Thoughts/recommendations for wiring in a new house

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Thoughts/recommendations for wiring in a new house

corksta

2385 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#116170 20-Apr-2013 11:44

We're looking at building a new house in a new subdivision, and I want to make sure I have enough plugs and ports for the future.

So I'm wondering if there's anyone who has recently built a new place, what you had done in addition to the standard number of plugs and ports, or if there are things in hindsight that you wish you had have done and could recommend that we consider.

At this stage I'm thinking of putting in Ethernet/phone ports in every bedroom, as well as multiple Ethernet ports in the lounge/media room where I can hardwire things like the Roku, Xbox 360, etc.

I'll also get the satellite speakers of our 7.1 system wired into the wall as well.

Apart from that I can't think of too much more to do that doesn't already come standard with the house, so any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

1 | 2

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#802727 20-Apr-2013 12:22

My only other recommendation would be to maybe think about cabling for WiFi AP's.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

cyril7

8949 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#802729 20-Apr-2013 12:25

+1 to Steves comment, typical arrangement would be a TO for an AP in the top of the pantry that covers your modern homes open plan kitchen,dinning,living area etc. And a TO in the top of a hall closet to cover bedroom areas.

I actually recommend that the pantry one has two TO's, that way you can actually place the primary router/WiFiAP in that location and return a LAN port to feed a switch at the hub to the other house TO's.

Cyril

corksta

2385 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#802732 20-Apr-2013 12:36

cyril7: +1 to Steves comment, typical arrangement would be a TO for an AP in the top of the pantry that covers your modern homes open plan kitchen,dinning,living area etc. And a TO in the top of a hall closet to cover bedroom areas.

I actually recommend that the pantry one has two TO's, that way you can actually place the primary router/WiFiAP in that location and return a LAN port to feed a switch at the hub to the other house TO's.

Cyril

Sorry what's a TO?

I was wondering about WiFi in the house. I'd want to wire in pretty much anything that has an Ethernet port and just use wireless for phones, tablets, laptops, but wasn't quite sure how this would work with everything being housed in the cabinet in the garage.

cyril7

8949 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#802734 20-Apr-2013 12:42

Hi a TO is a Telecommunications Outlet, ie an RJ45 data port. You need to wire main AV areas, and office areas, other than that most locations can be dealt with via well placed WiFi APs as mentioned above.

I recommend at least one TO for every wall mounted TV, plus 2 for every AV location. One TO min for every bedroom in addition to the wall mounted TV one if there are TVs in the bedrooms. 2-6 in any office, plus the WiFi ones mentioned

Cyril

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#802735 20-Apr-2013 12:42

Are you getting connected with xDSL or UFB? Or will UFB be available at your new subdivision at a later stage?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Goosey

2336 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#802759 20-Apr-2013 13:29

Dont forget to specify those extra wide horizontal power outlets in your kitchen and anywhere else you think your gonna have big ugly or wider than normal plugs plugged into it.

ALSO, Ive seen some nify power outlet arrangements near central benches where they also incorporate USB for charging phones AND includes a little cut out in bench tops or walls/cupboards for hiding powerpacks, phone chargers and their cables.

Would you consider some 12v power, coax and/or ethernet to areas where you think you might want to install CCTV at a later date? (includes any fancy doorbell / intercoms)?

One thing Ive seen heaps latley is people putting in one or two outdoor power outlets in their garden for use in bbq areas or power tools, future spa pools, swimming pools, garden sheds or for a party...... power up the dog kennel ! etc etc etc. You could even consider provisioning for an outdoor wifi access point (but this depends on your outdoor area).

If you have a front fence, would this ever have gate attached? you could provision for power, comms, cctv at the gate as well.

Finally if I ever build a house, Im making room for a petrol generator cupboard (ventalated of course) and have this ready to simply flick switch and it will run my fridge/freezer circuits and some lights and important power outlets needed for surviving a power outage. Dont forget to ask your sparky to wire the fridge/freezers and some key things to one or two fuses so you know excatley where they are on the board.

The house we live in now was built by a sparkey in 1989 and we noted there are two fuses that specifically run the fridge in the kitchen, the power outlet for the laundry, the outlet we use for the freezer in the garage, the light in the laundry and a light in the kitchen and one of the power outlets in the kitchen. Quite handy indeed and recently proved more than handy when all the fuses where taken out for home repairs (except of course the fuses for fridge/freezers and power outlets which the contractors used).

corksta

2385 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#802770 20-Apr-2013 13:53

DarthKermit: Are you getting connected with xDSL or UFB? Or will UFB be available at your new subdivision at a later stage?

It's being wired for UFB, I spoke to the Chorus guy yesterday on site but he wasn't sure, and Chrous' maps dont give a date either. Maybe if it's being wired for it, it'll just be switched on anyway?

corksta

2385 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#802773 20-Apr-2013 13:55

Gooseybhai: Dont forget to specify those extra wide horizontal power outlets in your kitchen and anywhere else you think your gonna have big ugly or wider than normal plugs plugged into it.

ALSO, Ive seen some nify power outlet arrangements near central benches where they also incorporate USB for charging phones AND includes a little cut out in bench tops or walls/cupboards for hiding powerpacks, phone chargers and their cables.

Would you consider some 12v power, coax and/or ethernet to areas where you think you might want to install CCTV at a later date? (includes any fancy doorbell / intercoms)?

One thing Ive seen heaps latley is people putting in one or two outdoor power outlets in their garden for use in bbq areas or power tools, future spa pools, swimming pools, garden sheds or for a party...... power up the dog kennel ! etc etc etc. You could even consider provisioning for an outdoor wifi access point (but this depends on your outdoor area).

If you have a front fence, would this ever have gate attached? you could provision for power, comms, cctv at the gate as well.

Finally if I ever build a house, Im making room for a petrol generator cupboard (ventalated of course) and have this ready to simply flick switch and it will run my fridge/freezer circuits and some lights and important power outlets needed for surviving a power outage. Dont forget to ask your sparky to wire the fridge/freezers and some key things to one or two fuses so you know excatley where they are on the board.

The house we live in now was built by a sparkey in 1989 and we noted there are two fuses that specifically run the fridge in the kitchen, the power outlet for the laundry, the outlet we use for the freezer in the garage, the light in the laundry and a light in the kitchen and one of the power outlets in the kitchen. Quite handy indeed and recently proved more than handy when all the fuses where taken out for home repairs (except of course the fuses for fridge/freezers and power outlets which the contractors used).

Thanks for that, we're definitely getting a couple outside plugs installed for the outdoor area, and I'd heard about plugs that pop up from the kitchen bench so will look into that too.

There won't be a front fence or gate as such, covenants don't allow for it. But yeah will definitely consider CCTV and so on, I think the wife is quite keen for that.

coffeebaron

6072 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#802775 20-Apr-2013 14:03

Network and power in to ceiling space also. Handy for Wi-Fi AP, a good hardy one, and power is always handy to have in the ceiling space.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally
Rural Broadband RBI installer for Ultimate Broadband and Full Flavour

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

timmmay

19622 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#802792 20-Apr-2013 14:51

What would be important to me

A cupboard (ventilated) for racks for equipment - computers, amplifiers, etc.
Insulation over the minimum spec.
Central heating powered by heat pumps (20KW or so), including ventilation that can be used without the heating. Ideally heat recovery ventilation, and a good control system. Or under floor heating.
Double glazing.
A well ventilated bathroom, if the floor's tile then you have to heat it.
Some kind of cladding that doesn't require painting every ten years. Paint just won't stick to my house well, with old weatherboards.
Drainage is important. Down the side of the driveway, under the lawn, shed, you want the water to be taken away rather than just sit there.

I'll probably think of more later.

Goosey

2336 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#802809 20-Apr-2013 15:19

coffeebaron: Network and power in to ceiling space also. Handy for Wi-Fi AP, a good hardy one, and power is always handy to have in the ceiling space.

+1 for power in the celing space, we have a double fluro tube in ours... in saying this we can walk standing upright in most of the celing space. Ive always wondered how we would ever replace the big 2m tall hot water tank that sits in the celing...the man hole on the side of the stairs is smaller !

timmmay

19622 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#802818 20-Apr-2013 15:58

You cut a bigger hole, then fix it. Or you take tin off the roof and get a crane in. Or you buy a newer, narrower tank.

Things I use power for in the ceiling space:
- Lights for the storage space
- Burgler alarm
- DVS
- Potentially a central heating unit (high current, 20A wires at least)