first time home reno

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Anit

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#251286 17-Jun-2019 15:02

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post in Geekzone. I', from Auckland but moved to Gisborne about 2 years ago so that I didn't have to put up with flatmates, landlords and traffic. I miss the kings arms, I know it's gone but it was favorite place to be on a Friday night, mostly.

So too escape the above mentioned annoyances I bought a 3 bed roomed ex-state house built in 1948 according to the note in a jam jar that I found while putting in the wall insulation. Which was just awesome finding it, really cool. I intend to put it back with a usb stick of the house and maybe of me.

So while I have the gib off and putting in insulation I was just wondering what else I could do to future proof it, for myself. I'm already doing the electric wiring, well making the maps and drilling the holes for the cables plus internet and media cables. I have an Electrician who's a mate and will do the necessary cable install and certification and I'll be running the media and ethernet cables under the house while the electric will be through the roof cavity. I just turned 50 and intend to live here for the duration.

I have my vege garden out front and fruit trees and dogs in the back. Not a great combination but hey I know I don't own it but I'm going to say that I do anyway banks be damned.Any suggestion will be great but please keep it easy, very easy on the $$$ said "damned banks" will'll probbably be having the last word on anything other other than the insulation. That I have covered, top,bottom and sides, plus most of the other wiring bits.

Though any recommendations for the actual above mentioned cabling be good plus there's a wall I really want to take but I've been told that I can't but we can get into that another time. Lets see how I go with this first.

So first time poster long time gawker

Anit

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#2259514 17-Jun-2019 15:23

Multiple ethernet cable runs to each TV location, ethernet cable run to each bedroom, ethernet cable run in ceiling to mount WiFi AP to work over PoE, video intercom doorbell ethernet cable run to front entry door, lots of power points in each room and each side of the wall if you can. In ceiling speakers for whole house audio. Centralise all cabling to a patch panel cabinet in the garage or another room. Run low voltage cabling in conduits if you can. Run conduit for UFB from ETP to ONT location to where your centralised patch panel location is.

Do whatever you want to do man.

neb

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#2259724 17-Jun-2019 20:36

billgates: [...] lots of power points in each room and each side of the wall if you can [...]

I can't emphasise that part enough. You can never have too many power points, for anything used as an office, bedroom, living room, lounge, etc, put in four-way power points on each wall. Even then you'll end up using power boards on some of those.

Technofreak

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#2259734 17-Jun-2019 20:49

Yep, lots of power points. Did up our kitchen a couple of years ago there was from memory one double hot point and three singles. In the same area we now have 3 singles, 4 doubles and 2 quads. So from a total of 5 hot points to 19 hot points. They all get used at various times.

Two of the doubles have a USB charging outlet. I'd recommend putting some of those at strategic points.

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neb

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#2259737 17-Jun-2019 20:55

Technofreak:
Two of the doubles have a USB charging outlet. I'd recommend putting some of those at strategic points.

I would be more cautious about ones with built-in USB chargers, for two reasons. Firstly, some of the ones I've seen advertised are of pretty dubious Chinese manufacture, so you have no idea what protection circuitry, if any, is present. Secondly, by the time you install it it'll have been superseded by a new charging standard that isn't compatible with what you've just put in. Literally, look at QC 1, QC2, QC3, QC4, QC4+, the infinite number of USB-PD variations, etc. With a plug-in charger you can at least move to this week's standard without having to rewire your power points.

Technofreak

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#2259750 17-Jun-2019 21:14

neb:
Technofreak:

Two of the doubles have a USB charging outlet. I'd recommend putting some of those at strategic points.

I would be more cautious about ones with built-in USB chargers, for two reasons. Firstly, some of the ones I've seen advertised are of pretty dubious Chinese manufacture, so you have no idea what protection circuitry, if any, is present. Secondly, by the time you install it it'll have been superseded by a new charging standard that isn't compatible with what you've just put in. Literally, look at QC 1, QC2, QC3, QC4, QC4+, the infinite number of USB-PD variations, etc. With a plug-in charger you can at least move to this week's standard without having to rewire your power points.

I'd imagine PDL aren't in the habit of providing suspect products.

Sure newer standards like QC4+ provide faster charge times but that doesn't mean an older standard won't charge a newer device. USB is not just used for charging phones and devices with Qualcomm or similar chipsets. Things like cordless headsets, UE blue tooth speakers, etc.

We find it's very useful not having to use a plug in charger. So far there's been nothing we not been able to charge.

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insane

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#2259762 17-Jun-2019 21:32

Add wiring for IPcameras, security spotlights and wired PIR sensors. Bit of a pain having to redo those later down the line.

Anit

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Wannabe Geek

#2260808 19-Jun-2019 11:37

The house has like one power point in each room bar the kitchen which has 3 plus one in the electric cooker so I get that I need more. Didn't think that I needed that more but cool more it is. I'll be putting all the entertainment movie/audio in what now is an airing cupboard and will run most of cabling through the ceiling. But tell me, how much interference should I be concerned about if any.What I'll be putting in there is an Onkyo tx nr-1030 amp, a couple of pc's with 600W and 800W ps with video on one and general pc stuff on the other. Cd and blu ray player, patch panel thanks billgates and router. I might stick another Onkyo amp in there just because I have it but it tends to run really damned hot. I had to put a fan right on top of it after getting it back from the repair yard for the third time. And a power point for each one, I might need some tips on how to calculate what draw that lot will take from the power board if that makes sense and a extractor fan. I haven't got the kitchen planed out yet but yes lots of powerpoint. I have to find out if I can knock down those walls without having the lounge ceiling fall down if the earth shakes a little. With that do I go with a builder or do I need an engineer to check that out. Poe is a new thing for me last time I looked at it was when I tried to use a bunch raspberry pi's and webcams as security cameras and it seemed clunky plus it added an extra layer to the board which made it too large to fit the encloser that I'd had for pi.

Something that I've thinking about is solar power and an electric car. I'd like an outlet for the car and make changing over to solar as easy as possible while I'm re-wiring the place and have the gib of the walls. Getting solar installed isn't going to happen for another 4 years or so sooner if I can.

Thanks again for all the replies,

Anit

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JayADee

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#2261186 20-Jun-2019 06:17

Congrats, those are a quality base. We did the same, 1950 house, love it.

cshwone

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#2261190 20-Jun-2019 06:30

On a more basic note I would get the plumbing checked over and install a Rinnai gas water system. Ideal for single person living rather than a hot water tank.

rogercruse

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#2261199 20-Jun-2019 07:32

You've not mentioned (or I couldn't see anything) lighting, cooling, heating or hot water, so....

We've having a house build and we're installing:

low voltage LED lighting
Installation is simpler with a single cable to daisy chain them together. No huge holes need to be cut into the ceiling.
Each light can be switched on / off / dimmed by a central processor that links to your mobile phone giving you control where ever you are
ducted air conditioning system
With all the ducting hidden in the roof space and a heat exchanger to use stale air to warm / cool incoming fresh air.
Each room / zone in your home being controlled by the same central processing as above
heat pump hot water
Sucking the heat to warm your hot water from the surrounding air when your power company provides the lowest energy costs
And again managed using the same central processing as mentioned before.

While the doing everything isn't as cheap as it should be, at least you can consider your options.

Good Luck.

elbrownos

109 posts

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#2261221 20-Jun-2019 08:55

cshwone: On a more basic note I would get the plumbing checked over and install a Rinnai gas water system. Ideal for single person living rather than a hot water tank.

I disagree. The high daily charge for gas means gas only becomes the cheaper option for high users.

jonathan18

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#2261254 20-Jun-2019 09:43

Onkyo receivers have certainly have a reputation for running hot (and it's sure the case with mine), so I'd be very careful with where you put both of these (not just the older one) and how you mount/cool them. You mention you're also planning to put two computers in the same cupboard, so I can imagine a good amount of heat will be generated - I imagine a fan (and I assume an exit for this excess heat) is a necessity.

Personally, I've never been worried by having components on display so haven't gone down the cupboard approach - but there will be others here that have and can no doubt give you recommendations on how best to manage heat etc.

On heating - yeah, I'd probably go ducted heat pump; if you're able to get the unit and ducting under the floor then it may be worth considering floor vents, which are often better for heating (and come with far fewer airflow issues). It's far less obtrusive to have a vent or two in each room compared to a wall (or floor) unit. Heaps and heaps of threads here on GZ on ducted systems. (Someone's mentioned gas above: if you do intend to go reticulated gas for cooking and water, then there's also the option of gas-powered central heating.)

Electric cars - even if you don't go down the solar power path, it may be a good opportunity (given you're re-wiring the house) to put in appropriate and relatively future-proofed cabling on an appropriate fuse etc for this. Again, I'm no expert on this, so perhaps do a bit of research. (We just use a 16A caravan socket for charging our Leaf which is more than quick enough for our use, but I think the recommendation now is 32A?).

phrozenpenguin

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#2261471 20-Jun-2019 12:47

elbrownos:

cshwone: On a more basic note I would get the plumbing checked over and install a Rinnai gas water system. Ideal for single person living rather than a hot water tank.

I disagree. The high daily charge for gas means gas only becomes the cheaper option for high users.

I think you only get a daily charge when you have reticulated gas, which I understand to be rare in NZ? In Christchurch you run a gas hot water from (2) cylinders and pay a tiny rental fee for those cylinders, no daily charge. I don't know the fees in posters location.

phrozenpenguin

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#2261473 20-Jun-2019 12:48

rogercruse:

low voltage LED lighting
Installation is simpler with a single cable to daisy chain them together. No huge holes need to be cut into the ceiling.
Each light can be switched on / off / dimmed by a central processor that links to your mobile phone giving you control where ever you are

What LED system is this?

rogercruse

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#2261480 20-Jun-2019 13:16

phrozenpenguin:...What LED system is this?

The following link should provide a better description than I can

https://www.atatouch.co.nz/lighting-systems

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