Framing in the wall to hold a touchscreen...

[wuench]

I would like to know what method is best that would hold up under the NEC. It seems to me that while all the above installs are very attractive, it would be dangerous to have open electronics and transformers inside a wall. I have a hard time believing they would stand up under code. The last thing you would want is to have your house burn down and the insurance company to decline to pay due to you installing a flat panel in one of the ways above.

I think, the best option would probably be to go with a solution designed to go into the wall, like a touchtronix, elk ts07, etc. If I were to mount an ELO etc. open frame, I think for it to pass code it most likely would need to be enclosed in a metal enclosure of some sort, and run off of AC directly wired into the enclosure with a vent of some sort in the wall.

Since you are working with new construction it would be a good idea to get some advice from your electrician and local inspector. Even though they are usually not up to speed on the latest in HA, it couldn't hurt to ask. And if you do consult with them please post anything you find out.

 

[beelzerob]

Well, while it's just in general a much smarter idea to go with code at all times.....our touch screens are slated for well after movein. So, the inspector isn't going to see anything in that area that is going to cause him any concern.

 

[keepersg]

I would like to know what method is best that would hold up under the NEC. It seems to me that while all the above installs are very attractive, it would be dangerous to have open electronics and transformers inside a wall. I have a hard time believing they would stand up under code. The last thing you would want is to have your house burn down and the insurance company to decline to pay due to you installing a flat panel in one of the ways above.

I think, the best option would probably be to go with a solution designed to go into the wall, like a touchtronix, elk ts07, etc. If I were to mount an ELO etc. open frame, I think for it to pass code it most likely would need to be enclosed in a metal enclosure of some sort, and run off of AC directly wired into the enclosure with a vent of some sort in the wall.

Since you are working with new construction it would be a good idea to get some advice from your electrician and local inspector. Even though they are usually not up to speed on the latest in HA, it couldn't hurt to ask. And if you do consult with them please post anything you find out.

My plan is to use a Leviton 14" enclosure to mount the touch screens. You can get them without the cover. The have a cut out for a standard electrical box which you can wire in a code compliant fashion. There's enough extra room for a the Elos power brick, a thin client (I'm using Wyse 9235's). I think you could fit an itx board behind the TS. The last detail that I'm working on is a hidden fastener for the frame that will allow easy removal to get to the controls.

 

[simonmason]

What about speaker? I don't think the ELO touchscreen has a built in speaker? Has anyone mounted a speaker along side their touchscreen in the wall, and if so, how did they go about it? Thanks.

 

[GraysonPeddie]

You can just mount an in-wall speaker next to the touchscreen, although I'm not sure if there's a plug-in terminal to phone jack that hooks up to the Mini-ITX motherboard (maybe just a very small amplifier that fits inside the enclosure? I will have to do a search for that...).

 

[simonmason]

I wonder if any of the people that have mounted these screens in the wall have addressed this? Mounting a speaker next to the touchscreen is fine, but not elegant. I thought of putting it inside the wall, but that might be a little muffled. Maybe if I make the frame large enough I could put the speaker under the frame.

The other thing I thought of doing was to mount a small speaker in the ceiling directly over the space with the touchscreen.

 

[Ranger Digital]

I havent wanted a speaker with my HA touchscreens inwall.

 

[DavidL]

take a look at "SolidDrive" You can mount the tranducer to the back of the drywall for an invisible speaker.
InductionDynamics is the company.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

take a look at "SolidDrive" You can mount the tranducer to the back of the drywall for an invisible speaker.
InductionDynamics is the company.

I actually did a short blurb on them for one of my past CES reviews HERE. :angry: Watch the bass though as it will "shake" your walls a bit (shouldn't be a problem if used for voice announcements and such).

 

[Steve]

Yea, there is also the hidden Stealth Acoustics speakers but way overkill for just a touchscreen speaker. Alot depends on what it will be used for. I have a touch screen but no speaker. Announcements, etc happen thru Nuvo.

 

[simonmason]

I am using a Nuvo Essentia. Unfortunately it does not have a paging capability. I like the price/performance of the Nuvo. Are you using another model that does, and if so, which model? Thanks.

 

[Steve]

I am using a Nuvo Essentia. Unfortunately it does not have a paging capability. I like the price/performance of the Nuvo. Are you using another model that does, and if so, which model? Thanks.

Yes, I am using the Grand Concerto. You can still perhaps use your Essentia. You would have to do it all manually, like make your pc a source, then send commands (via whatever means you have - serial via a driver, or IR) to turn on the zone you want and switch to that source, then reverse it. If its just 1 speaker in the area you could probably also rig it up with a relay, so when pc wants to talk it interrupts Nuvo then resets. Not ideal, but it is cheap and uses a better speaker than a cheesy in wall one. But again it all depends on what you want from that speaker anyway.

 

[simonmason]

The Essentia does not provide a paging feature, which is a shame as the Russound and others do. I thought about turning on and off the zone but this is a little clumsy, especially when I have a setup that is 8 sources into 16 channels. This means I would need to inject the HomeSeer announcements into 8 different sources as any zone could be using any one of 8 sources. The local speaker is the best way to go, just need to figure out a clean way of doing this.