Power Points, USB Outlets and Data Points: A Perth Homeowner's Upgrade Guide
Count the power boards in your home. If you've got more than three, you're probably running out of power points.
Most Perth homes were built before anyone imagined we'd need to charge four devices by the bed, run two screens in a home office, and have something plugged in on every bench. The wiring was designed for a simpler time.
The good news is that upgrading your power points is one of the quickest electrical jobs to get done. And it makes a real difference to how the house actually works day to day.
Here's what your options look like.
Adding More Power Points
The most common thing homeowners ask for is simply: more power points.
It sounds basic but it's one of the best things you can do for an older home. A double power point in the right spot removes the need for a power board, reduces the temptation to use multiple double adapters (which is a fire risk), and also makes your home feel more sorted.
Good spots to think about:
Either side of the bed for phone charging
Behind the TV and on the opposite wall of the living room
Kitchen bench (most older kitchens are short on these)
Home office or study
Garage or workshop
Outside, for garden tools, a BBQ area, or Christmas lights
If you're renovating, the time to add power points is before the walls go back up. But even in a finished home, a licensed electrician can add new points without needing to remove or rebuild any walls.
USB Power Points
USB power points have built-in USB ports so you can charge devices directly without needing a plug adapter or a charging brick taking up the whole socket.
They come in two versions. USB-A is the older rectangular port. USB-C is the newer, faster style that works with most modern phones, tablets, and laptops.
If you're adding points to bedrooms or a home office, USB-C outlets are worth considering. They're not much more expensive than a standard power point, and they cut down on the pile of charger bricks that builds up near every desk and bedside table.
One thing worth knowing: the USB ports in these outlets do wear out over time, faster than a standard power point. For most households that's a 10-year horizon, which is fine. But it's worth keeping in mind if you're doing a full renovation and want everything to last.
Data Points (Ethernet)
Wi-Fi has come a long way, but it still has its limits. If your internet drops out in certain rooms, slows down when a few people are streaming at once, or lags during video calls, a wired ethernet connection will almost always fix it.
Data points are wall-mounted ethernet sockets that connect directly back to your router or a network switch. They look just like a power point, but for your internet cable.
Worth considering in:
The home office
The living room, for your TV or streaming device
Anywhere you have regular video calls
Kids' rooms if gaming is part of the household routine
A licensed electrician can install the data points and run the cabling through the walls, which gives a much cleaner result than ethernet cables trailing across floors or under carpet.
Can I Do This Myself?
In WA, all electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. That includes adding power points, installing USB outlets, and running data cabling connected to your electrical system.
DIY electrical work is illegal and genuinely dangerous. It can also cause problems when you come to sell your home. Unlicensed work can void your home insurance and create issues with building inspections.
It's not worth the risk.
How Much Does It Cost?
Adding a power point is a relatively small job. The cost depends on how many you're adding, how easy the access is, and whether new cabling needs to be run.
Where people save money is by grouping jobs together. Doing three or four upgrades in one visit is significantly cheaper than booking separate call-outs for each one. If you've been thinking about a few changes, make a list and get them done at the same time.
A Note on Renovations
If you've got a renovation coming up, electrical upgrades are worth planning before work starts. Once the walls are open, adding power points or running data cabling costs a fraction of what it would in a finished home.
It's easy to forget in the middle of planning a renovation. But it's one of the most common things homeowners wish they'd sorted earlier.
Ready to Sort It Out?
If your power points aren't cutting it, or you want to add USB outlets and data points, it's a quick job for a licensed electrician.
The LM Poole team works with homeowners south of the river across Booragoon, Applecross, Melville, Mount Pleasant and surrounding suburbs. Get in touch for a straight quote with no surprises.
Call 08 9317 1161 or contact us here.
LM Poole are licensed electricians based in Booragoon, servicing residential and commercial customers south of the river in Perth.