The categories relevant to a fit-out
| Category | Items | Band we observe |
|---|---|---|
| LED lamps and battens | Bulbs, tubes, battens | ₹110 – 1,400 |
| Downlights and spots | Recessed and surface fittings | ₹420 – 2,600 |
| Panels and linear | Flat panels, profile lights | ₹800 – 3,200 |
| Ceiling and decorative fans | Standard, BLDC, designer | ₹1,800 – 22,000 |
| Switches and wiring accessories | Modular plates, sockets | ₹90 – 900 per module |
| Wires and cables | House wiring, FR and FRLS grades | ₹1,800 – 5,500 per 90 m coil |
| Protection devices | MCBs, RCCBs, distribution boards | ₹450 – 6,500 |
Buying observations only. Wire and protection device pricing moves with copper prices through the year.
Fans: the decision left off most lighting plans
Every Indian room has a fan, every fan is in the middle of the ceiling, and almost every reflected ceiling plan we are sent by other designers has forgotten it.
- A fan needs 2.4 m clearance from the floor to the blades and about 300 mm from the blade tip to any wall or beam. In a flat with a false ceiling, the drop reduces the available height and this must be checked.
- A fan in the centre of a room conflicts with a central cove or a chandelier. Decide early, because moving the fan hook point after the ceiling is boarded means opening it up.
- BLDC fans consume substantially less than conventional induction motors and are quieter. The premium is typically ₹1,500–4,000 per fan and pays back over a few years in a room used daily.
- Blade sweep should match the room: 1,200 mm for a standard bedroom, 1,400 mm for a larger living room. An undersized fan runs faster and noisier for the same effect.
- Fan regulators are a switch-plate decision. Decide whether they are modular regulators on the plate or remote-controlled at the fan before the plates are ordered.
Wiring, protection and what actually matters for safety
- Circuit design comes before fitting selection. Separate circuits for lighting, general sockets, air conditioning and high-load kitchen appliances, each protected by an appropriately rated MCB.
- An RCCB on the distribution board is the device that protects people rather than equipment. In a Mumbai flat with a humid bathroom and a kitchen, it is essential, not optional.
- Wire sizing follows the load and the run length: typically 1.5 sq mm for lighting, 2.5 sq mm for general sockets, 4 sq mm and above for air conditioners and high-load appliances.
- Use FR or FRLS grade wire in concealed conduit. In a building where a fire would spread through a shaft, low-smoke cable is a reasonable specification.
- Leave 20–25% spare ways in the distribution board. Every flat adds load over ten years and a full board forces an expensive upgrade later.
Coordinating lighting with joinery
- Cabinet and wardrobe lighting needs a driver location and a switching method decided with the joinery, not after it.
- Profile lighting in a cove needs the cove dimension designed around the profile, with a minimum depth so the LED does not scallop on the adjacent surface.
- Mirror lighting in a bathroom needs a power provision behind the mirror and an appropriate ingress rating.
- Under-counter kitchen lighting should sit towards the front edge of the wall unit, not the back, or it lights the splashback rather than the counter.
- Every driver and transformer needs an accessible location. This is the most common omission in otherwise good electrical drawings.
Our independence
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We are not a dealer, distributor or channel partner for Havells or for any other electrical manufacturer, and no brand influences our specification. We buy through Mumbai suppliers at market rates and pass through invoices where we procure on a client’s behalf. All figures here are market observations.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy lighting, fans and switches from one brand?+
It simplifies procurement and gives visual consistency on the switch plates, which are the most visible electrical item in a flat. It is not necessary. Specify the lighting on photometric merit and let the plates and fans follow, rather than the other way round.
Are BLDC fans worth the premium?+
In rooms used daily, yes. They consume considerably less power than conventional induction-motor fans and run more quietly. The premium of ₹1,500–4,000 per fan pays back over a few years and the quietness is noticeable immediately in a bedroom.
Is Greenbox a Havells dealer?+
No. We hold no dealership, distributorship or channel relationship with Havells or with any other electrical manufacturer. We specify on merit, buy on the open market and pass through supplier invoices where we procure for clients.
How many circuits should a 2BHK have?+
As a minimum: separate lighting circuits per zone, general socket circuits, a dedicated circuit for each air conditioner, and dedicated high-load circuits for the kitchen appliances. Plus an RCCB and 20–25% spare ways in the board. The exact count follows the load calculation, not a rule of thumb.
Where should the drivers for cove lighting go?+
Somewhere reachable without opening the ceiling — above a removable panel, inside a wardrobe loft or in a service cupboard, grouped and labelled. Drivers fail before LED strips do, and a driver buried above fixed gypsum turns a small fault into a repair job.