Breaker Box

txcoastal1

^^^^PLN devices actually work pretty well. I seen them used for camera installations running 2mp cams

EndersShadow

Easier, yes, cheaper... not so sure.

Keep in mind I have to then run a switch in just a bout EVERY room plus a 200 dollar set of adapters (per room). With 4 rooms upstairs, and 1 downstairs... don't think its cheaper.

Also as a IT guy I am pretty set on hardwiring the house now. Cat 6 now, gives me flexibility now and in the future. Plus I plan to do as much of it myself as I can, hence cheap labor.

I will be transfering lots of data, I plan to install a NAS in the closet of the loft so I can stream my entire blu-ray and dvd collection to ANY ROOM I've wired. So doing Cat6 makes sense to me.

txcoastal1

In the pic of the downstairs entertainment cabinet, is that on the same wall as the garage?

EndersShadow

txcoastal1 wrote: »

In the pic of the downstairs entertainment cabinet, is that on the same wall as the garage?

I wish, its on the totally opposite side of the house.

Breaker on outer wall in the garage, loft and HT jacks on totally other side of house on exterior wall.

zane77

Admittedly the Cat6 would be a great way to go but I think your prices for the adapters is pretty high.

txcoastal1

Do you have access to the side attic above front door? Or can you add a little door in the loft closet to get you in there?

Before I went to strictly commercial and before wireless security contacts were available I use to cable residential security and was quite good at hiding wire runs.

txcoastal1

zane77 wrote: »

Admittedly the Cat6 would be a great way to go but I think your prices for the adapters is pretty high.

Not really we use these every day and they don't require special tools and maintain twists all the way to the end. All you really need is a good pair of scissors.

EndersShadow

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Do you have access to the side attic above front door?

Nope. Here is what that looks like from the inside:

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Or can you add a little door in the loft closet to get you in there?

Little door where? That room backs up I "think" to the master bathroom and the closet of Skyes room (or what will be her room)

EndersShadow

I will try to get some better video of that closet during inspection tomorrow.

txcoastal1

Yeah I was fooled, from the outside it looked like a lower attic on the left side of the house, now I see that vaulted ceiling in the entry, that's false advertisement.

That house is going to be a bear for cabling. Looks like your going to have to do some carpet tucking around the edge try not to peal carpet off the tacks unless your crossing walk to another wall. Your going to have to use the closet under the stairs to come down into that down stairs living area.

Here are a couple items you will need to help.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/BES-AD3836H-/22-13347

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=84-236&gclid=CLb-pPvFrrwCFWoV7AodxX4A3w

We can chat by phone if you need details

EndersShadow

Yeah, I am going to start with Cat 6, which should be easy upstairs since I come up through the attic, and down through all interior walls.

I "may" hire someone to run the downstairs runs of Cat 6 simply because it going to be a bear, and I prefer to have a pro mess with that one.

I also am not sure if we can modify where the cable line comes in (think its where that entertainment unit was) to have the router mounted in the upstairs closet, as thats where I want to distribute it from.

zane77

You can also pick up the fiberglass rods at Harbor Freight pretty cheap, they really work well for fishing through walls.

leftwinger57

txcoastal,I asked him all the same questions. I was also an alarm installer and asked if he has scuttles ,hatches, closets that line up. He might somehow get by w/ the low voltage stuff but he still wants to put in 2 seperate ac110 v circuits on that side of the house just for his stereo gear. Split level houses w/ an open loft are a very hard house to wire up after the fact. Been out of the buisness for along time now and most stuff is wireless now certainly
not outlets.
Sorry guys it's game time ...later

txcoastal1

FYI some pro's suck, alarm installers are the best at hiding wires

EndersShadow

txcoastal1 wrote: »

FYI some pro's suck, alarm installers are the best at hiding wires

I will keep that in mind.

I do have a couple guys at work that might be able to help me out with this as they run wires for our office's for a living...

But like I said, I want to do networking first. I may never get to dedicated circuits simply due to the cost.

treitz3

Hello, Enders. What about bypassing the destruction of the house altogether for the dedicated lines. Get the yard utilities located and sprayed. Possibly plan an underground line around the back of the house from the current panel, around the house and up through the exterior wall.

If the main power xnsfrmr is located to the left of your house [as you look at your front door from the road], then have them run a separate meter from that to the side of the house you want the dedicated lines installed if the distances aren't too far. You will have two electrical bills and a best case scenario power wise to your rig if the latter is the case but they will be on the same account and the install/destruction within the house will be drastically reduced.

Tom

EndersShadow

Tom, that idea probably makes the most sense, and can be done at a later date very easily. I think thats the route I will go with. Both the rooms I want to wire are close enough that would allow a very nice quick run.

treitz3

Well, before you get excited, I would find out more first. There may be "surprises" this route as well. The good thing is, the finding/location(s) of the utilities is free. If there are no obstructions or complications, then most of the hard work can be completed by you or close friends prior to any work by a professional that would charge you ten fold to do the same thing. Digging isn't sometimes easy and the professionals know this. They subsequently charge accordingly whether it's easy or not. Going into an exterior wall from a separate meter or from the ground isn't too bad, given the location(s) of where you want the lines installed.

[EDIT:] One more thing. If this house is part of an HOA, anything exterior may have to be approved prior to install and an indemnity agreement will most likely be in order.

Tom

EndersShadow

treitz3 wrote: »

Well, before you get excited, I would find out more first. There may be "surprises" this route as well. The good thing is, the finding/location(s) of the utilities is free. If there are no obstructions or complications, then most of the hard work can be completed by you or close friends prior to any work by a professional that would charge you ten fold to do the same thing. Digging isn't sometimes easy and the professionals know this. They subsequently charge accordingly whether it's easy or not. Going into an exterior wall from a separate meter or from the ground isn't too bad, given the location(s) of where you want the lines installed.

[EDIT:] One more thing. If this house is part of an HOA, anything exterior may have to be approved prior to install and an indemnity agreement will most likely be in order.

Tom

All this is true.

Since I plan to install a fence this summer anyway (DIY style) I will need to call for that anyway, so I can get an idea how things are routed.

We are in a HOA so you are right in that it would have to be approved beforehand.

leftwinger57

Your right we have the tools like pry bars/cats paws, stiff putty knives,very long diversabits,window chain, snakes, using noninsulated walls as much as possible and rat nests when they are insulated and find the home run from attic to bsmt or garage for this house w/ closets that line up. Again his low voltage work should not be that hard if he gets the right guy. It's the high voltage stuff that one you need a permit for, if permit is there then it has to be done by a licensed electrician who can't do the stuff alarm guys can get away w/ and still keeping the house from looking like a bomb hit it. Very rarely if ever have I seen electric run outside whether in pipe or not and then introduced in the house it's self. I don't even think it's legal in N.j. All gfic outlets that are outside are done during the rough wire stage of building.A word of advice for anyone who is buying a house in the near future.Put in a straight run as possible of pvc for future use. We had a deal w/ the vac guys we worked with and they did it and then the house had a free and clear run and either put a pull wire in it or drop a weight and there it is. Families grow and you never can think that far ahead for what you may need.