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Home & Garden Articles
Pre-Wire your Home - Save Money and Prepare for the Future
Fri 10 Nov 2006 - 14:38
Pre-Wire your Home - Save Money and Prepare for the Future
By Roy Stephenson
The world as we know it is changing rapidly. Every day, innovative new electronic devices are being introduced that are changing the way we work, communicate and interface with the society around us.
Out of convenience or necessity, electronic devices now saturate our daily lives. From cell phones and I-Pods to flat screens and intercom systems, like it or not we are living in an electronic jungle.
Our own homes are on the front lines of this high-tech renaissance. In the not to distant future, the appliances in ultramodern homes will be able to talk to each other. The furnace will have the ability dispatch a service technician or order a replacement part via the internet. Rather than trouble you with the fact that you are almost out of milk, the refrigerator will simply place an order for more with an on-line supermarket.
If what I am saying sounds a little far fetched, just wait a few years. The speed at which things are changing is multiplying exponentially and the homes of the future are rapidly approaching. If you happen to be from my generation, you probably remember black & white televisions with 2 or 3 channels that stopped broadcasting at 10-pm. Now we have satellite televisions in our cars broadcasting hundreds of channels 24-7.
Modern appliances such as LCD televisions or home theater systems require specialized wiring that is not included in most homes. I am speaking from experience when I tell you that there is nothing more frustrating than having to cut into your freshly painted walls to run audio and video cables for your new television. The marriage counseling costs alone were astronomical.
That is why I suggest if you are currently building a new home or remodeling an existing home, you should seriously consider pre-wiring the home to incorporate the latest technology. It is infinitely less expensive and much easier to run wire in a home that is under construction than it is to try and run them later.
Besides the basic telephone and cable television wires, you might want to run wire for home theater systems, security systems, central vacuum systems, heating and air conditioning, computer networks, intercoms, and audio sound systems.
Make sure there are electric outlets at locations where you plan on installing any major appliances such as televisions, computers, powered speakers or video projectors.
If your home theatre project goes beyond the basic television and surround sound, you might also need to plan for specialized lighting, dimmers, sub-woofers, projection screens and theater seating.
Taking it a step further, you can even pre-wire for a smart home automated control system that will allow you to control all of your security, entertainment and lighting systems, HVAC systems, lawn sprinklers or even your drapes and blinds from custom touch screen controllers located throughout your home. An automated control system can allow you to monitor and manage every aspect of your homes electronic systems from anywhere in the world via the internet.
There are specialized wall boxes, enclosures, hubs, routers, distribution systems, modulators, amplifiers, converters and splitters to help you complete your structured wiring system. Most of these are available at Home Depot or other local electrical supply houses.
Depending on the complexity of your design, you might want to enlist the help of a professional to help with the planning process. Even if you do not install all of the components right now, you will be money ahead if your home construction or remodeling plan includes a structured wire distribution system.
Just make sure your wife tells you exactly where she wants that new TV before you get started!
Roy Stephenson is a Security Consultant with over 21 Years Experience Designing and Installing High End Integrated Security Systems. He is currently the VP of Marketing at http://www.Security-Kits.Com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Stephenson
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