Current Home Build Progress

[BraveSirRobbin]

I'm helping my friend with his home build and am in the process of installing a very modest set of security and home automation capabilities. The main objective was to get a LOT of wiring in place so he can later upgrade to desired features once funds became available (lighting, theater, etc...).


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Dedicated Wiring Closet


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Dedicated Wiring Closet (Interior)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk M1 Gold Enclosure & Wiring (22 awg Belden stranded two and four conductor)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Top of Closet (Wiring Entrance)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Coax Patch Panels


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Network/Phone Patch Panels


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Switch Plate (Voice Announcements On/Off Switch, Glass Break Sensor, and Red/Grn LED (shows garage door's status)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Garage Sensors (Door Sensors, Speaker, Siren, Motion Detector)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Garage Sensors (Closeup)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Master Bedroom Speaker, Motion Detector, & Siren

 

[Xpendable]

Aaaa... Posts like these make me drool!

 

[Steve]

What size is that conduit? It sure looks like 2 or 3" in the picture but I thought the can only had up to 1.75" knockouts. Did you drill a larger hole?

 

[RandyKnight]

Looks great! Thanks for posting that. It helps me visualize what some have been saying regarding how to set up my new house.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

It helps me visualize what some have been saying regarding how to set up my new house.

We chose a "finished" plywood method instead of a conventional structured wiring solution. I felt many of the items (to be placed inside) were just to large. Still have to install a separate Elk battery backed power supply (in its own metal box), two Elk power distribution (fused) modules, computer "table" (will be placed across the back wall about 30" up from the floor), analog to digital interface, small audio "mixer" board, Elk Amp, automation computer, monitor (small lcd), cable modem, firewall, hub (at least 18 ports), and later shelves for future stereo/audio distribution equipment, temp sensor, power monitoring sensors, etc...

I like the fact that there is a LOT of rear and side upper wall space that is not "seen" when you open the closet. There is also a lot of space on the two side walls.

I was also thinking about running wiring channel between major devices, but may just use conduit or just "surface run" the wiring. As long as it's neat I don't see a problem with doing that (nobody will see inside this closet anyways other than us).

I need to figure out some cooling method. May just place a vent above the door (through the drywall) and a circulating fan (draw hot air out that top vent, door's bottom gap draws cool air in, sort of like a PC case does).

 

[Spanky]

Dang, you need a bigger box. Where is the electronics going?

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I was asked how I was planning on implementing the voice announcement switches (controlling the non-alarm voice announcements) in the family room and master bedroom above.

I just wired a toggle switch (SPST) to a zone and set that zone for non-alarm, normally closed (no EOL). So I have the family room switch on one zone and the master bedroom switch on another zone. I then made a few rules so the Elk knows what to do based on the status of those switches (OPEN vs. SECURE).

Either switch can be set to "OPEN" and the voices are disabled, but BOTH switches have to be "SECURE" before the announcements can be activated. Also, when this happens a voice announcement stating "Speaker is activated" is heard to confirm that both switches are in the correct position. Thus if you switch the master bedroom voice switch and DO NOT hear that announcement (and it is between the hours of 8:00AM and 8:30PM), you know you have to turn the family room switch on as well (and of course the other way around if you turn the family room switch on and do not hear that voice announcement).

A computer will also display this needed switch logic, but without the time element. This way it is known that the switches are in the correct position come morning (i.e. after 8:00 AM) just in case they are switched in the evening after 8:30 PM.

Details are below. Note that I didn't test the "time" element of the rules yet (tested all else with the time "and" constraints eliminated from the rules).

The easy way to do this would be via a keypad linc; but, there will be no initial lighting/PLC automation system in this house right away.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I'm helping my friend with his home build and am in the process of installing a very modest set of security and home automation capabilities. The main objective was to get a LOT of wiring in place so he can later upgrade to desired features once funds became available (lighting, theater, etc...).


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Dedicated Wiring Closet


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Dedicated Wiring Closet (Interior)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk M1 Gold Enclosure & Wiring (22 awg Belden stranded two and four conductor)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Top of Closet (Wiring Entrance)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Coax Patch Panels


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Network/Phone Patch Panels


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Switch Plate (Voice Announcements On/Off Switch, Glass Break Sensor, and Red/Grn LED (shows garage door's status)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Garage Sensors (Door Sensors, Speaker, Siren, Motion Detector)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Garage Sensors (Closeup)


(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Master Bedroom Speaker, Motion Detector, & Siren

Hi BSR,

The pictures are so cool! It gave me an idea on where to mount mine especially for the garage. However, do you have a picture when there were no drywalls yet? I would like to see how wires were hanging on the gang box.

Excellent job!

Oh, I have another question specifically the picture 'Top of Closet (Wiring Entrance)
'. This picture, http://cocoontech.com/images/howto/weshouse/closettop.jpg

Near the top, just right of the pipe, I see a circular metal there. The metal where we see the cat5 cables are coming out. What are those called?

Thanks!

Ronneil

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Sorry, but I don't have any pre-drywall pics. We sort of got messed up with the build schedule and the drywallers came a week earlier than I thought so I didn't have a chance to get any photos.

The wires just came through the top of the boxes though and were coiled up inside. We used deep single gang boxes. You know you have the deep ones because they are about the same depth as the two by four studs.

My friend just bought some one inch pipe threaded interfaces for those entrances for the main cables in the ceiling. I really don't know what they are called, but they were nothing fancy and the hardware store had them.

He also had a "hole saw" set which made nice cutouts for these flanges (he does a lot of woodworking).

If that didn't answer your questions let me know and I'll do some more digging for information !

Regards,

BSR

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Sorry, but I don't have any pre-drywall pics. We sort of got messed up with the build schedule and the drywallers came a week earlier than I thought so I didn't have a chance to get any photos.

The wires just came through the top of the boxes though and were coiled up inside. We used deep single gang boxes. You know you have the deep ones because they are about the same depth as the two by four studs.

My friend just bought some one inch pipe threaded interfaces for those entrances for the main cables in the ceiling. I really don't know what they are called, but they were nothing fancy and the hardware store had them.

He also had a "hole saw" set which made nice cutouts for these flanges (he does a lot of woodworking).

If that didn't answer your questions let me know and I'll do some more digging for information !

Regards,

BSR

Yep, I got it.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

A little off topic, but I have to finish a lot of wiring inside his house (no power/Air Conditioning yet) this Friday. Check out the weather forcast for that day below :lol: .

 

[Mike]

But it's a dry heat!

 

[JohnBullard]

BSR,

Recommend you at least take a generator and fan with you! :lol:

 

[Steve]

But it's a dry heat!

Sorry, but heat is heat! Lived in Fla for > 30 years so I know what 'moist' heat is and I've been to places like Arizona when its been > 100 degrees and everyone says that. But the bottom line is hot is hot and you will burn and sweat your buns off in either.

 

[RandyKnight]

I feel your pain. We start framing next week and that should put us into pre-wire in August. In Dallas. Not looking forward to it.