How to Build Integrated Systems

Before

To install your own integrated system, you will need to plan, design, rough, implement and program. Learn how you can get started on your own Smart Home if your new house is still in the planning stages or at least not past the sheetrock stage.

Things You'll Need

• Wiring design software (CAD/CAM or Visio)
• Electrical tools (snake, crimpers, voltage meter, etc.)
• Cat 5 and Audio / Video wiring

Instructions

1. 

   Set a comfortable amount to spend and stick to it. To install a moderately impressive system, be prepared to tack on at least $75,000 to the cost of building a new home.

2. Select what to integrate. Lighting, HVAC, security and distributed audio are the most common. When selecting what you want, make sure all your brands of systems work together. Ask, verify, double and triple check to make sure they are intended to function together and supported as such. Establish a good relationship with your suppliers.

3. 

   Each piece of your integrated home should all work together (meaning they should have the proper software drivers to communicate), giving the impression of one big Smart Home. Some manufacturers like AMX, Crestron, Elan, Home Logics (now owned by Elan), etc., have one central system, but if you are technically advanced enough to want one of these systems, you will be integrating many systems. You will want an iPod here, an iPod there, a touch panel here, automated shades there; your list of wants and needs will grow.

4. 

   Now that hardware is mapped out, start drawing where the correct cables will go. Use the AutoCAD designs from the architect. Get a digital file. Do not alter them but have a low voltage layer generated to use. That is where you lay out the integrated system wiring. Use the industry standard practices and symbols, which can be obtained at cedia.com, which governs the new integrated system industry.

5. Run most wires back to a central location. Depending on how much gear is in this room, it may need to be temperature controlled. This area is called the "head end." That central location should be designed to house all the needed gear. Use A/V racks, flat wall space and termination cabinets to organize everything. Organization and accessibility are key. Everything needs to be laid out just like the wiring. Visio is best for this.

6. When crossing a high voltage wire with a low voltage wire is necessary, do it at a 90-degree angle and wrap the low voltage wire in electrical shielding 1 foot in each direction. It is tedious work, but if you fail to do this, it may cause static in your speakers, which is annoying and expensive to fix if you have to crack into a finished wall in multiple places. Some wiring may also require amplification over long distances; identify those in advance. Dedicate and surge protect (in the breaker panel) at least one circuit to the head end.

7. Once you are ready to run the wires, get ready to snake, splice, crimp, terminate and label every single one. It may be worth hiring an assistant here. However, never pay help for this kind of work by the hour. Pay by the point. Allocate certain wires or aspects in the project to certain dollar amounts. As each point is completed, you pay the agreed amount. Whoever pulls the wires should make sure to test them. Test for complete continuity. If a wire is pulled around a corner too hard you want to know about it before you pay for it.

8. Once the head end is built out, wires are pulled, sheetrock has gone up, cutting end components into the walls is next. Get to it. Cut the touch panels into the walls and hook them up. Put in the keypads, light switches and thermostats. Get the IR/RF emitters, motion detectors and contact closures spliced on around the house and put the face plates on the termination patch panels.

9. Now plug in the back-end gear at the head end. It is connected. You are ready to program, but be cautious. Now you will be able to see exactly how many errors you made in planning, design, roughing or implementation. Take your time and fix things as early as you can find them.

10. The first programming done should be to test each individual aspect of the system. Once it is confirmed that everything is connect properly and communicating, begin getting creative with the programming. Your program and essentially electronic lifestyle will grow with you, your family and the world's technical advancements.