Are Low Voltage Services Right for your Structure?

voltage

If you’ve begun recent construction on a space, you may be thinking ahead to electrical services and what you’re going to need going forward. Whether you’re building a living space, an office space, warehousing, a commercial space, an outbuilding or something else entirely, you’ll need the area to be wired for electricity.

For many spaces, only low voltage services are required. Low voltage services generally consist of the installation of a single power point, or outlet, usually in a home or industrial environment (though there are some exceptions), used to power devices, systems and more.

Low voltage systems usually are comprised of 50 volts of electricity or less. Some common voltages under this umbrella include 48V, 24V, and 12V and can include smaller appliances and electronics like doorbells, garage openers, thermostats and small light fixtures. They can also include systems like fire alarms, burglar alarms, wireless clocks, nurse call systems, paging and intercom systems, sound systems and more. Another commonly used low voltage system is a home security system, which is often powered by low voltage cabling and some systems run off a wireless connection. 

Low voltage services from your local power/electrical company can also include the following services and maintenance: 

  • metering and the installation of underground mains

  • wiring of buildings, structures and machines

  • manufacturing and installation of switchboards

  • various wiring systems

  • audio and speaker cabling

  • infrared thermal imaging

  • appliance tests

  • lighting installation, wiring and testing

  • lighting control design

  • repairs, fault finding, etc

  • 24 hour emergency repair and customer service

These are just a few of the services provided when you elect for a low voltage system in your structure. Your electrical company will monitor and check the wirings, outlets, cables and more for safety.

So how are low voltage systems connected? 

Low voltage systems, while less powerful than high voltage systems, still require a complex network to function. There are usually two connectivity options: 

  • Structured cabling: these are usually comprised of copper, fiber or coaxial cabling and are used for many different media systems, including remote control power, CCTV cameras, commercial audio, and more. These are very dependable. 

  • Wireless connectivity: low voltage devices are often able to communicate through wireless channels, or wifi as well as radio frequencies, microwaves and laser technology. A technician may administer a wireless survey to see if your property is eligible. If so, they will work with you to get the systems and devices wire and connected to wireless. 

When choosing a low voltage system, you and the service tech will work together to ensure safety in your structure at all times. Making sure the area is safe and that all low voltage devices are correctly installed and risk-free is very important. 

No matter how large or small your wiring needs, contact your local electrical company to find out more about low voltage and high voltage, how to tell the difference and how to determine which type of wiring you need for your structure, system or device. 


Alison Morgan