RandyKnight
Active Member
As some of you know, I'm in the process of building a house and wiring it up right. Started the prewire today and had a few questions:
1. In addition to the main server room, I've got 2 secondary wiring closet locations wtih small SW cans. My plan is to put and Elk DBH and Zone Extender and an Ethernet switch in each. That way I dont' have to home run EVERYTHING. So basically I'll have a hub and spokes kind of topology, with 3 hubs. This brings up a few issues:
Can I distribute RG6 in a similar manner to above or do I need to home run all of it to the location where the satellite feed will be coming in? What about voice?
I understand Elk temperature sensors all need to be home run so they can be on zones 1-16. Any other devices I need to do this with?
2. What do I need to run for electric door strikes? The ones I see online look like they just use 2 wires. Is Cat5e sufficient or do I need a larger guage wire. If Cat5 will work, my though is to use 1 Cat5 run for both the door contact and doorstrike on each exterior door.
3. I haven't completely settled on an Intercom system yet but am prewiring for one. Do most of them have their stations install in a double gang LV box? I'm thinking I can put a double gang box with a single C5 run to it (home run from the main SW locaation) and this should give me plenty of flexibility whatever I choose.
4. I see smarthome is carrying serveral blind/drapery automation solutions in their latest catalog so I may just call them, but has anybody worked with any of these? What should I run for that?
5. Anybody have experience with usit Cat5e for all your projector connections with baluns for S-Video, VGA, Component, etc.? That would certainly be easiest but I'm a bit concerned about performance.
6. Does the Elk flush mount keypad just use a double gang box? I want to put these near exterior doors with an external prox reader.
I'm sure there wil lbe more questions but this is a good start.
1. In addition to the main server room, I've got 2 secondary wiring closet locations wtih small SW cans. My plan is to put and Elk DBH and Zone Extender and an Ethernet switch in each. That way I dont' have to home run EVERYTHING. So basically I'll have a hub and spokes kind of topology, with 3 hubs. This brings up a few issues:
Can I distribute RG6 in a similar manner to above or do I need to home run all of it to the location where the satellite feed will be coming in? What about voice?
I understand Elk temperature sensors all need to be home run so they can be on zones 1-16. Any other devices I need to do this with?
2. What do I need to run for electric door strikes? The ones I see online look like they just use 2 wires. Is Cat5e sufficient or do I need a larger guage wire. If Cat5 will work, my though is to use 1 Cat5 run for both the door contact and doorstrike on each exterior door.
3. I haven't completely settled on an Intercom system yet but am prewiring for one. Do most of them have their stations install in a double gang LV box? I'm thinking I can put a double gang box with a single C5 run to it (home run from the main SW locaation) and this should give me plenty of flexibility whatever I choose.
4. I see smarthome is carrying serveral blind/drapery automation solutions in their latest catalog so I may just call them, but has anybody worked with any of these? What should I run for that?
5. Anybody have experience with usit Cat5e for all your projector connections with baluns for S-Video, VGA, Component, etc.? That would certainly be easiest but I'm a bit concerned about performance.
6. Does the Elk flush mount keypad just use a double gang box? I want to put these near exterior doors with an external prox reader.
I'm sure there wil lbe more questions but this is a good start.