Wiring new house (1 Viewer)

[ChrisB]

Does anybody know of a web site that I can go to get information on what wires to run for a new house? I am a Master electrican so doing the work is no problem, I just need the types of wires and locations to pull them to. Here is what I have in mind-
1. I am going to pull RG6 to all of my TV locations(maybe 2) along with a Cat5E.
2. I am going to pull Cat5E to all of my phone locations.
3. I will pull speaker wires to where I think that they will go and zig-zag the ones in the walls that I am not going to be putting speakers in right away on.
4. All wires will be home-run to the basement where I am planing on putting my equipment.
Now this is what I dont know what to pull to, I want to have a whole house IR system, meaning that I can use my remote in all the rooms, what kind of wire is used to IR sensors? What kind of box do these require, I am thinking a single gang box would be suffecient.
Any help would be appreciated, and if anybody has any electrical questions I would be glad to help!
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It was like that when I got here,
Chris B

 

[Phil A]

If you go to www.hometechsolutions.com they have lots of good information.

 

[Allan Yates]

Cat 5 is fine for IR signals for most runs. Go shielded if it's a very long run. Home run. Single gang box is fine for an IR receiver. See Xantech.
Other wiring ideas at: http://www.i2automation.com/wire.htm
Allan.
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Intelligent Interiors
http://www.i2automation.com
Sales, installation, service, and parts for:
Lighting, Home Automation, Security, Audio/Video, Home Theatre
Vantage, Crestron, Elan, Audio Request, Arrakis, Atlantic Technology, Sonance, Niles

 

[Tom Boucher]

Aside from the comercial there has anyone used any of those wiring products that are on that first site? I've looked at the FutureSmart line of products and they look nice and clean for a whole house Cable/Ethernet/Phone type setup.
has anyone actually used them? What makes them worth $1299 for an '8 Zone' one and what the heck is a zone?
The Futuresmart website has no docs up, just pics with and order button (yet no price) and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the investment.
Thanks
Tom
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[ChrisB]

Thanks for the replies guys, I was also wondering if any of you have had any luck with the whole house "video" stuff. Where I can set up my DVD player, stero, VCR, and anything else in one location, then use any of the sources anywhere in the house.

 

[Andrew Hornfeck]

I'm looking at just such a setup in MY new house, too. I'm looking at the Xantech, Niles and Russound products for IR, control pads, volume controls and speakers (Niles). As for video -- do your home runs and then you can populate the system as you need. Using the IR in combination with the video you can have (like I'm planning) control of a basement-located DSS and watch/control it from anywhere you've got a set and the IR receiver. Channel Plus makes video amplifiers, both with and without the IR "engine" but in my case I'm doing the hard-wired install for the IR. The manufacturers suggest 3-4C with sheilding optional. It all depends on the SPECIFICS! So as for the video distribution amp. In my new house the longest run will be

 

[MarkRS]

Chris - I built my house about 14 months ago. While I did not run for whole house IR like you did, a couple of recommendations that I would make. Run dual runs of CAT5 to all your phone locations. I did this and run a network in the house sharing a DSL connection off of a switch in the basement. Also, you will want to do dual runs of RG6 to all of you TV locations. This will allow you to run your over the air on one RG6 and a DSS on the other line. There are switches that allow you to combine the other the air and DSS on one line, but I like the 2 runs for future growth as well. Additionally, you may want to look at some of the products that allow you to use RG6 with different terminations on the end. I think there are companies that make them as well as some DIY connectors etc. While I am not an expert, these are some of the things to think about. My builder's son, also recommended in hind site putting in a PVC conduit that would allow you to easily run cables in the future. He indicated that it would have been in the neighborhood of $500.
Mark

 

[ChrisB]

Andrew-
Still here, the status of my house is still on prints. I ok'd my prints last weekend, so ground breaking should follow soon. For your IR controls, are you putting them above the light switches, of by the coax drops? I have seen the ones that go into a S/G box, and are put above the switches. I was looking in a cataloge where they had IR receivers that were ganged with the coax behind the TV, then a reciever was placed on top of the TV. As for the longest distance of a pull, it will probally be less than 150'. As Mark suggested I am installing a 1 1/2" PVC condiut from the basement to the second floor attic. As some have also sugested I am putting alot of wires in the walls for future upgrades(as money, and the wife allow)
Again thanks guys(and gals) for all the input, I am learning as much as I can about this "smart" house stuff, and am hopfully "future" proffing my house. I wont have to worry about the house ever falling down, as all the wires being run will hold it together, lol. The drywallers are going to hate me in the end, as there will be alot of openings for them to cut out

 

[ChrisB]

I figured I would give this a bump, as I am doing my wiring this weekend. This is what I have decided on, any last minuit sugestions would be apreciated.
1. Two RG6 and cat5e to each TV location
2. Two Cat5e to each phone location
3. One cat5e above each swith location in each room
4. All will be located to a central location for a future whole house audio and video rack.
5. One 1" PVC run to the second floor attic for "just in case"
6. Havnt decided on any hardware to use, money is getting tight. Being a Electrican, when I layed out my electrical for the house I went a litte over board on recessed cans, undercounter lights, and everything else. All them crazy ideals I have had in the past are now comming to fruitation , I told the wife, there might be alot of wires going in, and it may look real nice, but it will probally all never work. She also wasnt to happy when I told her that light fixtures might have to wait, home theater is more important

 

[Ben Cannon]

Consider pulling optical fiber as well (you can get 1,000' spools pretty cheap. Link Removed
Best!
Ben.
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Ben Cannon
Dream With Your Eyes Wide Open, Inc.
"Every man dies, not every man really lives" --Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

 

[Bill Lucas]

Chris,
a/d/s still has the most elegant solution for audio/video distribution at a (sort of) reasonable price. The SC-4 will distribute audio/video to up to 4 zones and they can be daisy-chained for larger zones. It retails for 3K. BTW, I'm sure you an excellent electrician but professional audio/video installers absolutely cringe when they hear that an electrician will be pulling wires for audio/video.

Good luck in your new home.

 

[ChrisB]

Bill, do you have a website for A/d/s? Most electricans are horable at pulling low voltage, but the company I work for sorta specialises in a "all in one" solution. We are able to give companies who want new POS systems a complete package, or just about anything else. I have heard the phrase "you cant make a electrican a data person, but you can make a data person a electrican" that is very true!