DIY Network

Lighting It Up: Switches, Plugs and Lights From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-121

Figure A

The wiring is completed in the Oberg home, and now our homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg) are checking to make sure all the switches, plugs and lights are or should be!

But, unfortunately, during a walk-through of their master bedroom, Lynn noticed that there were no overhead cams (figure A) installed for reading lights -- and the two wall switches, obviously, were missing as well.

"The way that the lighting was done," Brad said, "in one part of the contract we were given 35 down lights and in another part we were given a dollar amount, and so we picked light fixtures against the dollar amount and then had to locate the down lights."

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Figure B

The down lights were actually "located" with the lighting designer because in some cases they had to be smaller lights and in other cases bigger. For the lights by the bed, Brad and Lynn wanted them overhead (figure B) with switches for two reasons: 1) for reading and 2) to eliminate clutter by the bed. This request was drawn on the lighting designer's plans but somehow the information never made it to the electrician, and thus the cams and switches were never initially installed.

DIY Home IQ Alert: These types of problems arise in nearly every custom-building home project, and it's usually due to miscommunication. Let this be a good lesson if you're planning a new home -- always make sure the plans are detailed at each step of the construction along the way, and if any changes (no matter how slight) are made that the proper contractors and subcontractors are fully aware before they begin their installations. If you don't have everything in writing and on the plan, when it comes toward the end of the construction and a change has to be made, this is considered a "fix" and will cost the homeowner(s) extra money!

In the next segment the decorative lights are installed.

RESOURCES :

Lighting for Oberg Home (Lutron Electronics and Sterling Lite)

Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.
Website: www.lutron.com

Sterling Lite, Inc.
20800 Rt. 19
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-772-7474
Fax: 724-772-3286
E-mail: sterlite@stargate.net

Cabinetry (Manor House Kitchens)
Manor House Kitchens
Website: www.manorhousekitchens.com

Automation and Security Systems
Guardian Protection Services
Website: www.guardianprotection.com

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Phil Scheetz
Residential Systems Sales Rep.
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
7200 Sutter Rd.
Coopersburg, PA 18036
Phone: 610-282-6274
E-mail: pscheetz@lutron.com
Website: www.lutron.com

Alvin Sain
Professional Engineer
E-mail: alsain@zbzoom.net

Caren Carter
Lighting Sales Consultant
Sterling Lite, Inc.
20800 Rt. 19
Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6006
Phone: 724-772-7474
Fax: 724-772-3286
E-mail: sterlite@stargate.net