Wiring Your New House 103

From CT.wiki

"Future-proof your home" edition

In this last part, we take a quick trip through the house, room by room. For each room we’ll reiterate the possible wires to install, and what they would do. Obviously, not all rooms will be in your house, and you will not need every wire we mention. Often, making one installation choice eliminates other choices. However, don’t put curbs on your imagination. It’s a lot easier (and cheaper) to run wires now, than it is after construction is finished.

Suggested Wires per room

Contents 1 Master bedroom 2 Kids and guest bedrooms 3 Nursery 4 Master bath 5 Secondary baths 6 Attic/Roof 7 Kitchen 8 Dining room 9 Pantry 10 Laundry 11 Breakfast nook 12 Living room/Family room/Great room/Recreation room 13 Media room 14 Office 15 Foyer 16 Mudroom 17 Hallways 18 Sauna 19 Basement 20 Utility room 21 HVAC room 22 Storage 23 Home Theater 24 Hobby room 25 Shop 26 Garage 27 Deck/patio 28 Lawn 29 Driveway 30 Wiring closet

Master bedroom

• Security keypad – Cat-5E, Firewire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Smoke detector - Firewire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Kids and guest bedrooms

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Smoke detector - Firewire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Nursery

• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone wire
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Camera for baby monitoring - RG59 or Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Smoke detector – Firewire
• CO Detector – Firewire or Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• You might want to turn the nursery into bedroom in the future, so also run;
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops

Master bath

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone wire
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Thermostat for in-floor radiant heat – Cat-5E

Secondary baths

• Security keypad – Cat-5E, Firewire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Smoke detector - Firewire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Thermostat for in-floor radiant heat – Cat-5E

Attic/Roof

• Temperature sensor – Cat-5E
• Satellite – RG6QS, 4 drops per dish
• Satellite Internet – RG6QS, 2 drops
• OTA antenna – RG6QS
• Heat detector - Firewire

Kitchen

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• LP or Natural Gas Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Bar code reader -

Dining room

• Often doubles as a play room/study room/etc. so don’t skip the drops because you’ll “never use a computer in the dining room”.
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Pantry

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Bar code reader -

Laundry

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Water sensor – Station Wire
• Washing machine “done” sensor – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Dryer “done” sensor – Cat-5E or Station Wire

Breakfast nook

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Living room/Family room/Great room/Recreation room

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Media room

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, local or whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops, at least 4 wires pre drop
• Video – 2 Cat-5E drops, for DVI/HDMI adapters
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Office

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops, at least 2 wires per drop
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Foyer

• Security keypad – Cat-5E, Firewire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire

Mudroom

• Security keypad – Cat-5E, Firewire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire

Hallways

• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire

Sauna

• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Door contact – Station Wire
• Temperature sensor – Cat-5E
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Water detector – Station Wire

Basement

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Smoke detector - Firewire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire
• Temperature sensor – Cat-5E
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Water detector – Station Wire

Utility room

• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire
• Temperature sensor – Cat-5E
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Water detector – Station Wire

HVAC room

• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• CO Detector – Station Wire or Firewire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Water detector – Station Wire

Storage

• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire
• Temperature sensor – Cat-5E
• Humidity sensor – Cat-5E
• Water detector – Station Wire

Home Theater

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Speakers, Home Theatre – 14/2 or 12/2
• Microphone – Shielded mike cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video input (from wiring closet) – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Video (internal to HT) – mini coax
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire

Hobby room

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS, multiple drops
• Telephone – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Network – Cat-5E, multiple drops
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Shop

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Microphone – Shielded microphone cable
• IR – Cat-5E or Station Wire
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window contacts – Station Wire

Garage

• Security keypad – Cat-5E, Firewire
• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Window/door contacts – Station Wire
• Heat detectors – Firewire
• Garage door level sensor – Station Wire or Cat-5E

Deck/patio

• Touch screen – Cat-5E, electrical power
• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4 or 18/2, depending on music system and configuration
• Video – RG6QS
• Telephone – Cat-5E
• Network – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire

Lawn

• Speakers, whole house sound – Speaker wire Direct burial Speaker wire 16/4 or 14/4, depending on distance from amplifier
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Bird bath water detector – Station Wire or Cat-5E
• Rain detector – Station Wire or Cat-5E
• Automated lawn sprinklers – Sprinkler wire
• Weather station – varies by manufacturer

Driveway

• Video – RG6QS
• Door phone – Cat-5E
• Motion detector – Station Wire
• Gate controller – varies
• Automobile sensor – varies by manufacturer

Wiring closet

• If it’s listed anywhere above, then it ends up here!