Pre-Renovation Electrical Planning in Taman Desa

The Client's Situation

A family in Taman Desa was preparing for a major renovation of their 28-year-old double-storey terrace house. The renovation plan included knocking down the kitchen wall to create an open-plan living and dining area, adding a new bathroom upstairs, and converting the spare room into a home office.

Their renovation contractor had flagged concerns about the existing electrical system—the DB box still used old rewireable fuses, several outlets in the kitchen showed signs of overheating, and the wiring throughout the house was the original installation from 1998. The contractor wisely recommended getting a professional electrical assessment done before any demolition work started.

The homeowner's concerns:

• Whether the existing wiring was safe to keep or needed full replacement
• How to plan electrical points for the new open-plan kitchen layout
• Adding sufficient power for an induction hob, built-in oven, and instant water heater
• Setting up the home office with dedicated circuits for computer equipment
• Upgrading the DB box to modern safety standards

Our Assessment

Our team spent a full day conducting a comprehensive electrical assessment of the property. Here's what we found:

Wiring Condition

The original PVC-insulated copper wiring was showing its age. While not immediately dangerous, insulation resistance testing revealed degraded insulation in several circuits, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom areas where heat and moisture had accelerated deterioration. The cable sizes (1.5mm² for power circuits) were undersized for modern electrical loads.

DB Box Status

The existing 8-way DB box with rewireable fuses was well past its useful life. It had no RCCB protection (now mandatory under Malaysian regulations), no surge protection, and insufficient capacity for the planned renovation. Two of the fuse carriers showed signs of overheating—a serious fire risk.

Load Analysis

We calculated the projected electrical load after renovation: with the planned induction hob (7.4kW), built-in oven (3kW), three air-conditioners, instant water heaters, and home office equipment, the total connected load would exceed the existing 60A single-phase supply capacity.

Our Solution

Based on our findings, we developed a comprehensive electrical plan that would be executed in coordination with the renovation contractor. Similar to our home office upgrade project in Kuala Lumpur, we created a phased approach:

Phase 1: Supply Upgrade

• Applied to TNB for a supply upgrade from 60A single-phase to 63A three-phase
• Coordinated meter relocation to accommodate the new porch design
• Installed new main switch and consumer unit rated for three-phase supply

Phase 2: Complete Rewiring

• Full rewiring of the entire house using 2.5mm² cables for power circuits and 1.5mm² for lighting
• Dedicated 4.0mm² circuits for high-power appliances (induction hob, oven, water heaters)
• New 24-way DB box with MCB protection, dual RCCB, and surge protection device
• Proper earthing system upgrade to meet current MS IEC standards

Phase 3: New Electrical Layout

• Open-plan kitchen: 12 new power points including dedicated circuits for induction hob, oven, dishwasher, and instant water heater
• Home office: 6 double socket outlets, 2 USB charging points, dedicated 20A circuit, and CAT6 network points
• New bathroom: Waterproof IP-rated outlets, exhaust fan circuit, and instant water heater point
• Throughout the house: LED downlight wiring, dimmer switch provisions, and ceiling fan points

Results

Client Testimonial

"Getting the electrical assessment done before our renovation started was the best decision we made. Prime Electrician found problems we had no idea about—the old fuse board was actually a fire hazard. They coordinated perfectly with our renovation contractor, and everything was done on schedule. Now we have a properly wired home that can handle all our appliances without any worry. The three-phase upgrade alone was worth it—no more tripping when we run the aircon and oven at the same time!"

— Mr. & Mrs. Wong, Homeowners, Taman Desa

For homeowners in Taman Desa and across Kuala Lumpur planning a renovation, a pre-renovation electrical assessment is one of the smartest investments you can make. It prevents costly surprises, ensures your renovated home meets modern safety standards, and gives you the electrical capacity to enjoy all the modern conveniences you're planning for.