sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring SMART HOUSE

Does ant one out there have any info rgarding wiring up a smart house. I have heard about it on TV and wish to learn more about it. Has anyone cabled for it or no any web sites regarding SMART HOUSE CABLING.

Try this out
https://www.smarthome.com/project_cable.html

JTell:

Here I go getting upon my soap box with another lengthy reply. I apologize to all in advance:

We have a lot of new home communities going up around here with "Smart Home" wiring systems installed. I think that this term is actually a brand name, but I don't know for sure.

What I do know is that many, many, many of these homeowners end up falling for this stuff and pay big money to get it. They end up with proprietary hardware that the local telco or cable company will not touch. The builder's electricians (no, they never hire professional low voltage installers) don't support it when it doesn't work because they only know how to install it. They have no clue about split pairs, shield problems on COAX, etc. They just come in and replace a cable (along with subsequent drywall damage) in an attempt to ride out the warranty coverage.

I personally have defective "smart" distribution modules of various manufacturers sitting on a shelf in my office. I am constantly looking for replacements on e-bay or elsewhere on the Internet in an effort to help homeowners who have come to us looking for support. All seven of these modules are not labeled with anything that can be traced, no other manufacturer's modules fit the footprint, so we just went in and "Scotchlok-ed" the pairs through to restore service.

The average "Harry Homeowner" doesn't need two CAT5 and two RG6 cables to outlets. Most of the time (at least in my world), the TV ends up on the opposite side of the room from the telephone! Aside from satellite installations, why would two CAT5 cables be required behind a TV?

I think that a lot of this "Smart House" wiring stuff is just entertainment hype. If a builder really wants to set up a house to address today's and tomorrow's wiring needs, then maybe they should simply run flexible (or rigid) PVC conduits to every outlet. At a minimum, maybe they can run this to significant locations, like the living room. Lots of money is being wasted on these "SOHO wiring distribution centers" and their proprietary hardware.

How about a traditional COAX splitter or amplifier, a few 66 or 110 blocks for voice/data? Oh, and a reasonable amount of space allocated for mounting. At least with the "old" technology, homeowners might be able to fix things themselves or at a minimum, have an installation that can be tested or repaired by any tradesman in the industry.

The bottom line is that it's all about retail and home improvement shows. People spending $600 to 800K for a basic 4BR house think that "smart wiring" makes their house better. I say that they should spend the money on real upgrades, like energy-efficient heating or big fat closets and bathrooms. Something that they can use and enjoy, rather than something they have to chase around looking for support.

I used to watch home improvement shows religiously because a few years ago, they were truly "do it yourself" instructional classes. How to cut crown molding properly, how to solder copper pipe, how to replace a light switch, pour a concrete walk, etc.

Now that these shows have become popular, they are sponsored by high-end product manufacturers in every aspect. PBS used to be a "no-advertising" network, funded by the government to promote education. Take a look at the ten-minute gaps between shows now. If it's expensive, it's advertised there. Not much in their shows is do-it-yourself anymore; you need to contact an authorized dealer in your area to even look at it!

A simple basement remodeling project has gone from $5K to $50K. People see it on TV and they simply feel that they must have it. I mean seriously, people are putting $6,000.00 commercial gas ranges in their houses because they saw one on Food Network or Hometime! Can you imagine how much square footage of living space they could have gained (or a really great phone system) by spending that same money on the basic building? It's just nuts.

Smart wiring is just dumb. 600 feet of 1" PVC flex installed to every outlet in the house would certaily cost less than one of these crazy wiring panels/systems that nobody can understand. A clear and intelligent wiring pathway is the better way to go. Most of these conduit runs will end up with one or two cables installed, like most households will need. Think about it, builders. Spend less money giving homeowners something that's more "future-proof" like an empty conduit that can be used constructively!

You done Gradigtated???
:toast:

Well, my Momma said I go the most sophisticated wiring in my house she's ever seen. She was more impressed by the fact that I actually own a house and know how to spell it!

Man, I love the beer mug smilies. You have to let me know how to get them, then I can get rid of this high school picture of myself!

Well said. I love seeing the box mounted inside the wall and then the phone system has to be mounted outside of it because their is no room in the small panel not even enough room for his cable modem and 4 port switch.

Sorry Ed I have to disagree, I live in a house over 120 years old and very happy that I put in more then the average wiring. Being able to control lights from anywhere, setting up mood modes for a relaxing dip in the hot tub, being able to connect anywhere with a laptop, B/G music from room to room, watching any channel on any set, etc. I can't wait till we have the fidge reorder when it gets low on food or being able to call in or use web browser to control the house and appliances.

PS I'd love to have one of those stoves. I do like the empty conduit idea

They should call it Smart BS.
Did a house last week. About a million average in the development. Each room had plasma TV, a Theater room etc.etc. The wifes main complaint was that the
phone dial pad was not lit up in the dark. Told her to get a 7735 phone to cure that problem and BBU for power outage and then a power fail slt. Maybe 375.00. I thought she would have a heart attack.
Too much for the ability to make a call in an emergency!!! Smart wiring everywhere. :rofl:

Merritt:

Here I go again; I hadn't quite gotten done putting the soap box away:

Send me $6,000.00 via PayPal and I will cook anything you need on my $700.00 smooth top for five years! What's the point in spending so much money on an appliance when you could add 600 square feet of living space? I just don't understand!

I have all of the same luxuries you mentioned using X10, but being in the wiring/telecom business, we use hole saws, conduit and pathways that can be easily modified, while maintaining separate systems.

Let's face it, we know what the phone system is all about and it's vulnerabilities. Most of the things you mentioned, like volume controls, etc. can ALL be lost due to a component failure or storm damage.

Don't forget; my comments were all about pathways and wiring, not combined (A.K.A.: "converged") technologies. That's another subject.

Builders never offer us a reasonable means of distributing technology, even in commercial construction. It's always a loop of 2-pair (4-pair if we are lucky), and a few RG59 home runs for TV. If a customer buys the $$$$$ upsell, all they end up with is the same garbage-quality installation by people who don't have a clue about what they are doing. It's like giving someone a box to carry from point A to point B.

Unfortunately, most of these technologies are being addressed through wireless technology. YES, I know it has it's ups and downs, but let's face it; that's the most "homeowner-friendly" technology, so that's where the retailers are going.

What if the "smart" stuff that the local home centers are selling is discontinued? What if the local electrical contractor or builder who installed it goes out of business? That's my point.

We have seen this stuff come and go, so why not equip a 120 year-old house or a brand-new one-inch empty with pipe, a proven techology for centuries, so that any technology can be adopted?

Cans and strings worked at one point, and even to this day, we are not restricted from being able to use this technology.

What I am trying to say is that many, if not most of these "smart" wiring systems aren't universally-compatible, so if some part fails, and the electrician or builder has headed for the hills, the homeowner is left holding the bag. Until a universal standard has been adopted and accepted (modules, footprints, capacities, etc.), it's not a good investment for the owner.

Think about it, there are dozens of manufacturers that make 66/110/COAX hardware out there who's equipment is interchangeable. Not so with smart panels.

You make a good point about the incompatibility of most the so called smart home technology. There are control panels such as Hal and Stargate that will work with and intergarte together existing technologies such as X10, IR, DTMF. As for the wiring in new homes a simple backbone of 2 cat 5 and 1 coax to each location (2 coax to media center)is what I most often install. I do like the flexduct idea. I try to stay away from the propriotory type systems and keep it simple. As for the $6000 stove the regular home line don't get hot enough to burn thing the way I cook.