Choice of Wire
The type of wiring you will need to have on hand is at least two boxes of Cat5e twisted pair cable. There are four twisted pair (TP) in a Cat 5e cable. These are utilized specifically on keypads and touchscreens. Since you have a total of eight conductors in each Cat5e cable, you will have enough connection points at each location. You will also need multiple "speed bags" of stranded 4-conductor alarm wire. Two of the wires will be used for carrying 12Vdc power to components when required and the other two wires will be utilized for security zones.
Pull Your Wire From A Box?
Some installers pull security cabling from a box, however I have found speed bags a God send in terms of saved time and labor. If you have a medium to large size structure you will be pulling wiring from multiple bags at a time. Perhaps you will pull from as many as eight speed bags at a time. Even though you are going to pull quite a bit of wiring through your walls related with your security and home automation system, you will get by with just these two types of cable. Structured wiring, home theater, central vacuum, and whole-house stereo require several different types of cable, however this write-up does not cover those systems.
Prepare Yourself
It is very important you ready yourself and any workman that may be supporting you when the time comes to install your systems. It is significant that you do not get ahead of yourself because problems can come up if you do. Normally speaking you want to show up with all your cable, tools, and workman when the framing has been concluded. The plumber will have already come and gone having completed his rough-in. You are now waiting for the electrical contractor to complete his job. You absolutely can't install your low-voltage cable until the electrical contractor has come and gone. The justification for that is you want to install your cabling as far away from his high-voltage wiring as possible. If your wires end up too close to high-voltage wires, you will pick up energy from attenuation which might manifest itself as interference in your electronic equipment.
Identify Your Electronic Components
To install this security system you must first be able to distinquish the various electronics and connectors required to install the job. Once you have gathered all these together you must comprehend the overall design of a typical system so that you can begin to lay out your own plan. After you have layed out the plan view for your house, the next step is to install the appropriate wire throughout the walls to each zone originating usually in an electronics closet.
Make Certain The Windows And Doors Are In
Another important consideration is to make sure all the doors and windows have been installed. You can't install security contacts to windows and doors if they have not been installed. If you are like most people you will be performing the rough-in work for several systems at the same time. You will be installing cable for structured wiring, security / home automation, whole-house stereo, whole-house intercom, video cameras, central vacuum, and the list goes on. It is significant to have at least one and hopefully two laborers on the project helping you with the labor.
Drill Some Holes
By now you have formulated a plan on drilling your holes in the studs which will lead from each section of the home back to the location of your security/home automation controller. If all you will be installing is security wiring then 3/4 inch holes will do very nicely, thank you very much. Obviously your security wires are much smaller in diameter than the holes you are drilling, however as you bring bundles of security wires together from each corner of the house, that 3/4 inch hole may not be big enough.
Installing Numerous Systems
It has been my experience that when home owners are pondering one system for their new or remodeled home, they are probably considering other systems as well. It would be in your best interest to have installation manuals on each system you would like to include in your house. Analize them all then procure your components, special tools, and wire so that they are all on the job in advance of your scheduled start date.
----------------------------------------------------
Glenn A. Bell provides lots of FREE information on installing security on his website at: http://www.home-automation-online.com In fact, he offers a FREE 10 Video Mini Course on several low-voltage electronic systems being installed in new and remodeled homes across the country.
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=173801
No comments:
Post a Comment