Life as a property investor and/or developer inevitably involves all manner of decisions, day after day. However, it might be far from obvious what level of participation property investors may have – or need to have – in decisions about their building’s electrical systems.
In practice, of course, a property investor might not have a great amount of direct involvement in electrical calculations in relation to a building they have acquired, or for which they are overseeing a renovation or extension project.
Instead, it tends to be the electricians, engineers, or designers who are directly handling specific systems, who carry out the relevant electrical calculations.
Why, Then, Does A Property Developer Need to Be Aware of Electrical Calculations?
As we mentioned above, there might be a slightly “hands-off” relationship between a given property investor or developer and the electrical infrastructure in a building they own.
However, it can still be greatly useful for a property investor to have a solid grasp of basic electrical calculations.
It can enable them, after all, to evaluate existing electrical systems in a property, plan upgrades, assess costs, troubleshoot problems, and make the decisions that will help maximise returns on their investment, without being solely dependent on the advice and guidance of an electrician.
4 Essential Electrical Calculations for Property Investors to Familiarise Themselves With
So, with no further ado, here are some electrical calculations that a conscientious and vigilant property investor will be thankful for being informed about:
- Power Consumption
This is a crucial calculation to make because it determines the amount of electricity the given property uses. This, in turn, will impact on the occupant’s energy bills and their satisfaction with their life in the property.
At a basic level, power consumption can be calculated by multiplying voltage (volts) with current (amps) to produce a power (watts) reading.
The website of the Centre for Sustainable Energy provides further information on how to figure out the amount of electricity a given property is likely to use. Don’t forget to check appliance ratings to further determine the probable operating costs for certain installations.
- Output Voltage of a Voltage Divider Circuit
You might need to understand this calculation if you have overseeing custom installations or smart property features. A voltage divider is a simple circuit in which two resistors are used, in order to split an input voltage into a lower output voltage.
The RS website provides a useful voltage divider calculator for electrical installations such as smart home integrations or custom lighting projects. Using this tool is as straightforward a process as inputting values for input voltage, as well as the values for each resistor.
- Circuit Load Capacity
If any circuits in your property are overloaded, this can present risks such as tripped breakers or even fire. So, it will be in your interests as an investor – including for protecting any occupants of the building, as well as the structure itself – to be able to calculate circuit load capacity.
The Spruce outlines further details on how to calculate electrical capacity. As that article explains, a vital step is to calculate the conversions between watts, volts, and amps.
So, you might need to multiply volts and amps to come up with watts, while a watts-divided-by-volts calculation will give you an amp reading.
- Wire Size
If you don’t get the wire gauges in your property right, you could end up wasting money on a greater amount of material than you need, or risk overheating.
Again, there are various wire sizing calculators available online that you can use to figure out the most suitable wire gauge for a given electrical installation.
Carrying out electrical calculations like these can be vital for ensuring you make the best possible decisions – including when it comes to protecting your asset, any tenants in the building, and your investment in the property.
