Substantial Instruction For Preparation To Install Your Security/Home Automation System

What follows is information on what you need to do in the preparation phase of installing a UL approved Security/Home Automation system. It is significant that you procure all your electric and hand tools well in advance of your start date. All right, you have your tools organized and on hand. The very next thing you need to do is to get the wire you will need expressly for the security/home automation system.

Choice of Cable

The type of cabling you will want to have on hand is at least two boxes of CAT 5e twisted pair cable. There are four twisted pair (TP) in a Cat 5e cable. These are utilized expressly on keypads and touch screens. Since you have a total of eight conductors in each Cat5e cable, you will have enough connection points at each location. You will also need several "speed bags" of stranded 4-conductor alarm wire. Two of the cables will be used for carrying 12Vdc power to components when required and the other two wires will be used for security zones.

Pull Your Cabling From A Box?

Some installers pull security wire from a box, however I have found speed bags a God send in terms of saved time and labor. If you have a medium to large size house you will be pulling cable from multiple bags at a time. Perhaps you will pull from as many as eight speed bags at a time. Even though you are going to pull quite a bit of wire through your walls related with your security and home automation system, you will get by with just these two types of cable. Structured wiring, home theater, central vacuum, and whole-house stereo require several different types of cable, however this article does not address those systems.

Prepare Yourself

It is very important you prepare yourself and any laborers that may be supporting you when the time comes to install your systems. It is important that you do not get ahead of yourself because problems can come up if you do. Normally speaking you want to show up with all your wire, tools, and helpers when the framing has been finished. The plumber will have already come and gone having completed his rough-in. You are now waiting for the electrician to complete his job. You absolutely cannot install your low-voltage wire until the electrical contractor has come and gone. The justification for that is you want to install your wiring as far away from his high-voltage wiring as practicable. If your cables end up too close to high-voltage wires, you will pick up energy from attenuation which might manifest itself as interference in your electronic equipment.

Identify Your Electronic Components

To install this security/home automation system you must first be able to identify the various electronic components and connectors required to finish the job. Once you have gathered all these together you must grasp the overall design of a typical system so that you can begin to lay out your own plan. After you have formulated the plan view for your house, the next step is to pull the appropriate cabling throughout the walls to each zone originating usually in an electronics closet.

Make Sure The Doors And Windows Are In

Another meaningful consideration is to make certain all the windows and doors have been installed. You can not install security contacts to windows and doors if they have not been installed. If you are like most home owners you will be doing the rough-in phase for several systems at the same time. You will be pulling cable for structured wiring, security / home automation, whole-house stereo, whole-house intercom, video cameras, central vacuum, and the list goes on. It is significant to have at least one and hopefully two workers on the project helping you with the labor.

Drill Some Holes

By now you have layed out a plan on drilling your holes in the framing studs which will lead from each section of the house back to the location of your security/home automation controller. If all you will be installing is security wiring then 3/4 inch holes will do very nicely, thank you very much. Obviously your security wires are much smaller in diameter than the holes you are drilling, however as you bring bundles of security wires together from each corner of the house, that 3/4 inch hole may not be big enough.

Installing Numerous Systems

It has been my experience that when people are contemplating one system for their new or remodeled home, they are likely considering other technologies as well. It would be in your best interest to have installation manuals on each system you would like to include in your home. Analize them all then purchase your electronics, special tools, and wiring so that they are all on the job site in advance of your scheduled start date.


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You can get Glenn Bell's FREE Video Mini Course on Residential Security System and how to install electronics in homes. Glenn also provides a free eBook about Alarm Wire.