Practical notes from the Voltuno workshop.
Read product updates, practical electrical insights, and stories behind Voltuno.
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Fresh updates from the product, the field, and the team.
Ten single-line diagram mistakes an inspector spots instantly
Most remarks about diagrams come down to the same handful of things. Walk through this list before the inspector arrives.
Several floors, one file
Basement, ground floor, first floor and attic: each with its own plan, but together one installation. Here is how to keep such a file consistent.
Getting your bill of materials straight from the diagram
Counting breakers, adding up sockets, estimating cable runs: that work does not need doing twice. The diagram already holds the list.
Home automation and controlled lighting on your single-line diagram
Relays, bus systems and controlled circuits quickly make a diagram unreadable. Here is how to keep automation clear and still complete.
Voltuno goes to the web: desktop on pause, free with one plan
We are pausing the desktop software and launching the web version of Voltuno. Fully in your browser, and free to start with one plan.
Solar panels and a home battery on your single-line diagram
An inverter turns your installation into a source as well. How do you correctly draw the PV circuit, the protective devices and a possible battery?
The right cable size and circuit breaker for every circuit
An oversized breaker on an undersized wire is a fire risk. Learn which cable size matches which breaker and which appliances need a dedicated circuit.
A home charging point: what AREI requires and how to draw it
A charging point is not an ordinary socket. Dedicated circuit, suitable residual-current protection and a correct entry on your diagram: here is what you need.
Renovating an old installation and getting it inspection-ready
Fuses, fabric-covered wires and not a single diagram: many pre-1981 homes look like this. A step-by-step plan to bring such an installation in order.
Inspection of your installation: what does the inspector check?
An inspection is required at commissioning, periodically and when selling a home. What exactly does the inspector check, and which documents should be ready?
Splitting up your circuits: how many sockets on one circuit?
Too many points on one circuit is a classic inspection remark. How do you divide lighting, sockets and heavy appliances sensibly?
What does an electrical inspection cost, and how do you avoid a second visit?
The inspection itself is usually the smallest cost. The real bill comes from re-inspections and repairs, most of which good preparation avoids.
Non-compliant inspection: what now?
A negative report is not a disaster, but it is a list of homework. Here is how to read it, prioritise the faults and prepare the re-inspection.
Earthing and equipotential bonding: the basis of a safe installation
Without proper earthing, even the best RCD will not work as intended. Learn what AREI requires for earth resistance, conductor sizes and equipotential bonding.
The electrical inspection when selling a home
Selling a house or apartment? An inspection report has to accompany the deed. What is checked, who pays, and what happens if the installation is not compliant?
Making a single-line diagram without a drawing program
No CAD licence, no installation, no 200-page manual. Here is how to build a complete diagram straight from your browser.
Residual-current protection: 30 mA and 300 mA, what goes where?
The residual-current device is one of your most important protections against fire and electric shock. But when is 300 mA enough, and where is a 30 mA RCD required?
The electrical symbols on your diagram, explained
Breakers, RCDs, two-way switches, dimmers: every component has its own symbol. An overview of the signs you meet most often.
Drawing the position diagram: floor plan, symbols and circuit numbers
The position diagram tells the inspector where everything is. How detailed should that floor plan be, and what information really belongs on it?
What is a single-line diagram and why do you need one?
The single-line diagram is the map of your electrical installation: it shows every circuit, every protective device and every appliance. Without it, you will not pass inspection.