Low Voltage Wiring

For Remodeling Projects

Low voltage wiring is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. That’s because today’s homeowners are hungry for technology. They have come to expect high-speed Internet and multipoint access to their devices, entertainment, and home control functions. What’s unfortunate, is that homes without this basic infrastructure are obsolete before the drywall is hung. For those planning a home remodel, proper wiring is an essential first phase.

It enables you to install home systems and configure home technology and smart devices so they can all communicate with each other. The best time install low voltage wiring in a home is while remodeling. For example, if you are adding on an addition, redoing a kitchen or bedroom, or repurposing an existing space, it is an opportunity to install the proper wiring while the walls are open. It will save both time and money.

Not sure you need it? Consider this: with more and more Wi-Fi devices being introduced to the home, it means that a home’s wireless signal will only continue to degrade. Put simply, interference from electrical devices inside the home or a neighbors’ Wi-Fi network are all things that contribute to it being generally less reliable than a wired network.

While an all-wireless configuration seems simple, low-voltage wire is still critical to a home’s infrastructure no matter how you look at it. Not only is the security of home data better on a wired backbone, Wi-Fi is also subject to a lot more interference than a wired connection. Ethernet is faster than Wi-Fi; there’s no getting around that fact.

Because wired speeds will always be greater than wireless speeds, it only makes sense to consider how adding the right wire during the remodeling phase not only adds value to the home, but also several advantages. With this in mind, we offer some insight.

Why Structured Wiring is Critical

From new homes to existing ones, proper wiring of a home can mean the difference between having systems and devices that communicate with each other or not. In fact, proper home wiring makes a home more efficient and more secure while also providing an experience personal to the homeowner. For this reason, low voltage wiring is no longer an option considering today’s technological lifestyle. Linked throughout a home by structured wiring systems, fully connected homes integrate cable TV, home automation, home security, satellite feeds, audio/video systems, computers, Internet, multiple phone lines, and more to provide convenient control over the entire home environment. Built for today with an eye for tomorrow, these structured systems not only enable you to fully maximize the capabilities of home devices and systems, but they also help them run together more efficiently.

Wire A Home With High-Performance Cabling

Structured wiring is a term that refers to a whole house network of audio, video, data, telephone, television, home automation or security. Structured wiring begins with a structured networking panel, that holds cables from outside providers and distributes the signals directly to each room in a home. These direct lines called home runs work to ensure the strongest possible connection and signal to each of a home’s electronic devices. Structured wiring can be installed when a home is under construction, retrofitted during a remodel or even added on its own. To receive the highest level of performance, it’s important to keep in mind not any wire will do. Remember, you must wire for today as well as tomorrow’s technologies.

Know Your CATS

Ethernet Category Types & The Differences

To the casual observer, Ethernet cabling differences can be invisible. Twisted pairs and fiber cables are constantly being upgraded and standardized by the IEEE. Each new iteration of Ethernet, or category, supports increasingly faster bandwidth speeds and improves upon noise cancelation. Although the differences may seem subtle, each new generation introduces copper pairs with tighter twists and sheathing that is more complex. Knowing the differences of each category can help you understand why upgrading is so important.

• Cat5: (Fast Ethernet) cable type, UTP, max data transmission speed 10/100 Mbps, max bandwidth 100 MHz
  • Category 5 cable is an outdated standard and should be replaced
  • Although this cable is considered obsolete, many homes have not upgraded
  • Utilizes 2 data pairs

• Cat5e: (Gigabit Ethernet) cable type UTP, max data transmission speed 1000 Mbps, max bandwidth 100MHz
  • Category 5e adheres to today’s stringent IEEE standards
  • Supports Gigabit speeds at a cost effective price
  • Utilizes 4 data pairs

• Cat6: (Protects against Near End Crosstalk NEXT and Alien Crosstalk AXT) cable type UTP or STP, max data transmission speed 1000 Mbps, max bandwidth 250MHz
  • Cat6 wiring supports up to 10 Gbps and frequencies of up to 250 MHz
  • When transmitting at 10Gbps speeds, CAT6 only supports a maximum distance of 37 meters

• Cat6a: (Eliminates Alien Crosstalk AXT & Improves signal-to-noise SNR) cable type STP, max data transmission speed10,000 Mbps, max bandwidth 500MHz
  • Cat6a wiring supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet at 100 meters
  • Eliminates Alien Crosstalk (AXT)
  • Improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

San Diego Home Wiring Services

Technology can make life simple; with the proper wiring, any home can be ready for tomorrow’s technology today. In fact, AV systems, networks, security systems and cameras, and smart home control will only work best if a home has the proper wiring and cabling throughout. Wondering what wires go where? Do not worry, Shultz Audio Video thoroughly documents every project with wire maps and photos so every project runs smoothly. Call us today to schedule your free home wiring evaluation (760) 505-7461.