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Wired Home - What is a Wired Home and How Do I Build or Remodel with Automation in Mind?

Home automation is a system which provides the ability to enhance ypur lifestyle, and make your home more comfortable, safe and efficient. Home automation can link lighting, entertainment, security, communications,heating and air conditioning into one centrally controlled system. Automation allows you to make your house part of managing your busy life. becoming a tool in helping you make the most of your time, enhancing your safety and security, even saving you money on your energy bills!

How does it work?

A central processor gets signals from control devices, then forwards those signals to the appliances and systems in the house you want controlled. It works Like a traffic cop by directing communication signals throughout the house. You can interact with the system with keypads, touch screens, panic buttons, TV screens, computers, telephones, handheld remotes or other devices.

Building a new house - How should it be wired?

You need wiring that you can connect to today's and tomorrow's
information and entertainment technologies. You want your house
to be connected to the services and features that help make it a
more livable home.
A typical home should include this to each room:
2 x Cat 5 twisted pair (for computer & phone networking)
2 x RG6 Coax cables (for video distribution)
1 x 2 pair #14 audio cable (for audio distribution)

ALWAYS PROVIDE A NEUTRAL IN ALL SWITCH BOXES.
This allows the use of photocells instead of ordinary light switches.

Talk to the homeowner about leaving some cables (Power, RG6, and CAT5)in the attic for satellite TV systems and also about power for Back yard video cameras and holiday lights in the eaves. At the very least, leave an empty plastic conduit from the panel to the attic so wires can be pulled in if needed.

Cables should be installed separately into each room and then run to a junction box with a 120 volt plug available (preferably near the main panel where the T.V Cable and Telephone enter the house). By making sure your new home is wired to that specification, you'll be able to have distributed video and audio for more convenient entertainment, easier and more powerful ways to share data from home computers; energy savings, convenient access from the home to a host of services, from banks to stores & maintenance to whole house control.
You not only want the right kind of wiring in your house, you want to be able to get to it when necessary in order to easily connect different systems. Always home run wiring to maximize accessibility. (Dont Daisy Chain)

What Can be Wired?

Access Controls :
The ability to gain access to your home, including driveway gates, security keypads, electronic locks, etc.

Audio/Video Control Systems:
For home theater, audio and video systems. Flexibility to direct audio and video to all or one outlet in the home-from the bedroom to the home theater.

Communications:
Telephone systems and intercoms allowing internal and external communications.

Control Devices & Sensors :
Devices, and sensors that activate a light, appliance or system.

HVAC & Energy Management :
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems lend themselves well to automation, providing the homeowner with maximum comfort along with maximum control over the timing and energy demands of temperature and ventilation control.

Lighting Devices & Sensors :
These products allow you to pre-set (or detect motion or light) and activate the internal and external lights of your home to turn on, off, dim, or brighten, at whatever times you wish.

Motorized Devices :
These open and close things like garage doors or blinds at just the right times.

Security Systems :
From alarms to child tracking devices, these products help make your home safer.

Utility Based Services :
Services provided by utility companies to monitor and control energy management requirements in your home.

Home Networks
Multiple computers, printers, fax machines and other devices can be connected to create a cost-effective and convenient "home area network" that allows for sharing of files, printers, games, etc.

Home Automation Protocols :
These standards are the communication basics for your home automation system, allowing different products to communicate with one another. some examples are:.
Lutron
X-10
CE Bus (Consumer Electronics Bus)
Lon Works
You would only use one of these types for your home automation system after talking to a dealer or installer.

Security and Property Protection

A "wired home" can contribute to numerous security protection applications including the use of intelligent lighting controls, monitoring systems and motion detectors. Security systems can be linked with PCs, intercoms, HVAC controls and lighting systems to give the homeowner optimum control and flexibility.
It's called "structured wiring," the wired network has a "home run" configuration. That is, a separate loop of bundled wire for cable TV, phone, and Internet data transmission is made from the box to every networked outlet.
The outlets for the structured wiring network typically have four jacks, two for cable and one each for phone and data transmission. The four-jack outlets are usually referred to as "quad" outlets. Many also include Audio jacks.

Wiring for a Wired Home

Distribution box - The distribution box is a stand-alone piece of
equipment that contains distribution devices for voice, data and
video. Locate it in a place that is readily accessible to cabling
maintenance. The distribution center allows the wiring system to
be customized as new technologies are developed. Recommended
wiring provides for basic and advanced services, Star style. All
cables are strung in a star formation which allows all wires to have
a direct link from the distribution box to the outlet. This allows
changes to be made without having to pull new wires. Also,services
are not disrupted by other online connected devices.

What is X10?

X10 is a communications protocol for remote control of electrical devices. It is designed for communications between X10 transmitters and X10 receivers which communicate on standard household wiring.

Wireless?

Use Caution with some of the wireless stuff...does your neighbour have that frequency?