With all the press that wireless technologies like Wi-Fi have been getting, it's easy to forget that hard-wired systems make the A/V world go round. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, adding a component to your system means running at least one wire. If you've thought about wiring your home for audio, video, or whole-house automation, these tips will ensure you pull it off like a pro!
Step 1: Establish a Home Run
The home run is the location of your gear, and all of the wiring begins (or ends) at this point. Having the home run centrally located in the house will keep wire runs shorter. Also, if you're running a lot of wiring, try to choose a location for your gear that allows runs to travel both up and down. Before getting started, clear out your work area so you can set up a ladder, lay out tools, and arrange the wiring so your pulls won't be obstructed.
Step 2: Prepare Your Wiring
Wire is usually bought in 100-, 500-, or 1,000-foot lengths. My crew prefers using wire on spools, since it's easier to pull and doesn't tangle as easily as wire in boxes. If you're pulling with a partner, have him manage the spools and feed off slack. If you're going it alone, pulling off 20 to 30 feet will make it easier to run the wire without playing tug-of-war with the spools. Avoid pulling too much cable at once — especially Cat-5, since it's prone to tangling. Being consistent with your color choices will make life easier later. For example, you can use blue Cat-5 for phones, gray for data, and yellow for video.
Step 3: Pick a Route
Map out a wiring route that creates a direct path to each room. Running multiple wires along the same route creates a trunk line that not only looks nice but strengthens the overall bundle. Also, keeping the wiring in a single trunk makes it easier to avoid getting tangled in a spider web of cabling if you need to visit the attic later on.
Step 4: Have the Right Tools
Nothing makes a job more difficult than not having the proper tools. At a minimum, you'll need a ladder; a drill with some sharp bits, or some hole saws of different sizes; wire cutters; a hammer with some tacks to secure wiring; open-backed wall boxes; zip ties; nail guards; a tape measure; and a Sharpie marker.
Step 5: Drill
Sooner rather than later, you'll be drilling through studs or joists to route your wiring. Since the home run will have the most wire, it will require the largest hole or several holes. Drill into the center of the stud, avoiding the extreme top or bottom. Using a bit larger than 13/4 inches might require checking with a local building inspector to make sure it doesn't violate code. Also, drilling through laminated beams or headers is verboten. Finally, do not share holes with electrical wiring — drill separate ones for the A/V cables.
Step 6: Be Careful with the Pulls
Don't put too much tension on the cabling. Pulling too hard can cause it to stretch and lose its rating. Also, avoid kinks and knots in Cat-5, since they will significantly lower its bandwidth. Tight bends in video cabling can move its impedance off the 75-ohm spec, leading to poor picture quality. Stay at least a stud bay away, if possible, from electrical wires, and cross them at a 90° angle. Electrical signals run at 60 Hz, which can produce a hum through speakers. The jackets on some wires (especially RG-6 coax cable) can "burn" through and damage or destroy other wires, so don't let wires drag across each other during your pulls. Finally, wait until the very end to pull the wiring through the holes at the home run — this will keep you from fighting every pull.
Step 7: Pull Extra Wiring
If you're going to go to all the trouble of pulling your own wiring, make sure you have to do it only once! Take the time to pull extra cables — especially Cat-5, which is cheap and capable of doing so many things: audio, video, HDMI, data, control, and more. Running conduit from your home run to access points between each floor, the attic, and crawlspaces will also provide a great pathway for adding future technologies.
Step 8: Label and Protect
Clearly labeling each wire as soon as it's pulled will save a lot of time and aggravation later. If you're running wires before the house is sheetrocked or painted, coil them up and cover them with plastic cling wrap to keep them protected until you're ready to install your gear. And that's a wrap!
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With all the press that wireless technologies like Wi-Fi have been getting, it's easy to forget that hard-wired systems make the A/V world go round. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, adding a component to your system means running at least one wire. If you've thought about wiring your home for audio, video, or whole-house automation, these tips will ensure you pull it off like a pro!
Step 1: Establish a Home Run
The home run is the location of your gear, and all of the wiring begins (or ends) at this point. Having the home run centrally located in the house will keep wire runs shorter. Also, if you're running a lot of wiring, try to choose a location for your gear that allows runs to travel both up and down. Before getting started, clear out your work area so you can set up a ladder, lay out tools, and arrange the wiring so your pulls won't be obstructed.
Step 2: Prepare Your Wiring
Wire is usually bought in 100-, 500-, or 1,000-foot lengths. My crew prefers using wire on spools, since it's easier to pull and doesn't tangle as easily as wire in boxes. If you're pulling with a partner, have him manage the spools and feed off slack. If you're going it alone, pulling off 20 to 30 feet will make it easier to run the wire without playing tug-of-war with the spools. Avoid pulling too much cable at once — especially Cat-5, since it's prone to tangling. Being consistent with your color choices will make life easier later. For example, you can use blue Cat-5 for phones, gray for data, and yellow for video.
Step 3: Pick a Route
Map out a wiring route that creates a direct path to each room. Running multiple wires along the same route creates a trunk line that not only looks nice but strengthens the overall bundle. Also, keeping the wiring in a single trunk makes it easier to avoid getting tangled in a spider web of cabling if you need to visit the attic later on.
Step 4: Have the Right Tools
Nothing makes a job more difficult than not having the proper tools. At a minimum, you'll need a ladder; a drill with some sharp bits, or some hole saws of different sizes; wire cutters; a hammer with some tacks to secure wiring; open-backed wall boxes; zip ties; nail guards; a tape measure; and a Sharpie marker.
Step 5: Drill
Sooner rather than later, you'll be drilling through studs or joists to route your wiring. Since the home run will have the most wire, it will require the largest hole or several holes. Drill into the center of the stud, avoiding the extreme top or bottom. Using a bit larger than 13/4 inches might require checking with a local building inspector to make sure it doesn't violate code. Also, drilling through laminated beams or headers is verboten. Finally, do not share holes with electrical wiring — drill separate ones for the A/V cables.
Step 6: Be Careful with the Pulls
Don't put too much tension on the cabling. Pulling too hard can cause it to stretch and lose its rating. Also, avoid kinks and knots in Cat-5, since they will significantly lower its bandwidth. Tight bends in video cabling can move its impedance off the 75-ohm spec, leading to poor picture quality. Stay at least a stud bay away, if possible, from electrical wires, and cross them at a 90° angle. Electrical signals run at 60 Hz, which can produce a hum through speakers. The jackets on some wires (especially RG-6 coax cable) can "burn" through and damage or destroy other wires, so don't let wires drag across each other during your pulls. Finally, wait until the very end to pull the wiring through the holes at the home run — this will keep you from fighting every pull.
Step 7: Pull Extra Wiring
If you're going to go to all the trouble of pulling your own wiring, make sure you have to do it only once! Take the time to pull extra cables — especially Cat-5, which is cheap and capable of doing so many things: audio, video, HDMI, data, control, and more. Running conduit from your home run to access points between each floor, the attic, and crawlspaces will also provide a great pathway for adding future technologies.
Step 8: Label and Protect
Clearly labeling each wire as soon as it's pulled will save a lot of time and aggravation later. If you're running wires before the house is sheetrocked or painted, coil them up and cover them with plastic cling wrap to keep them protected until you're ready to install your gear. And that's a wrap!
For more wiring tips, see Ready to Retrofit, How to Run Wire Through a Wall, and Basic Cable.
Last Month's Step by Step
Back to Homepage
What's New on S&V