Tuesday 17 September 2019

Essential Electrical Upgrades to Consider for Your New Kitchen

Remodelling and renovating your kitchen can be rewarding, and increase the value of your home, but you will also need to consider upgrading the electrical components such as new power points, switches and new circuits, along with your new cabinetry. Adding new appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers and fridges, is adding load to the existing wiring, which can often be old, damaged or simply non-compliant.



New Australian Electrical Standards AS/NZ3000(2018) Standards also require ovens and cooktops to have their own circuits and safety switches on each individual circuit. Older homes often have outdated wiring systems that may no longer able to support modern appliances. This all needs to be taken into consideration prior to renovating, and pre-planning with a qualified and licensed electrician is key to getting it right and staying on budget.

The rule of thumb is if the appliance operates with a motor, it has to have its own circuit.
If you have renovation plans, you might be asking yourself, “where can I find an electrician near me?” to incorporate electrical upgrades to your project. Here are some of the enhancements that you may need to include.

Your Electrical Circuits 

The kitchen should have at least seven circuits or more if there are more appliances to be added. There is the 15-amp primary lighting circuit, five circuits dedicated to your specific appliances and two 20-amp circuits for small appliances.


The primary lighting circuit is what powers the task lighting, ceiling fixtures, and recessed lighting. The lighting circuit depends on the total wattage of the combined light that will be connected to the circuit. However, it should be sufficient enough to control the lighting inside the kitchen.

The refrigerator has gotten more extensive and more sophisticated; at least 20-amp and the are0-volt circuit is required to power this appliance plus you must make sure there is no other electrical load.
Electric range circuit should be dedicated to the cooking area of the new kitchen. It also needs an exclusive outlet to avoid overloading.

Microwave is also another kitchen appliance that demands more power, and an outlet solely dedicated to it should be included in your upgrade plans.
The food disposer keeps the kitchen clean and is a relatively new device. It also needs its own circuit and outlet.

Your Lighting System

A newly renovated kitchen will not have much impact if space has poor lighting. If you have increased the size of your kitchen, you need to add more lights. Accent lighting can highlight and illuminate the frequently used areas in the kitchen. Placing them over the stove, island benches, and over the kitchen table can bring openness and warmth to your kitchen.

Most accent lights these days are energy efficient LED’s, such as LED strip-lighting and LED Down Lights. These LED’s use one-fifth of the power of halogen lights are long-lasting, come in a fantastic range of colours and styles, but are still affordable.

Your Light Dimmers

In any room, lighting sets the tone and mood. While it is required for your kitchen to be adequately lit, you also have the option to change them into something out of the ordinary. The change will be a rewarding one. If you want to set a romantic mood in the kitchen, you can dim the lights. If space is adjacent to the living area, you can make a distinction between the areas by installing light dimmers. These dimmers can be paired with many bulb types like LED or CFL. You just need to install a dimmable bulb with a dimmable light switch.

Your Additional Data Ports




Did you know that USB and data ports can be incorporated into power points or individually around the kitchen area? Chances are, the device you are using to read this article now uses a USB connection to charge. The USB cable is now as standard as conventional electrical plugs, and the future for kitchen appliances are geared towards USB charging. Although your home value will not increase by adding USB outlets in the kitchen, you still need them to plug your phone, iPad, and other devices and will thereby become useful in the future.

Why Hire a Licensed Electrician to do the Job?

If you are a homeowner who needs electrical upgrades for your kitchen, don’t just think ‘I’ll hire anybody who offers electrician services near me’. Go for the one who has experience in the electrical field. First, electricity is complicated and dangerous. Only licensed electricians have undergone extensive training and are updated with the latest in electrical codes.

For upgrades of service panels that provide electricity to your kitchen, you need to have a licensed electrician who understands the requirements. Upgrading the electrical service panels are required to supply your kitchen with adequate electricity.

Only a licensed electrician can install additional outlets in your home or convert your existing outlets to GFCIs or ground fault circuit interrupters. They know that electrical code requires that at least one of the outlets in the kitchen is a GFCI outlet. These outlets are designed to shut off the power when water comes in contact with electricity, or there is an imbalance in the electricity load.

Another reason why you should hire a licensed electrician to do the job is when it comes to replacing light fixtures; they understand the amperage of the circuit and the wattage of the lighting fixture. There are specific measures that only licensed electricians to know when it comes to replacing the light fixture.

Above all, licensed electricians are up to date in complying to the electricity code. Both national and local authorities have set forth these guidelines that detail the standards in electrical safety. If your home is not compliant, it is not only dangerous but as a homeowner, you will be fined.

To answer the question of ‘who is an electrician near me who can help in implementing the electrical upgrades in my kitchen?’, ask the licensed electricians at McIntosh Electrical. They can help you with light and dimmer installation, additional circuit and outlets, USB outlets, and many other electrical services.

Mcintosh Electrical

Their Master Electricians are always ready and at your service. They offer commercial, residential, and industrial electrical services. They also provide 24-hour, seven days a week, and 365 days a year service for all your electrical needs. Contact them today, and one of the friendly members of the team will help you.

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