From Issue #5 , Page #62

Design and install a residential structured wiring system

When you want water, you just turn on a faucet and there it is! Well, think of structured wiring as just a fancy name for your home's digital plumbing network. That's because a structured wiring system will enable you to connect and control all of your digital appliances.

A structured wiring system will serve as the backbone of your ultimate digital home for years to come. But like any other complex task, it's best to approach structured wiring by breaking it up into smaller, more manageable phases. In other words, plan your work, and then work your plan.

Step 1: Plan Your Project
Decide where to locate your system's structured media center, which is a wall-mounted enclosure where your incoming communication services, such as telephone, Internet, cable TV, antenna, and satellite, will be connected and distributed. The structured media center is also where you'll mount voice, video, and data modules that support your digital applications.

Many professional installers recommend locating a structured media center in a closet near the middle of a home in order to minimize cable runs. If you already have a home theater or whole-house music system, consider locating the structured media center where your A/V equipment is stored. The structured media center will need a dedicated 20-amp AC electric circuit for all of your system's power requirements. A 14-by-14-inch structured media center large enough to accommodate voice and data modules will cost around $70. Use a 14-by-28-inch structured media panel for systems that also require audio and video modules.

Next determine which rooms you want to wire and where to locate the wallplates in each room. Remember, you'll want connectivity for future digital devices, so don't skimp on the number of wallplates. A 10-by-15-foot room should have at least two wallplates on opposite sides of the room. Don't forget to locate one near your bed. And don't put a wallplate behind heavy furniture you'll have to move every time you connect or disconnect a cable.

Finally, make a copy of your home's floor plan to use as your project blueprint. If you don't have a floor plan, use graph paper and a tape measure to create one. On your floor plan, use colored pencils to draw a path from the structured media center to each wallplate. Use different colors for your voice, video, data, and surveillance cables. Keep in mind that these cables will need to travel up walls, through crawlspaces, and back down to the wallplate. Accurately measuring these distances will provide an approximate idea of how much cable you'll need to buy. No single cable run should be longer than 295 feet.

Note: Even if you are planning a "do-it-yourself" approach to installing your own structured wiring system, do not attempt to upgrade or modify your home's electrical capabilities without the guidance and support of a licensed electrician.

Step 2: Buy Materials
In addition to buying the structured media center and wallplates, you'll need to purchase one Ethernet connector for each data cable and two RF (radio frequency) connectors for each video cable. You will also need a four-outlet AC power module with surge protection, as well as single-gang "mud rings" for mounting each wallplate onto the adjoining stud. Check the parts list on page 62 for a list of other tools you'll need.

Note: All of these structured media components can be purchased from Leviton resellers such as Home Depot, as well as most electrical supply retailers. Leviton also provides installation guidelines as well as telephone technical support.

For most wiring installations, you'll need to purchase three types of cables—Category 5e Ethernet cable, RG-6 coaxial cable, and 14-gauge speaker wire. If you really want to futureproof your structured wiring system, you should also consider buying fiber optic cable.

• Category 5e, also called Cat 5e, contains four twisted pairs of 24-gauge copper wire in a protective jacket. Cat 5e can conduct 100 MHz of data bandwidth and can support gigabit Ethernet, which is more than sufficient for standard telephone or DSL data service. A 1,000-foot spool of Cat 5e cable will cost around $65.
  
• RG-6 coaxial cable, or "coax," contains a single conductor copper wire for transporting video signals, with shields made of aluminum foil and copper braid. The most common type of RG-6 coax used for home video applications is quad-shielded. A 500-foot spool of quad-shielded RG-6 coax costs around $80.

Note: Instead of buying these cables separately, you can save time during installation by purchasing "combo" cable that includes two Cat 5e cables and two RG-6 cables in one "bundle." Belden Electronics offers combo cable that can support multiroom connections for cable TV, off-air antenna, satellite TV, video, cable modems, multiple telephone lines, computer networking, modems, and infrared (IR) connections. Belden resellers typically offer the company's new Banana Peel combo cable for around $1 per foot.

• Speaker cable (use 14-gauge) will enable you to connect your speakers to the structured media center. Speaker cable costs about $0.75 per foot.
  
• Fiber optic cable transports voice, video, and data signals that have been converted into light. The major advantage of fiber is that it has a much higher bandwidth than RG-6 or Cat 5e. The major disadvantage is that it is expensive and difficult to work with unless you are an expert. For the foreseeable future you can eliminate fiber from your design specification since there are no current or near-term applications that require it.

Finally, each room in your home will need at least one, and possibly two wallplates. A six-port wallplate with two Ethernet connectors, two RF connectors, and two speaker connectors costs around $7.

Step 3: Rough-In
If you're wiring a home that's under construction or being remodeled, and the Sheetrock hasn't gone up yet, then positioning and pulling cable is relatively simple. First, install the structured media center in a closet or storage area. Then install the required voice, video, and data modules in the structured wiring center. Next, determine the exact path from the panel to the appropriate wallplate for each cable. Running your cable along a stud and/or joist, and then through your attic or crawlspace is usually your best bet. Make sure you maintain a minimum 12-inch separation between your structured wiring cables and your home's AC power conduits. That's because electric power can cause serious interference in audio, video, and data communication signals. You should also provide a 12-inch separation between your audio/speaker cables and your other voice, video, and data cables.

Once you've determined the optimum cable path, use a power drill and 1/2-inch spade bit to drill holes in the appropriate studs, joists, ceilings, and floors so you can pull each cable to its respective wallplate. Before you begin pulling cable, however, make sure you label each cable and each conductor! Otherwise your single biggest headache will be trying to figure out which cable is which.

Starting at the wallplate, use the fish tape to thread the designated path back to the distribution panel for that particular cable. Then securely attach the end of the cable to the end of the fish tape and gently pull it through to its wallplate. This is really a two-person job, so plan on having someone help you during this phase. Although cables are very durable, don't stress or over-torque them. This could damage the conductor or shield. Leave at least one foot of extra cable length at the wallplate and two feet at the panel. Attach a mud ring to the stud nearest the wallplate's designated location. Once the drywall is installed, attach the proper connector on each end of the cable and then connect both ends to the appropriate connector. Remember to label the wallplate.

Tip: When the Sheetrock is ready to go up, remember to first cut a hole in those areas where the wallplates will go.

If your wiring project is for an existing home, then you will need to remove baseboards, cut holes and channels in existing drywall, locate and drill 1/2-inch holes in studs and joists, and climb through attics and/or crawlspaces, all while you steer clear of your home's electrical and plumbing infrastructure. You'll also need to avoid stepping on or stressing the cables, since they are easy to damage. So when you're ready to begin your project, ask yourself if you really know what you're doing. That's important because pulling cable through a typical home can be dirty, frustrating, and potentially dangerous.

According to Mike Laugesen, general manager of the Icon Group in Santa Cruz, California, even an experienced two-person systems integration team can each spend around 16 hours installing and testing new cables in a 1,500-square-foot home. Professional structured wiring installers typically charge $1 to $2 per square foot for new construction projects, which means it could cost between $1,500 and $3,000 to wire a 1,500-square-foot home. In an existing home, the costs shoot up 20 to 25 percent, particularly for older homes. Since you're going to do it yourself, you could expect to save around 25 percent of those estimates. But be careful not to count your chickens (or your savings) before they hatch! Structured wiring, particularly when it's a retrofit, can be an expensive and time-consuming process.

One strategy to consider for an existing home is to first discuss your requirements with someone knowledgeable about rewiring. Laugesen recommends that a novice contact a professional installer, since so many things can go wrong. According to CE Pro magazine's Top 30 Structured Wiring Dealers (October 2003, pg. 56), a professional installer will either charge by the hour or bill at a "per-cable drop" fee of $45 to $65 each. If you do the math, using a pro for the rough-in phase will almost certainly be easier and probably more economical than doing it yourself. The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) Web site has a locator service that can help you find a qualified wiring specialist in your area.

Another option is that Leviton's reseller network offers a comprehensive residential structured wiring solution that includes all of the parts you'll need, as well as end-to-end technical support. For example, Leviton has provided Home Depot's sales specialists with comprehensive training so they can advise customers on what to buy for a structured wiring project. Leviton's Web site also offers a wide range of technical notes, helpful hints, and other technical support resources.

Step 4: Trim Out
Once you've installed the appropriate wiring, use non-metallic staples or tie-wraps to attach each cable bundle at 4-foot intervals to adjacent studs or joists. You should then perform the following steps before putting up new drywall or repairing the drywall you removed.

1. Install all necessary wallplates and connectors.
2. Attach each cable to the appropriate connector on the structured media center.
3. Connect all service wiring, e.g. telephone, cable TV, antenna, satellite, DSL, etc., to the structured media center.
4. Use the punch-down tool to connect each conductor to structured media center.
5. Determine where to cut holes in the new drywall for the wallplates you've installed.
6. Test all wiring to determine if it is working properly and that every conductor is correctly labeled. An easy way to test each wire is to use alligator clips to connect the two conductors to the poles of a 9-volt battery, and then use your Ohm meter on the other end to determine if you can measure 9-volts DC.
7. Once you're finished, install or repair the drywall.

Keep in mind that rewiring a home can be a difficult and challenging project, even for a professional. Make sure you first do a thorough job estimating the scope of your project. Remember to use a floor plan to illustrate where all of your cables will go. Create a cable schedule so you know where everything is located. Get ready to do a lot of crawling around, sometimes in dark and dusty places where creepy critters might also call home. But once you're done, sit back and behold the foundation of your ultimate digital home!

Project Snapshot

The Problem
The digital home doesn't run on hopes and dreams. If you want to reap the benefits, you'll need a backbone to support today's technology.

Project Steps
1. Plan your work.
2. Buy your materials.
3. Install the cables.
4. Make connections.
5. Test each cable.
6. Install or fix the drywall.

Difficult Rating: 4
[1=Child's Play, 2=Use Both Hands, 3=Call for Backup!, 4=Obi-Wan Worthy]

Estimated Time to Complete: 2 days
Estimated Cost: $880.50

Parts Needed

• Structured media center with surge protected AC power supply
• Voice, video, and data modules
• A 3/8-inch power drill
• A 1/2-inch spade drill bit
• A drywall saw
• A saber saw
• An electronic stud finder
• A hammer
• Slotted and Philips screwdrivers
• Fish tape
• A pry bar
• An Ohm meter,
• A punch-down tool with a 110-style blade
• Wire strippers
• An RG-6 cable crimp tool
• Category 5e cable
• RG-6 coaxial cable
• 14-gauge speaker cable
• Six-port wallplates
• RF-connectors
• Data cable connectors
• Mud-rings
• Tie-wraps
• Non-metallic staples

Don't Splice!
Every extra connection degrades system performance.

Always Plan for the Future
Install as much cable and as many outlets as you think you'll ever need. Later additions are costly and time consuming.

Keep Track!
Carefully label all cables and connections at both ends, and keep your installations neat and well-organized. You should also save a marked-up copy of your "as-built" floor plan for future reference.

About the Writer

Name: Paul Donovan
City/State: Scotts Valley, Calif.
Occupation: Writer
One thing people would be surprised to know about me: MI drove a taxi in New York City during college.