Wiring in a new-build...

Member since 23 October 2021

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 11:09:54

Hi again.

There is a concrete block house being built down the street. All the walls are up but I don't see any allowances made for wiring or plumbing. I watched some you- tube videos ( produced in USA) and homeowner was installing runs of plastic pipe for the wires as the wall was going up but have not seen that here. How is it done here?

Thanks.

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Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 11:25:38

They rough in conduits and plumbing pipes in the block hollows.

You should be seeing white conduits and pipes sticking out of tops of walls then to be run in roof slab.

They could always chase in later but that adds to cost so this would be rare.

danimcdg34 Active member

Member since 23 October 2021

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 17:17:43

I'll go have a closer look at the house that's being built down the street...funny the maestro did not ask for an electrical plan....?

LT American Active member

Member since 01 July 2021

LT AmericanActive member03 August 2022 17:39:11

I have a friend here in LT who a Canadian trained electrician. She stays very busy because of skills. She had often seen shoddy builds like this and you have to go back In a cut block etc.... personally I have seen builders with concept of a linear building plan

danimcdg34 Active member

Member since 23 October 2021

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 20:10:15

@lennoxnev

I had another look at the house under construction..no piping anywhere for future wiring. I can't believe all these houses have only surface wiring??

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 20:25:57

Most Dominican smaller dwellings have few electrical points. You need to engage the plumbing and electrical maestros at the start so you can agree the electrical, data, ac and plumbing points and then you need to check.

Typically houses here with flat concrete roof construction have a single block parapet and the rainwater discharges from within the parapet down a pipe set in the perimetre blockwall during shell construction. Be aware. I personally dont like this concept.

DominicanadaMike ViP

Member since 21 July 2015

DominicanadaMikeViP03 August 2022 20:27:51

1051

They just break into the wall where they want to put the conduits and patch it over. Once they put the finish plaster you don't see anything...

They do the same with some water pipes (last minute changes etc.) Water is generally on the outside of the wall and electrical on the inside...

This is what I have seen...

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat03 August 2022 20:30:42

610

They cut the walls with a grinder if the walls are already up and then some run white pvc pipes in the walls and then cement the pipes in , you have to be careful they don’t fill the crevice in to high because you want the little index to fill in with joint compound to smooth it out

Some electricians here will only put the wire in the wall …no pipes … you really have to watch , there is no electric code here to follow no 7 outlets on a 20 amp breaker , no 1380 watts on a 15 amp breaker , nope no code

As they guy explain to me before I started to educate him on how I wanted it , he said the house is cement and blocks it won’t catch fire

🤔🙄

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 20:49:33

One of the problems roughing in conduits in block cores, is the availablity of cores that are open.

In the UK we always chased the solid cavity wall inner insulated blockwork using specialist sub contractors geared up with chasing tools and vaccuums.

The electrician marks out positions exactly and no horizontal only plumb vertical conduit routing in walls that way.

DominicanadaMike ViP

Member since 21 July 2015

DominicanadaMikeViP03 August 2022 20:59:21

#10

1051

@Tippj: The electrical system here makes me very nervous...no grounding, polarity is messed up, mixed wiring, under-sized, under rated, bad incompatible breakers and wire combinations, the list just keeps going. If you know anything about wiring you may find this little story funny. The electric company comes to install some new overhead service wire. 4/0 triplex for about 200 feet. The trucks are there, they have the new wire up in the air and are pulling it to the last pole for termination. Oops! 10' short!!! Now what? Well, seems like the engineer miscalculated (not the first time on this simple job) and didn't send enough cable. So a couple of hours goes by and the foreman returns with some more wire to splice to the first wire. the short piece is 2/0 triplex. So, they cut off a few strands from the end of the 4/0 so they can splice it to the 2/0. Wow!!! Ok then after they splice it and start pulling it into position the splice breaks and down comes the cables across the road. Fortunately there was no one underneath at the time... Yes, the 2/0 is on the connection side degrading the 4/0 to 2/0 and Yes, that's par for the course here, wouldn't expect anything different...lol

Sorry, for some this may just sound like mumbo Jumbo but if you are an electrical person you will see the humour.

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 21:02:07

#11

@Tippj when applying for a construction permit from MOPC for an urban dwelling and tourist zone construction you are required to submit plumbing, ventialation and electrical plans for vetting by the relevent authorities including the EDES.

Does it happen? Not often for smaller jobs.

There are standards, but firstly only about 10% of all constructions are submitted to MOPC for a permit and I doubt if many CODIA MEP engineers designs see light of day in these submissions except big jobs. Hence low specialist trade standards are common.

Apparently the construction permit process us due to be enforced more now especially to cities and tourist zones.

danimcdg34 Active member

Member since 23 October 2021

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 22:20:07

#12

@Tippj

Yikes!!! So when you want to put a painting up and need a concrete anchor you could easily be drilling into a live Unprotected wire????

danimcdg34 Active member

Member since 23 October 2021

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 22:22:25

#13

@lennoxnev

Will get my "electrician/ plumber" onboard right away! Thanks!

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat03 August 2022 22:37:46

#14

527

@Tippj

Yikes!!! So when you want to put a painting up and need a concrete anchor you could easily be drilling into a live Unprotected wire????
- @danimcdg34

Correct. I just texted our builder yesterday to ask where an electrical wire was run so I wouldn't drill into it. Electrical and plumbing were my primary concerns when we were building, and we have a good builder. What you have to ensure is that the guys "driving nails" (i.e. doing the work) are properly supervised, since many of them simply don't know what they are doing. I can't tell you how much work was done over 2 or 3 times because it is all trial and error when someone is not trained properly.

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat03 August 2022 22:39:53

#15

200

@RockyM Rocky sounds like an episode of LOL comediha.. LOL

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat03 August 2022 22:45:25

#16

527

@RockyM Rocky sounds like an episode of LOL comediha.. LOL
- @polo1club

As they say "laugh or go crazy"......

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 22:54:38

#17

Thats why in the UK we dont rough in. We 1st fix. The electrician marks out the outlet boxes and the chaser cuts out for the box and a conduit chase in the insulated solid inner cavity wall block vertically from that point. The conduits and box are then set in to position and plastered in position ready for plaster coats.

Live wires in conduits should be vertically above or below any box as a rule.

Roughing in means roughing in, and in most cases you don't know where those conduits run exactly.

Chasing is a better option for quality control but costly without proper chasing equipment which captures dust. Using lines of ginder cuts and chiselling out is primative, costly and not very safe.

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat03 August 2022 23:38:06

#18

610

@DominicanadaMike

Too bad they couldn’t find the hydraulic high press and put a Barrel splice on it …. Imagine…..🤣😂🤣

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat03 August 2022 23:44:27

#19

610

@danimcdg34

When drilling into a wall try to cut your losses…. Don’t drill above a switch or an outlet , less chance of hitting something

😉🤞

DominicanadaMike ViP

Member since 21 July 2015

DominicanadaMikeViP04 August 2022 01:45:35

#20

1051

@Tippj: Yes, generally electrical conduits run vertically above and outlet or switch. You can use a stud finder that has electrical wire tracing capacity.

They actually had a hydraulic press and a barrel splice! Doesn't mean they knew how to use it...

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat04 August 2022 16:42:30

#21

200

I saw an electrician working on a house with live wires in the pouring rain and he had on chanqlas (flip flops) on his feet! Only in DR, I video taped him and sent it to my friends in the US! It looked so dangerous!

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat04 August 2022 17:28:47

#22

527

Or when they work on the street lines they will rest the ladder directly on the power lines.

emetz55 Contributor

Member since 29 September 2017

emetz55Contributor15 August 2022 16:17:50

#23

100

@danimcdg34 They usually run it across the top of the block then down thrrough the cinder block. I have seen some that actually chip a trough ( yes with a hammer and chisel) to run down the walls but he was a real rookie. I have not found anyone who uses romex either they like running 3 single wires thats if they decide to ground it. Many of them don't I am getting a house built now, I will ask the engineer how he does it and get back to you.

emetz55 Contributor

Member since 29 September 2017

emetz55Contributor15 August 2022 16:24:58

#24

100

@danimcdg34 I just talked to the engineer and he uses conduit.

dinosinc Active member

Member since 31 March 2016

dinosincActive member15 August 2022 16:25:40

#25

one thing i found is that they don't run a neutral wire, if you plan on using any smart switches to control smart lighting you wont be able to I had to figure out a work around after the fact...

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat17 August 2022 02:53:33

#26

610

Because they build the wall from the floor up I usually put the outlet box at the height I want (. 12 - 15” ) on center and then stub a pipe- conduit up 4 ‘ and then they break the cores out of the cinder block to accommodate the pipe, when they get up to 4’ they fill the void in the block with cement and then you add another 4’ of conduit and keep on adding till you reach the ceiling slab and then enter the pipe- conduit into what’s called a Mud box which would probably be located in the center of the room ceiling where you’ll have the feed wire’s from the electrical panel…also in a pipe- conduit

I’ve seen many many Different ways on how they do here……😳 scary

burnettemarksr Member

Member since 27 June 2023

burnettemarksrMember27 June 2023 19:41:46

#27

@polo1club I have seen a whole house (it was small 2 BR) with 10 gauge wire running from the pole!

crabelramble Contributor

Member since 13 March 2023

crabelrambleContributor27 June 2023 20:43:31

#28

108

10ga is heavy gauge wire for down here!

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat28 June 2023 00:54:29

#29

610

I wouldn’t be happy with anything less then #6 or # 4 AWG because you never know what you may want to add to the property in the future and it’s always better to have more power now then to try and add to it later , if the house is big enough with #4 AWG - 2 AWG if you want to put a100 amps for your pool , ac unit (s ) 80” TV and so on .

Remember just because the neighbor did something doesn’t make it the best way.

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat28 June 2023 12:20:50

#30

527

When you unplug your toaster oven and can barely touch the plug because of the heat, you know there is a wiring problem. And it would help to actually ground the electrical system. Our builder looked me straight in the eye and said "they don't ground houses in the DR". My reply is the "they" you are referring to is YOU. Start grounding the houses you build. It is not difficult.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert28 June 2023 12:39:33

#31

17698

You are right grounding is not common here but it is in the building code I am told!

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat28 June 2023 12:42:25

#32

527

The building code doesn't mean much until someone inspects and signs off on builds. I suspect that will not happen any time soon.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert28 June 2023 13:04:02

#33

17698

All true! Inspectors clearly don't do their jobs. Recent building collapses have drawn attention to this!

rfmaurone Serial expat

Member since 05 February 2022

rfmauroneSerial expat28 June 2023 19:10:24

#34

222

@planner in my day job in the United States I design telecommunications that’s a fancy way for saying cable, guy and most of what I design is fiber optics but I touch on the electrical stuff all the time and for the members of our group get your stuff grounded add a ground, it’s the prudent thing to do and that’s my nickel on the subject

crabelramble Contributor

Member since 13 March 2023

crabelrambleContributor29 June 2023 12:42:28

#35

108

My rule for the DR is that if a person's lips are moving, they are either lying OR fit into the dummy end of the Dunning–Kruger effect. Of course, that's only based on my experience.