Gone are the days when an electrician’s job focused solely on running power lines and wiring circuit breakers. Today’s homes are interconnected ecosystems where lighting responds to voice commands, thermostats learn occupant preferences, and security systems send real-time alerts to smartphones.
This smart home revolution means that electricians must now understand both traditional electrical systems and the network cabling infrastructure that makes modern automation possible.
In this post, we explore how smart home technology is reshaping electrical work, why network cabling knowledge is essential, and how you can prepare for this evolving landscape.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How Smart Home Technology is Changing Electrical Work
- Why Network Cabling Knowledge is Essential
- Real-World Applications for Electricians
- How Electrician Training Prepares You for Smart Home Work
HOW SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING ELECTRICAL WORK
Smart technologies are no longer niche upgrades reserved for high-end homes. Today, everything from doorbells to refrigerators connects to the internet. Voice assistants control lighting scenes. App-based systems manage home temperature and energy consumption. Homeowners expect seamless integration, instant responsiveness, and reliable connectivity.
For electricians, this means that installing switches and outlets is only part of the job. Modern homes require structured wiring pathways that support:
- Smart switches and dimmers
- Connected thermostats
- App-controlled security cameras
- Whole-home automation hubs
- Integrated audio-visual systems
- EV chargers tied to energy management platforms
What used to be a purely electrical task—running power to a device or appliance—has expanded to include concerns about data flow, bandwidth, and how that device communicates with the rest of the home.
“These days, electrical and data are joining forces. Power-over-Ethernet is starting to proliferate through almost every system that used to be only electrical,” says Herzing instructor Don DeLuca. He is the founder of DeLuca Cabling and has worked in the industry for 30 years.
“You used to install an electrical light switch and that was it. Now there are a lot more smart homes and smart buildings.”
The Overlap Between Electrical and Data Systems
Traditionally, electricians handled high-voltage systems while IT professionals oversaw networking. But smart home systems blur the line between the two. Devices such as smart light switches, home security sensors, Wi-Fi access points, and IP cameras need both power and data.
The trend is huge in commercial buildings and high-rises, explains Don. As one example: “I have a friend who moved into a condo and the hallway lights have motion detectors in them. So they are 20 per cent lit all the time, but when you walk near them, they go up to 100 per cent. This is something that can be controlled both by just motion detection and electrical, but it could also be data, either wired or Wi-Fi.”
This overlap creates new responsibilities:
- Choosing the correct type of low-voltage cabling
- Planning network-friendly pathways through walls and ceilings
- Ensuring compatibility between power loads and communication needs
- Installing equipment to support wireless coverage throughout a home
In short, today’s homeowners rely on electricians not just for electricity, but for connectivity.
WHY NETWORK CABLING KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL
Even wireless smart homes rely on a robust wired backbone. Smart hubs, routers, Ethernet switches, and power-over-Ethernet (PoE) devices all depend on properly installed data cables. More smart devices than ever run on PoE, including:
- Security cameras
- Keyless door locks
- Touchscreen control panels
- Smart lighting controllers
- Intercom and access systems
For these devices, one cable delivers both power and data, making installation efficient—but only if the electrician understands network standards, cable types, PoE specifications, and load requirements.
“For instance, you might replace light bulbs with smart light bulbs. How are those going to be controlled? Do they get network connection with a network cable? Do they get Wi-Fi? If it’s Wi-Fi, how far can it reach?” says Don.
“If the person installing it doesn’t know the limitations, they can’t properly install a network. And the guys that are installing the network, if they don’t understand the scope of the electrical, they might not install the network properly. So it works both ways.”
Low-Voltage Data Wiring Has Its Own Rules
Low-voltage cabling—such as Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A—behaves differently from traditional electrical wiring. Proper installation requires attention to bend radius, maximum cable length, signal interference, grounding, and termination techniques.
A poorly installed data cable can lead to:
- Slow network connections
- Unreliable smart devices
- Intermittent system failures
- Reduced wireless coverage
Homeowners might describe these as “my smart lights flicker” or “the app won’t connect”, and they’ll often turn to the electrician for answers. Understanding low-voltage wiring helps you deliver smart home systems that are reliable from day one.
Electricians Must Troubleshoot Connectivity and Power Issues
As homes get smarter, homeowners increasingly expect electricians to diagnose both electrical and network-related issues. For example:
- A camera that loses connection may have enough power but insufficient data bandwidth
- A smart switch might fail because it’s on a network with weak Wi-Fi signal
- A thermostat may reboot due to low-voltage wiring faults, not electrical issues
Troubleshooting these systems requires a solid grasp of how electrical and data infrastructures support each other. Electricians who can diagnose both sides of the equation are in high demand.
“Electrical contractors have been calling looking for what they call ‘hybrids’ because they want to expand their data division. Almost every electrical contractor I know, whether union or non-union, has a data division because a computer is going to have a data port and an electrical port,” says Don.
“If you’re only an electrician, you’ll go there, run the wires, and go home. And if you’re only data, you’ll run the wires and go home. But if you can do both, you’ll have far more opportunities.”
REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS FOR ELECTRICIANS
The practical applications of combined electrical and network cabling expertise are extensive and growing.
Smart Lighting Systems
Modern smart lighting goes far beyond dimmer switches. Today’s systems involve networked LED fixtures that can change colour temperature, respond to occupancy sensors, adjust based on time of day, and integrate with voice assistants.
Smart Thermostats and HVAC Automation
Smart thermostats and HVAC systems have become standard features in energy-conscious homes. These devices require connections to heating and cooling systems (electrical work) while also needing network access to enable remote control, weather integration, and learning capabilities.
Home Security and Surveillance Systems
Smart security systems integrate door and window sensors, motion detectors, glass break sensors, smart locks, video doorbells, and surveillance cameras into unified networks. Each component requires power, and most require data connections for communication with central panels and cloud services.
Integration With Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and IoT Networks
Modern homes rely on a mixture of connection types:
- Wi-Fi for mobile devices and general smart automation
- Ethernet for high-reliability devices and wired backbones
- IoT protocols such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and Matter for connected sensors and controllers
Electricians are frequently responsible for ensuring proper placement of access points, running the Ethernet lines that back up wireless networks, and connecting IoT hubs to power and data sources. Without proper cabling, even the most advanced smart devices won’t work as intended.
HOW ELECTRICIAN TRAINING PREPARES YOU FOR SMART HOME WORK
The good news? Aspiring electricians can build these skills through targeted training programs.
Herzing College offers a combined electrician and network cabling training program that covers the essential skills of both trades. Students gain experience with:
- Laying out and installing electrical wiring and control devices
- Pulling and terminating Cat5e/Cat6 cables
- Installing fiber-optic cable
- Building electrical circuits
- Wiring smart switches and controllers
- Integrating electrical and low-voltage panels
- Configuring and testing connected systems
“I start off the course with home phones. And people say, why do we want to use home phones when everybody uses their cellphone? But that is the foundation of all communications,” says Don.
“A student will start with how phones are run in a house. Once they get that whole concept, then they go to an office where there are 100 phones. And then we convert that into voice over IP phones. And then finally we go into Wi-Fi security cameras, fiber optics, and the most advanced stuff we can do today.”
This hands-on practice prepares you to confidently handle both the power and data demands of modern homes.
BECOME ADEPT AT SMART HOUSE ELECTRICAL WIRING
Want to learn two trades in one program and double your job options? Herzing’s electrician + network cabling program can have you ready for the workforce in just 42 weeks. Upon graduation, you can opt to pursue an electrician apprenticeship or go straight to work as a network cabling technician.
Still have questions? Reach out to our admissions team. An advisor can go through your career goals and provide information about courses, costs, application procedures, financial aid options, and more.
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