Cabling Is Too Often Overlooked - Plan For Tomorrow, Today
Our Future Cabling Needs
TVs in most every room, audio speakers throughout the home, telephone service over Ethernet cabling. The connectivity needed for today's modern homes is getting more complex, and wireless will solve less than 10% of the challenges. Every time you add a new connection and, certainly, when you remodel your save money and grief if you take a smart approach to Low Voltage Cabling and plan for the future.
What Is Low Voltage Cabling?
This is wiring which does not carry AC power. It requres special skills and craftmanship to do it effectively, in an attractive way.
Low Voltage Cabling includes cables for:
Audio (Speaker / Subwoofer)
TV (Ethernet/HDMI)
Data For PCs and Internet Enabled Devices (Ethernet)
Phone (Copper Twisted Pair)
Cable / Satellite (Coaxial)
What Is Structured Wiring?
Structured Wiring refers to the specialty cables which enclose multiple cable types in a single wiring sheath and an efficient way to get those wires where they are needed.
Sturctured Wiring can hold muliplte types of cables, PC, Satllite, Phone, and PC into a single package. Examples can be seen on the right. Previously, a separate cable was pulled to the location it was needed for today. This legacy method is more costly overall, and doesn't insure that an Ethernet or TV cable will be available at the necessary locations in the future.
Traditionally, phone, Internet, and TV cables are brought into the home at different locations. From there, they are daisy chained throughout the house with "drops" as each room the customer specifies. In addition to the cost, troubleshooting problems can be difficult even with the involvement of a phone company, Comcast, DirecTV, ATT representative.
With Structured, each type of service is brough into the house at the same location. From there, a multi-purpose cable is deliverd to each location. This eliminates the need for additional cable pulls to that area in the future. Troubleshooting is also simplified due to each location having an uninterruped path back to the wiring panel. The problem must be at either of the easily located endpoints.
Why Electricians and General Contractors May Not Be Your Best Choice For Low Voltage Design & Installation. There are two reasons why many contractors and electricians are thrilled to avoid low voltage cabling. First, electical is a single service and doesn't change over time. Low Voltage wiring supports many services and the needs of each room, let alone each house can be different. Second, most don't do enough Low Voltage work to be sufficiently knowledgeable about all the termination options such as wall plates, volume controls, in-wall/in-ceiling speaker wiring. There are both a functional and aesthetic considerations that most non-specialists don't get. 90% will offload Low Voltage wiring if they can. Bay Area Gadgets is here to help.
Bay Area Gadgets Is Your Low Voltage Specialist
We have the tools, skills, and knowldege to handle a single wiring run or whole house system during construction or a remodel. We are continually researching new ways people will use technology in their homes and the implications on non-AC wiring. With a little foresight and Bay Area Gadgets at your side, you can save money and be prepared for the future.
