5 Electrical Upgrades for Your Home Office

Here are 5 electrical upgrades for your home office A work-from-home setup surged in popularity for one reason we’re all eerily familiar with – the pandemic. Making do with what we have at home to build a space conducive to productivity is no easy feat. And to be blunt, a makeshift home office has the makings of a productivity nightmare. From cluttered cables to poor lighting, plenty of distractions will hinder your work-from-home experience.

When creating an efficient and productive home office, the first things on your mind are a souped-up computer, a super comfy chair, and a spacious desk. As important as these items are, one aspect often gets overlooked: the electrical setup.

Truth be told, having the right electrical upgrades makes all the difference in creating a functional and safe home office environment. Here are five upgrades you can’t miss out on.

1 – Surge Protectors

Surge protectors safeguard your electronics from voltage spikes due to power outages, storms, or electrical faults – all of which can severely damage your equipment. Without a surge protector, your valuable electronics, i.e., computers, printers, and routers, are vulnerable to these unpredictable power surges. The resulting damage can be in the form of impaired performance to complete device failure. The last thing you need is a potential data loss and expensive repair or replacement costs.

With a surge protector in place, your electronics are shielded from these voltage spikes. They work by limiting the voltage supplied to an electric device. This is possible by blocking or shorting to ground the unnecessary voltage above a safe threshold. As such, only the necessary and safe voltage reaches your devices.

Most surge protectors come with multiple outlets, so you can plug in several devices simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple wall sockets and helping keep your workspace tidy. So, whether for safety, longevity, or organization, a surge protector is an indispensable upgrade for your home office.

2 – Dedicated Circuits

When it comes to power usage, the home office is no different from any other room in your house. It may be tempting to plug multiple devices into a single circuit. However, this increases the risk of overloading and tripping the circuit breaker – not ideal for productivity.
A dedicated circuit is a designated electrical line solely for one device or appliance. In a home office setting, this ensures that your computer and other essential equipment have their dedicated circuit, reducing the risk of tripping the breaker. It also eliminates potential conflicts with other appliances drawing power from the same circuit.
Dedicated circuits are especially important for high-power-consuming devices, i.e., computers, printers, and scanners, as they require a steady supply of electricity to perform efficiently. Don’t let a circuit overload interrupt your workflow – consider installing dedicated circuits for your home office.
Pro Tip: Have a licensed electrician assess your home’s electrical setup to determine the number of dedicated circuits necessary.

3 – Proper Lighting

Lighting is crucial in any workspace, and the home office is no exception. Inadequate lighting not only strains your eyes and causes headaches it also results in decreased productivity and discomfort. On the other hand, too much light can create glare on your computer screen and cause eye fatigue.
Natural light should be your priority when setting up your home office. Not only is it beneficial for your overall well-being, but it also helps reduce electricity costs. That said, relying on natural light alone may not always be feasible or sufficient. Supplementing with artificial lighting is essential to guarantee proper illumination of your workspace.

Think about adding overhead lights or task lighting, such as desk lamps, since they’re essential upgrades to guarantee adequate lighting. Adjustable lighting options afford flexibility and allow you to customize the brightness depending on the time of day and your individual needs.

You may also want to consider smart lighting, a forward-thinking solution that ups the ante for proper lighting. Not only does it offer energy efficiency, but it also provides more control over your workspace conditions, aiding productivity and comfort.

Smart LED bulbs, for instance, consume much less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan. You can have them adjusted to produce different colours and intensities of light – a feature that effectively reduces eye fatigue and creates a soothing work environment.

With a smart lighting setup, you get to program your lights to adjust according to the time of day or your work schedule. For example, you could set your lights to gradually brighten as the day progresses or dim when it’s time to take a break.

4 – Cable Management

Cable clutter is common in home offices, with multiple devices requiring power cords, ethernet cables, and other wiring. Not only does it look unsightly, but it can also be a tripping hazard. Did you know that frequently tripping on those cables and wires could damage them, potentially leading to safety hazards or untimely replacements?

Putting your money on cable management solutions, i.e., cable ties, cord clips, and cable sleeves, is a smart way to keep your home office organized and reduce the risk of accidents. Perhaps you think it’s unnecessary, but don’t wait until a cable mishap costs you more than it would have taken to organize them.

Pro Tip: Why not invest in a wireless printer or router to reduce the number of cables on your desk? It’s a common upgrade, especially in cramped spaces with little room for excess wiring.

5 – Backup Power

Power outages are inevitable, and the last thing you need is to lose all your progress on important work due to an unexpected outage. That’s where backup power makes a ton of sense. Go ahead and buy one of those uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units to provide emergency backup power for your devices during a power outage. These devices act as an intermediary between your electronic equipment and the main power source, ensuring seamless power transition during an outage.

When buying a UPS unit, put a premium on its capacity – how much battery power it can hold and how long it can supply backup power. A larger capacity unit will keep your devices running longer, so you have enough time to save your work and safely shut down your electronics.

Go for a UPS unit with features like an automatic voltage regulation (AVR) that regulates the incoming voltage and protects your devices from spikes and dips in electricity. This feature is especially useful in areas prone to power surges or fluctuations.

Final Thoughts On 5 Electrical Upgrades For Your Home Office

You know by now that a functional and productive home office is more than just picking the right furniture and setting it up in a spare room. To truly optimize your workspace, focus on the electrical upgrades we’ve outlined. They’ll cost you more than the basic setup, but investing in them will save you lots of time and inconvenience in the long run.

If you are looking to upgrade the electrical in your home office, give Gladiator Electric a call or fill out our online form.