Home Automation

79 readers

2 users here now

Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

Rules

No abusive behaviour. This is a forum for friendly discussion; personal attacks will not be tolerated and you will be banned without warning.
Referral/affiliate links are NOT ALLOWED!
NO POLITICS! There are plenty of other communities to discuss them; this is not one.
When posting project details must be included. Posting a video or image without detail will result in a removed post and may result in a ban.
Crowdfunding links are not allowed.
Reposts, low-effort content and karma farming may be removed at the discretion of the mods. Posters may be banned without warning.

founded 11 months ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

I am building a new house and I am trying to prewire as much as possible. If price was not an object what would you pre-wire? (alien.top)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

140 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I am building a new house and I am trying to prewire as much as possible. If price was not an object what would you pre-wire?

Currently, I have my house being set up for Lutron RA2 lights

Putting 18/2 for speakers in each rooms

One cat5e by each room for a tablet/intercom

Cat5e for cameras

22/2 for Door/window contacts by all exterior doors and windows

smurftube by every room (where the intercom is for future growth).

18/2 by windows where I may want power shades.

What else am I missing?

Thank you

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Most comments are legit. I would do at least 16/2 for the speakers, just in case you wanna push some higher power.

Honestly, for a house, you will be fine with cat5e, gigabit+ all day even passing through interference. I can push 10gb through cat5e at 15 feet. Ethernet cable is, generally, incredible!

Cat5e is a bit cheaper but also easier to pull and handle than LEGIT cat6, don’t even bother with cat6A. Cat8 is mainly data center stuff so it would be plain retarded to run that in a house, same with fiber (unless any of your runs are going to be above 300+ ft). Cat7 doesn’t exist.

I would also pull a network cable for a Wi-Fi in every other bedroom, or even every bedroom, and definitely one or two for the TV. I would say at least two if you’re going to centralize video transmission. That way all you have on the wall is a TV and HDMI gets passed through an ethernet cable (cable length, type, and the technology used here is important) but then the TV can also get network for local smart apps.

If your house is ever going to be used as a workplace or a recording or production studio, then I would definitely look at cat6 or even cat6a. Cat6 can push 10gb about 200 feet or less, cat6a is rated for 10gb all the way through. Still I would do Cat6 for data and cat5e for cameras, intercom, and other low bandwidth controls.

18/2 for the shades is great, 22ga for alarm contacts is also great, 18ga for electronic door locks is great. Consider running control wires to wherever you’re planning on having automation, or at least ethernet wires, those can be fantastic control wires. Wherever you have an ethernet cable, you can pop in a switch and add some sort of ethernet relay for future use. Don’t forget ethernet for the pool!

If the Wi-Fi is properly designed, most of your smart stuff will have no problem functioning anywhere it is.

Just think ahead.