Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Basics for Re-wire

Options
  • 20-05-2019 4:43pm
    #1
    Raven_k42
    Registered Users Posts: 352 ✭✭


    Afternoon all

    I'm in the process of a refurb on an old house...and as part of rewiring anxious to take reasonable steps to ensure I've the essentials covered and some degree of future-proofing. I'm not an IOT expert...and requirements really around practical matters:

    * Phone cables from entry to delivery incoming BB to possible router locations
    * Ethernet distribution from attic to each room/TV point. Cat5 or Cat6 ?
    * Ethernet to front-door in case of Video bell
    * Cable from front/back CCTV camera to attic
    * Question over lighting cabling re: "smart homes"...is just a neutral at each switch sufficient (no need for Ethernet ??) ?
    * HDMI cable runs where wall-mounted TV
    * The above should be sufficient...once WiFi OK as well

    There's a huge amount of technical information and expertise in this forum...and I'm struggling to reduce this down to practical must-dos. I haven't met with Alexa yet...but on the assumption I will want to make sure I'm ready for her !!.

    Will the above set me up OK ??...and finally is this normal electrician territory ?. I don't think I need a specialist "smarter home" company for basic requirements.

    Many thanks,
    K


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,510 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * Phone cables from entry to delivery incoming BB to possible router locations

    Just run an ethernet cable. Ethernet can carry phone, in fact it can carry 4 phone lines on one cable.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * Ethernet distribution from attic to each room/TV point. Cat5 or Cat6 ?

    Well Cat5e, not Cat5. So the question is Cat5e or Cat 6?

    I'd get a quote for both. If not much more, I'd stretch to cat6.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * Ethernet to front-door in case of Video bell

    Yep, though most of them are wireless, but they use the bell wire, so make sure that is there.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * Cable from front/back CCTV camera to attic

    Yes, I'd use ethernet, ethernet can carry power, see Power over Ethernet (POE), as well as data.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * Question over lighting cabling re: "smart homes"...is just a neutral at each switch sufficient (no need for Ethernet ??) ?

    Queue argument to me and Wexfordman :D

    I think ethernet isn't needed. But no harm in having it if you want.

    At the very least, make sure to have deep back boxes and run Nuetral to each switch.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * HDMI cable runs where wall-mounted TV

    Yes and ethernet too. For set top boxes, etc.

    Also ethernet can also be used to carry HDMI.

    Also don't forget if you want to run aerial/sat cable.
    Raven_k42 wrote: »
    * The above should be sufficient...once WiFi OK as well

    Pretty decent. I'd also put one or two ethernet connections in each room and maybe one to the ceiling for Wifi access points.

    Basically you can't beat lots of ethernet runs.

    Also think if you want to put in security system cabling.


  • Options
    #3
    Stoner
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 10,952 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stoner


    Get cat6 very little difference, it's cat6a that's much more expensive.


  • Options
    #4
    Stoner
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 10,952 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stoner


    Regarding data points.

    IMO getting them around the house is very important.

    Many disagree but I don't think you need lots at certain points. Maybe the same amount but spread around.

    Apart from your main TV point just in case you want to run a media server or are doing something with dishes and IPTV

    I use small switches that cost me 30 euro. 8 port gigabit.

    That way I can move around centres

    For example

    In my living room I've two cat6 points in the corner. But I use just one into a switch and my TV, STB, lightwaverf hub, Philips hue hub, smarthings hub and xaomi and Samsung cctv are all plugged into it. I've no issue with bandwidth and the hubs are not heavy. I can see their usage it's tiny.

    I had the hubs in the sitting room before, I moved them for better RF and Zigbee NW reasons, it was simple with the switch

    In my sitting room I've PS4 xbox etc, TV , amp etc are all hooked up to a switch, I've 4K Netflix with no issues

    In the office I've another switch for PCs, rPi, printer etc

    I understand it's best to have a point for each but I haven't needed them, just well positioned fewer points,
    Sparks would rather you had 2 quad point locations as it is easier to wire, but I'd rather them spread around it might cost a little bit more

    It was very useful for me when I wired up my three wireless access points too.

    It's not really a huge cost but locating these things in good spots is important like that corner in the living room that you could if you wanted to turn into the TV corner. using switches is a good way to expand your network, a house is not an office only a few devices use a significant amount of data.

    I also have my internet connection in my attic. This was handy as my main switch is there, so the NAS and DVR are on this and when I added IP cameras it was easy to wire them from the attic,

    Consider your IP camera data points too, if you want wifi camera then they need power points apart from Arlo being wireless you should consider where you want cameras.

    Attic main access point was handy when I upgraded my alarm as it needed Ethernet too, it was just a case of patching it in

    So a separate 20amp RCBO to a socket in the attic where you bring in your internet connection, COAX and data points is useful if that suits

    Consider a fire alarm point and light in the attic too if you bring all this kit in.

    Again this is just an opinion, many go for data points in higher quantity, that is a good solution, just costs more, bigger panel in the attic, more attic patching

    Look at Wexfordmans posts on smart intruder alarms too. He's installed a very nice system where his intruder alarm PIRs can be used to switch other smart devices, he's getting multi use from them

    So, this is important if you want that, so your intruder alarm PIRs should be installed and cabled so that they suit this, so pointing down a hall not just at a corner to suit switching a light and intruder detection.


    Imo you won't catch all your requirements in one hit .
    I certainly didn't

    It's important that it's future proof in a handy way

    Again IMO

    Wired is far better than wireless.
    Much easier to change passwords or routers etc. You don't want to have 50 devices in your house all requiring a password. Certain things will be wireless, some stats, doorbells too.

    Central location for wired access points

    Consider power for amazon eco, apple or Google home devices too. Consider a spot in the kitchen for a smart screen/hub device echo show, Google home hub maxi etc.

    Finally get a 24V bell traffo into your board too for a smart doorbell, IMO smart doorbells are one of the best smart home devices going, the have so many other benefits.


Advertisement