (uninterruptible power supply).
Reinhold Electric Inc has extensive experience in the electrical industry — we have been active in the industry since 1976. We can design and install your home office's wiring for maximum productivity and comfort.
Contact us for a quote on all your electrical needs.
