By John Cowie

The Copper Development Association recently completed production of a new marketing tool that informs and educates homeowners about the growing importance of residential communications wiring.

Using audio, video and multimedia presentations, the new CD-ROM titled “Structured Wiring for Today’s Homes — Homeowner Edition” explains how homes can be wired for voice, data, video, controls and security. It features video clips of John Ratzenberger discussing many ideas relating to structured wiring in a friendly and easy-to-understand manner.

The Copper Development Association sponsored the development of this marketing tool in order to inform homeowners about the advantages of structured wiring systems. It can help to grow your business. It is the fourth and most ambitious in a series of CD-ROMs, which includes the Builders Edition, the Installers Edition and the Remodelers Edition. Each of these CD-ROMs is available at no charge from the Copper Development Association.

Multiple Copies Available at No Charge

The Homeowners Edition is an excellent marketing tool to the customers of installers. As a result, the Copper Development Association is offering multiple copies to interested installers at no charge.

The presentation is generic and noncommercial. The CD-ROM does not endorse specific products but rather recommends structured wiring as the best solutions for digital communications within the home.

Contact CDA to obtain your bundle of 10, 50 or 150 CD-ROMs. A single-person company may want to start with 10 CD-ROMs as a leave-behind for structured-wiring customers. A midsize company could request 50 CD-ROMs and bundles of 150 CD-ROMs are available to larger companies.

You can request one or more bundles of CD-ROMs by writing to the Copper Development Association at the address at the end of this article, providing your company name, address and phone number. Please also indicate how many CD-ROMs you will require.

Hurry, because this offer is valid only while supplies last!

Meanwhile, one of the most important things you can do to grow your business is to answer the questions that your customers ask you. Read these excerpts from the “Tech Talk” section of the questions and answers. This section is more technical than other sections but is nonetheless extremely useful for answering the many questions that your serious customers may ask you about structured wiring.

 

 

Structured Wiring Basics

 

Q: What types of structured-wiring systems are available and what are their components?

A: Structured wiring systems run the gamut from simple to complex. Most systems allow you to start with a basic configuration that will serve four to six locations for voice, data and video distribution, and can be expanded to meet the specific needs and number of locations in your house. The basic components are:

 

• A central distribution device (CDD): where all the cables are terminated and have access to external service feeds such as telephone service and cable or satellite TV;

 

• Service feeds: connect the CDD to the external demarcation point on the house. Typically, one Category 5e cable is run to the telephone company’s box and one RG-6 cable is run to the cable or satellite provider’s connection;

 

• Inside wiring: Category 5e cables and RG-6 coaxial cables run from the CDD directly to each telephone, data and video outlet in the house; and

 

• Outlets or jacks: used in various rooms of the home where telephones, fax machines, computers, televisions, etc. may be plugged into the wall. Most of these devices require electrical power so it is typical to find outlets or jacks adjacent to or near electrical outlets.

 

Additional components can include:

 

• Audio wiring; volume controls; in-wall speakers; cameras;

 

• Modules in the CDD which provide networking, video splitting and amplification, connectivity for whole house audio, video modulators for cameras, power supplies and more; and

 

• Security and home control system interfaces.

 

Q: How is structured wiring different from traditional telephone or cable TV wiring?

A: Structured wiring uses higher-capacity cables and what is known as a star-wiring configuration. Each cable runs directly from an outlet to a central distribution device where all of the outlet cables are then connected to the proper services. The cables used are 4-pair (8-conductor) Category-rated cables (usually Category 5e), RG-6 quad-shield coaxial cables and, often, speaker cables and security cables.

Traditional telephone wiring used two-pair (four-conductor) cables that were daisy-chained, or run from the outside telephone service to a jack, then on to the next jack and so on throughout the house. With traditional cable TV wiring, one cable is connected to the cable provider’s signal splitter on the outside of the house. This leaves no provision for distributing internally generated video signals, accessing centrally located electronics or taking advantage of services offered by multiple service providers, such as cable and satellite TV.

 

Q: Don’t I need a licensed professional to install wiring in my home?

A: You need to check the building department in your area to determine if an installer must be licensed in order to put in structured wiring. If so, the do-it-yourself approach is out.

 

Q: Is Category-type cable more delicate than ordinary electrical wire?

A: This is pretty rugged stuff. However, in order to maintain the high bandwidth capacity that Category 5e cables have, you must avoid excessive pulling force, snagging, kinking and sharp turns, and maintain a minimum bending radius of about 2 inches.

 

Q: Does it need to be kept away from electrical wire?

A: Signals from electrical wires can interfere with the signals in the structured wiring cables if they are not separated. They should be run through their own holes and pathways and should cross electrical wiring at a 90-degree angle. Although faceplates may combine both high-voltage (electrical) and low-voltage (communications) outlets, under no circumstances should electrical and communications cables share the same electrical box behind the wall plates.

 

Q: Where can I buy structured wiring components and the necessary tools?

A: Structured wiring is widely available and may be purchased from home centers, distributors of low-voltage wiring or electrical wiring and, in some cases, directly from the manufacturers. For specific sources in your area, please check pertinent magazines, manufacturers’ Web sites, industry associations and see the What Next?/Additional Resources section of the new CD-ROM from the Copper Development Association..

 

 

Recommended Configuration

 

Q: Do I really need to wire every room? Isn’t the recommended configuration overkill?

A: This is a question only you can answer. The recommended configuration provides flexibility both today and for years to come. You can back off if you like, but can you predict how the rooms will be configured down the road? How often is a spare bedroom turned into a nursery or office? You wouldn’t think of not having adequate electrical outlets throughout every room in the home, so why not provide adequate access to voice, data and video services? A sufficient number of communications outlets should be provided in each room to eliminate the need for extension cords. If you do it right, you’ll thank yourself later. Wire is inexpensive.

 

Q: Does this cover everything that will ever be needed by any family?

A: It is impossible to predict all of the communications services that will ever be needed over a home’s lifetime. The recommended configuration provides a great deal of flexibility for services available today and those coming in the foreseeable future. Provisions can easily be made to go even further by including empty conduits between the central distribution device and both the outside of the house and key locations within the home where more advanced services may be needed. For example, a conduit from the CDD to the attic or the basement, if you have one, would greatly facilitate adding additional wiring to virtually any room in the house, if needed at some point in the future.

 

Q: Do I need fiber optic cables in my structured wiring system?

A: While there are bundled cables available today that include fiber optics, there are virtually no applications for fiber within the great majority of homes today. If applications requiring fiber ever make their way into homes, it is anyone’s guess as to what type of fiber will be needed. The optimal solution for future flexibility is to include some empty conduits that will facilitate pulling whatever types of cables may be needed.

There is a trend toward fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), delivered by certain service providers. This brings a wide-open conduit of bandwidth to the home. However, this optical signal is converted to an electrical signal at the home, and standard Category 5e cable will probably handle whatever the fiber brings to the home, at least for the foreseeable future. However, the availability of FTTH in your neighborhood might be a trigger to put in the higher capacity Category 6 cable, however, instead of 5e, at a small additional cost.

 

Need for Multiple Cables

 

Q: What are some common configurations where multiple cables are needed?

A: Many devices today need access to multiple cables, and more and more devices are appearing in homes. Just as the days of three-way adapters and extension cords for electrical connections have diminished greatly, so too should external splitters and extension cords for telephones, faxes, and data connections. The cost of “extra” cables is minimal.

Here are some of the devices and locations within a home that need multiple cables:

 

• Digital Satellite Receivers – need access to both telephone lines and coaxial cables delivering signals from the satellite dish;

 

• Home Offices – typical service needs include access to multiple telephone lines, fax line, data network and/or cable/DSL modem and video sources such as CATV, digital satellite feed and in-home video feeds such as front-door cameras. This may require multiple Category 5e cables and multiple RG-6 coaxial cables; and

 

• Entertainment Centers – need access to all internal and external video feeds, telephone lines for digital satellite receivers, data networks, whole-house and surround-sound audio feeds and integrated control systems. There is probably no location in a home that will require more cables and outlets than the entertainment center.

 

 

Q: Should I use bundled cables?

A: There should be no performance difference between using individual cables vs. a properly designed bundled cable. It is really a matter of individual preference and convenience. Bundled cables may cost a bit more but may decrease labor time since you can reduce the number of cable pulls. Most bundled cables have two Category 5e cables and two RG-6 quad-shield cables within them, so one cable pull per location will satisfy the recommended solution. Additionally, the outer sheath of bundled cables may provide some additional protection during the installation process.

 

Q: Can I just leave space for running cables later, since the cables themselves might change over time?

A: While the cables may change somewhat or be added to in the future, Category 5e and RG-6 quad-shield cables are needed today. Leaving some pathways, empty conduits and pull strings to key areas of the house (entertainment system, home office, central distribution device, etc.) is always a good idea. You never know when you may need more cables or perhaps a new type of cable in the future. This should be in addition to, not instead of, adding the right cabling today.

 

Tech Talk: FCC Requirements

 

Q: Why is the FCC bothering with what I put in my house? Don’t they have anything better to do?

A: The FCC recognized that the wiring that we have all used for years was severely inadequate for the emerging digital technologies, such as broadband data service and high definition television (HDTV). In some instances old-style wiring could result in a violation of electromagnetic emission standards due to the higher power and frequency requirements of some new equipment.

 

Q: Can you give me a short synopsis of the FCC rule?

A: The Federal Communications Commission enacted a ruling that became effective in July of 2000, requiring that all new installations of residential copper telephone wiring, whether in new or existing buildings, must use at least Category 3 wiring and be installed in a star or home-run configuration. Category 5e provides roughly 10 times the data-carrying capacity as Cat 3 for essentially the same price, so there is little reason to use anything less. See the What Next?/Additional Resources section of this CD-ROM for a link to the actual wording of the FCC ruling.

Coaxial Cable

 

Q: I’ve never heard of two-way TV in a house. Is this really an important feature?

A: The real benefit is the ability to both send and receive video and audio signals to multiple locations in the house. This enables you to send the output of devices such as DVDs, DVRs and cable/satellite decoding boxes not only to the TV where they are located, but to any TV in any room of the house. Just as structured wiring allows computers to share data, peripherals and the broadband connection throughout the home, it also allows audio/video devices to share their signals.

 

Q: How does the choice of coax affect my electrical wiring?

A: By using an RG-6 coaxial cable that has a solid-copper center conductor, cameras and other remote devices can be powered directly over the coaxial cable. You also never know how those cables may be used in the future, so it’s a good practice to build in as much flexibility as possible.

 

Star Wiring

 

Q: Why not wire the same as for electrical service?

A: Electrical service is designed to handle multiple outlets per circuit, up to a specific load rating, with each circuit connected to a circuit breaker or fuse. Communications applications such as networks, high-speed Internet access and video distribution rely on dedicated circuits. All bridging and connecting should be performed at a central location.

 

Q: What’s wrong with daisy-chaining?

A: First and foremost, it is against the law to daisy-chain communications wiring in any new or retrofit installation today. The FCC mandates that residential communications wiring be installed in a star configuration. Second, daisy-chaining drastically reduces the performance capacity, prohibits applications such as networking and allows little flexibility as to what applications or services are available at individual outlets.

 

Q: Why can’t you have connection points? Is this stuff really that sensitive?

A: Connection points create breaks in the wiring and greatly increase signal loss. In order to ensure that high-bandwidth applications will be supported on the high-capacity cabling that is being installed, there should be a continuous run of cable from the central distribution device to each outlet or jack in the home.

 

Central Distribution Device

 

Q: What features does a central distribution device accommodate?

A: First, the CDD must accommodate all of the cable runs, service runs and connection points. A well-designed box will allow the cables to be routed and stored neatly. Second, the box must accommodate modules such as video amplifiers, network hubs, video modulators, security/home control panels and their associated power needs. A non-switchable 15-amp duplex outlet should always be available within 5 feet of the box. In many cases, electrical outlets will be installed directly into the box by an electrician to power the electronics.

 

Q: Where should the central distribution device (CDD) be placed and what planning is needed?

A: First, the CDD must accommodate all of the current and perceived future needs of the structured wiring system. Planning considerations for a central distribution device include:

 

• Where should it go? Ideally, it should be located as close to the middle of the house as possible, protected from weather and burglary, and not placed on a firewall. By choosing a central location, you will reduce cabling costs and the length of the cable runs. Typical locations include under stairs, in closets, basements, garages, utility closets, etc.

 

• How much space does it need? Most manufacturers have designed their wiring boxes to recess-mount between 16-inch studs, or to surface-mount, so the boxes are typically 14-14 ½ inches wide, with lengths varying from approximately 20-60 inches, depending upon the size of the house and the amount of electronics to be housed. In some large homes, two boxes may be needed which can be mounted side-by-side in adjoining stud cavities.

 

• Does it need to be in a air conditioned environment? This depends upon your region of the country and whether or not there will be any active electronics. By and large, the passive components needed to supply telephone service and simple split-cable service do not need to be in a air conditioned environment. However, as soon as you add electronics, such as video amplifiers (typically installed when there are more than four video outlets), modulators or network hubs, you need to be concerned about the operating temperature range for these electronics, which is typically between 32 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Attics in Arizona and uninsulated garages in Minnesota are not likely to be ideal locations.

More Questions and Answers

More questions and answers can be found on the Homeowner Edition of the Structured CD-ROM. Be sure to order your bundle today at no charge by writing to the following address: Structured Wiring CD-ROM, Attn: John Cowie, Copper Development Association, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

About the Author

John Cowie is manager, Communications Wiring, Copper Development Association, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.