thejammonster
New Member
Hello All,
First post here after registering and lurking for a bit. I read through the 'Wiring Your House 101' guide but it seems to be somewhat outdated and didn't help to clarify much for me. I apologize if I'm not following the rules in any way! But now down to business...
I am building a new home this year and I am going to the builder showroom this Thursday to pick out my options and finishes. I would like to go in with a clear and concise plan for wiring so that I get everything I would like and don't need to fish wires through the wall at any point in the foreseeable future. I don't know who the builder uses as a contractor yet but they seem pretty adamant in not letting me pick my own. I plan to meet with the contractor once I have their info later this week.
Right now I am not concerned with the type of equipment I will use down the road (unless there is vendor-specific wiring), I only want to have the foundation of wiring in place. I plan to start with only an Ethernet switch and a router for my LAN and buying the automation equipment later.
Details:
2,400 sq ft
2 story, slab foundation
3 bed, 2.5 bath
Rooms:
Downstairs - living room, kitchen, dining room, half bath, 2 car garage, covered patio
Upstairs - master suite (bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet), game room/loft, spare bedroom, office (3rd bedroom), full bathroom, laundry room, utility closet (hot water heater & HVAC)
What I would like (eventually):
Ethernet LAN
Whole-house audio
Distributed video - on the fence on this one now that most providers are offering whole-home DVR systems, but having wiring in place can't hurt
Security - cameras, door/window sensors, fire, maybe flood sensors
Automated lighting
Automated blinds/drapes
Various automation - garage door, deadbolts, etc.
Landscape lighting
Sprinkler system
Gas fire pit
Phone (POTS) - for resale purposes only
What I know I need:
Cat6 drops - lots of them
Speaking pre-wiring
Neutral wires at all switches
Deep junction boxes
Again, I will not have any equipment installed right away other than home networking gear so I am only concerned with the wiring being in place for future use. I think that a lot of this can be accomplished using Cat6 cable but the things I am not sure about are things like the lighting, security cameras and sensors, blinds/drapes, and so on. Here are the most to-the-point questions I can think of.
Ethernet LAN:
Is there any need for Cat5e if I have the option of everything being Cat6?
Is there anything Cat5e can't currently do that Cat6 can?
Whole-house audio:
Does a zone typically have all channels wired back to the control room (i.e. 5.1 surround) or is there just a single feed and the channels are broken out in that zone?
Is copper wiring still the standard or are there new options?
Distributed video:
HDBaseT seems like the way to go here - thoughts?
Should Cat6 be all I need for this?
Security:
What kind of wiring is needed for sensors? Cameras?
Automated lighting:
Is anything special needed besides having neutral wires at all switches?
I didn't see it anywhere, but is the neutral wire required at the outlets, too?
Automated blinds/drapes:
What kind of wiring is needed for motorized blinds/drapes?
Is wiring besides power required?
Various automation:
What kind of wiring is needed for deadbolts, garage doors, etc?
Am I missing anything obvious that I didn't think of?
Landscape lighting:
Would this just interface with an automation controller like any other light?
Sprinkler system:
Would this typically have its own controller and is that typically compatible with existing automation systems?
Gas fire pit:
Anyone have experience with how this could work?
Phone (POTS):
Is this even worth doing these days?
I'm sorry that this ended up being a million questions. I would love to just use an installer in my area that knows these things but I think I will be handcuffed by the builder's contractor choice. The contract also states that no changes can be made after 3 days from choosing all of my options and finishes, which is why I need to know what to ask for up front.
Thanks in advance,
Will
First post here after registering and lurking for a bit. I read through the 'Wiring Your House 101' guide but it seems to be somewhat outdated and didn't help to clarify much for me. I apologize if I'm not following the rules in any way! But now down to business...
I am building a new home this year and I am going to the builder showroom this Thursday to pick out my options and finishes. I would like to go in with a clear and concise plan for wiring so that I get everything I would like and don't need to fish wires through the wall at any point in the foreseeable future. I don't know who the builder uses as a contractor yet but they seem pretty adamant in not letting me pick my own. I plan to meet with the contractor once I have their info later this week.
Right now I am not concerned with the type of equipment I will use down the road (unless there is vendor-specific wiring), I only want to have the foundation of wiring in place. I plan to start with only an Ethernet switch and a router for my LAN and buying the automation equipment later.
Details:
2,400 sq ft
2 story, slab foundation
3 bed, 2.5 bath
Rooms:
Downstairs - living room, kitchen, dining room, half bath, 2 car garage, covered patio
Upstairs - master suite (bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet), game room/loft, spare bedroom, office (3rd bedroom), full bathroom, laundry room, utility closet (hot water heater & HVAC)
What I would like (eventually):
Ethernet LAN
Whole-house audio
Distributed video - on the fence on this one now that most providers are offering whole-home DVR systems, but having wiring in place can't hurt
Security - cameras, door/window sensors, fire, maybe flood sensors
Automated lighting
Automated blinds/drapes
Various automation - garage door, deadbolts, etc.
Landscape lighting
Sprinkler system
Gas fire pit
Phone (POTS) - for resale purposes only
What I know I need:
Cat6 drops - lots of them
Speaking pre-wiring
Neutral wires at all switches
Deep junction boxes
Again, I will not have any equipment installed right away other than home networking gear so I am only concerned with the wiring being in place for future use. I think that a lot of this can be accomplished using Cat6 cable but the things I am not sure about are things like the lighting, security cameras and sensors, blinds/drapes, and so on. Here are the most to-the-point questions I can think of.
Ethernet LAN:
Is there any need for Cat5e if I have the option of everything being Cat6?
Is there anything Cat5e can't currently do that Cat6 can?
Whole-house audio:
Does a zone typically have all channels wired back to the control room (i.e. 5.1 surround) or is there just a single feed and the channels are broken out in that zone?
Is copper wiring still the standard or are there new options?
Distributed video:
HDBaseT seems like the way to go here - thoughts?
Should Cat6 be all I need for this?
Security:
What kind of wiring is needed for sensors? Cameras?
Automated lighting:
Is anything special needed besides having neutral wires at all switches?
I didn't see it anywhere, but is the neutral wire required at the outlets, too?
Automated blinds/drapes:
What kind of wiring is needed for motorized blinds/drapes?
Is wiring besides power required?
Various automation:
What kind of wiring is needed for deadbolts, garage doors, etc?
Am I missing anything obvious that I didn't think of?
Landscape lighting:
Would this just interface with an automation controller like any other light?
Sprinkler system:
Would this typically have its own controller and is that typically compatible with existing automation systems?
Gas fire pit:
Anyone have experience with how this could work?
Phone (POTS):
Is this even worth doing these days?
I'm sorry that this ended up being a million questions. I would love to just use an installer in my area that knows these things but I think I will be handcuffed by the builder's contractor choice. The contract also states that no changes can be made after 3 days from choosing all of my options and finishes, which is why I need to know what to ask for up front.
Thanks in advance,
Will