Cable Routes and Circuit Groups: Plan Before You Pull a Single Wire
Before anyone pulls a cable, it's worth mapping out on paper where the routes will run and how they split into circuit groups at the consumer unit. This is a planning guide — the actual pulling and connecting is always a certified electrician's job.
How to plan cable routes and circuit groups
Map rooms to loads
For each room, note what it needs — lighting, sockets, higher-power devices (oven, hob, EV charger, heat pump). That's the foundation for everything that follows.
Group points into circuits
Separate lighting from sockets, and give each high-power appliance its own dedicated circuit. The exact circuit count and breaker ratings are always confirmed by an electrician based on the real load.
Plan the physical routes
Sketch where conduits and trays will run, following the bend-radius principle (always per that specific cable/conduit manufacturer's specs), and avoid overfilling a channel.
Separate power from data and leave spare capacity
Plan separate routes for power and for data/low-voltage cabling (KNX, network), and leave spare conduit for future systems — cheap now, expensive once the walls are finished.
What to know about routes and groups
planning steps before work starts
From mapping rooms to as-built documentation — a process that prevents surprises later.
Route power and data separately
Power cabling and data/low-voltage cabling (KNX, UTP) are best run in separate conduits to avoid interference.
Bend radius — per manufacturer, not by eye
How sharply you can bend a cable is always set by that specific cable and conduit manufacturer's documentation — you won't find an invented number here.
Spare conduit is cheap insurance
An extra empty conduit for a future KNX line, network cable, or sensor costs almost nothing at the planning stage — and is expensive and disruptive once the finishes are done.
The physical route maps to a logical group
Every conduit or tray eventually feeds a specific circuit on the consumer unit's schedule — planning the route means planning what the panel will look like too.
Labeling and as-built documentation
Every cable needs a clear label, and once work is done you need a diagram reflecting what was actually installed — without it, every future repair starts with guesswork.
What's included in a consultation
We help you plan routes and groups for your project — no pressure to buy.
- {'t': 'Room and load walkthrough', 'd': "We go through what's planned in each room — lighting, sockets, high-power devices."}
- {'t': 'Circuit grouping guidance', 'd': 'We help you think through how to split points into circuits before handing a list to an electrician.'}
- {'t': 'Route layout review', 'd': 'Where separate conduits for power and data make sense, where to leave spare capacity.'}
- {'t': 'Pointers to the right rules', 'd': 'Where to look — manufacturer documentation, IEC standards, local wiring rules.'}
- {'t': 'A clear next step', 'd': "We'll recommend when and who to contact — a certified electrician or designer."}
Frequently asked questions
How much spare conduit should I leave for future systems?
There's no universal number — it depends on your project's scope and the consumer unit's size. What matters is the principle: leave at least something, because it's cheap now and expensive later.
Why doesn't this page give an exact bend-radius figure?
Because it changes by cable and conduit type and manufacturer — the correct value always comes from that specific product's documentation, not a generic table online.
Do power and data cables really need separate conduits?
It's a recommended principle that reduces the risk of interference, especially on longer runs or near high-power circuits. The exact solution for your case is confirmed by a designer or electrician.
Does this guide replace an electrician's design?
No. This is planning and mapping help so you understand the process and can talk to an electrician more confidently — the actual cable pulling, connecting, and confirming circuit ratings is always done by a certified professional.
What is a consumer unit circuit schedule?
A document listing every circuit in the panel, what it serves, and including spare ways for the future. It needs updating whenever circuits change — it's the logical 'other end' of your route plan.
Not sure how to plan routes for your project?
Book a consultation — we'll go through your rooms, circuits, and routes together and flag what to confirm before work starts.