What cables to run in a new build?
Discussion
I'll be starting my self-build in the next few weeks and, although I cannot afford to put all the hardware in place straight away, I'd like to get the infrastructure done while it's cheap to do so.
I want to ensure that I have each room networked via a hub for Internet access. Is this Cat 5, 5e or Cat6?
I'd like to make sure I can add some form of intelligent mood lighting later. Do I simply have Cat 5 run to each light switch location and to each lighting source?
I'll be running speaker cables from my hub (where the AV Amp will be located) to ceiling speakers and areas where I might add speakers later on.
I'll run power and control cabling (Cat 5?) to the front wall for automated gates at some stage.
What else should I be looking at?
I want to ensure that I have each room networked via a hub for Internet access. Is this Cat 5, 5e or Cat6?
I'd like to make sure I can add some form of intelligent mood lighting later. Do I simply have Cat 5 run to each light switch location and to each lighting source?
I'll be running speaker cables from my hub (where the AV Amp will be located) to ceiling speakers and areas where I might add speakers later on.
I'll run power and control cabling (Cat 5?) to the front wall for automated gates at some stage.
What else should I be looking at?
Eliot, or anyone else, can you please explain this part of your post:
As an example...let's say you have your bedroom with one ceiling light and 2 bedside lamps, one master wall switch and a light switch at each the side of the bed. How would that be wired?
I'm really trying to follow this but my poor brain aches!!
Eliot said:
All of my lighting circuits are "home run" back to the central control room - but are wired conventionally to bus bars. For each room, each light circuit goes back to the wall switch (rather than linked up in the ceiling), then I run a suitable quantity of triple and earth back to central control room. All the outside lights are home run as well.
This way I have the best of three worlds: 1)Standard (read cheap) light switch 2)in-wall automation module 3)centralised control
Are you saying that for each lighting circuit you have a run to the control room and a run to the wall switch? Exactly how many wires and what type do you have?This way I have the best of three worlds: 1)Standard (read cheap) light switch 2)in-wall automation module 3)centralised control
As an example...let's say you have your bedroom with one ceiling light and 2 bedside lamps, one master wall switch and a light switch at each the side of the bed. How would that be wired?
I'm really trying to follow this but my poor brain aches!!
OK - have read both posts and think I've got it.
In toxic's example everything goes to the control panel so the wall "switches" have to be controllers for the central control unit.
In Eliot's example, if its 1 or 2 lights you control it conventionally with a conventional switch (simple and cheap) BUT if you want to control multiple circuits/lights you use a programable switch/controller and have pre-wired to take both types of switch solution.
Have I got it?
In toxic's example everything goes to the control panel so the wall "switches" have to be controllers for the central control unit.
In Eliot's example, if its 1 or 2 lights you control it conventionally with a conventional switch (simple and cheap) BUT if you want to control multiple circuits/lights you use a programable switch/controller and have pre-wired to take both types of switch solution.
Have I got it?
Hi Kermit - from my POV I wanted to have the ability to enter the house, touch a button and have all the hall, living room and kitchen lights automatically come on so I could come home at night and walk through the house without having to enter dark rooms and switch on individually.
I also wanted to have preset levels (moods) so, for example, if I was having people round for dinner, I could press a button and have the room nice and subdued.
The reality is that I would not do it again
In future I will simply have dimmer switches wherever I need subdued pendant lighting or, as I do most of the time, just use lamps.
I'll be building again hopefully in the next 12-18 months and the only high tech will be Cat 6 from the major TV points back to the router for
Smart TV use (and possibly distributed video depending on house layout) and ceiling speakers for surround sound.
Everything else will connect over WiFi.
I came to the conclusion very shortly after completing my self-build that centralised everything and lighting automation was just not needed and way over the top imho.
I also wanted to have preset levels (moods) so, for example, if I was having people round for dinner, I could press a button and have the room nice and subdued.
The reality is that I would not do it again
In future I will simply have dimmer switches wherever I need subdued pendant lighting or, as I do most of the time, just use lamps.
I'll be building again hopefully in the next 12-18 months and the only high tech will be Cat 6 from the major TV points back to the router for
Smart TV use (and possibly distributed video depending on house layout) and ceiling speakers for surround sound.
Everything else will connect over WiFi.
I came to the conclusion very shortly after completing my self-build that centralised everything and lighting automation was just not needed and way over the top imho.
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