Posted by & filed under Blog, Data Cabling, Tips and Advice.

Data Cabling – 11 Things to Consider When Tackling Data Cabling for Home

Installing data cabling for home is a more involved task than it would be in an office environment. The schedule drags over a much longer period and it’s hard to know in advance what you want to install and by the time you do, it can be too late to run in the cables required.

  1. Centralise everything
  2. Have room for a data cabinet
  3. Over estimate on cables
  4. Always have a good Wi-Fi system
  5. Recess and hide cabling sockets where possible
  6. Have all cabling fully Fluke tested
  7. Install incoming broadband as early as posisble
  8. Have regular update meetings
  9. Use samples of technology products
  10. Get used to the system before final tweaking
  11. Have a system that’s suits your design style

Below are some tips to make your installation go smoothlyAV-Project-Bathroom-Mirror TVs

  1. Centralise everything where possible. Installing all your structured cabling back to a central point for all Television, Satellite, Audio Systems, CCTV, Internet and WIFI will give you the most flexibility in your system. Want to change from SKY to Virgin? – no problem just change the boxes in the central cabinet and everything updates straight away. Much better than changing 3 or4 boxes around the house and having Virgin install all new data cabling across your skirting boards
  2. Create a central area big enough for this cabinet. The equipment gets hot so needs enough space to have airflow and cooling. A dedicated area will also make it easier to reset boxes / change equipment. An area of 1m wide by 1m deep by 2.2m high is usually sufficient
  3. If in doubt put in extra cables. Unsure if you want wired internet to each room? Telephones throughout? Televisions now or in the future in certain rooms? Putting in the data cabling now isn’t a massive extra cost when the routes are open, especially if additional cables are running in the same direction of other cables. If you decide after completion you needed a cable you don’t have then it’s almost impossible or at worst case a very messy retrofit
  4. Put in a good Wi-Fi system, in fact a very good Wi-Fi system. Most homes now will have in excess of 15 – 20 devices that access the Wi-Fi and are all automatically connected. Without a top Wi-Fi system you will either be unable to connect or when you do it will be very slow. Put the cables and access points into your planning. Your controllers will run on Wi-Fi also, if they can’t see the Wi-Fi they can’t control your system
  5. Recess power and data sockets behind any televisions where possible. Flat screen televisions and ultra thin brackets are only effective if you don’t have a bulky power socket and plug surface mounted on your wall pushing the TV 50mm off the wall and losing the ultra slim picture frame effect.
  6. Make sure every data cable is tested at completion and full data cabling results provided. Structured cabling throughout the project is left coiled for long periods awaiting final position install. Ensure you receive the data cabling test results to show the cables are running to full specification and standard
  7. Install your Broadband and Phone lines as early in the project as possible. Too many homes will leave BT / Virgin until near the end to install the main lines into the house. With long lead times your line in from the street might end up requiring builders work to get it into the building and cause a lot of mess and disruption. Install them at the beginning of the project so that they can be built around by the contractor
  8. Hold regular project management meetings with your Installer. Every client’s requirements are different. Make sure the heights of the televisions, the location of the speakers and the presentation of the data cabling sockets are to your taste and design and not leave it to last minute when some options will not be possible
  9. Get samples / photos of the proposed equipment to be installed. There are hundreds of very small varying designs for speakers / televisions, faceplates, control systems. Sign off on each element before installation as changing after install can incur high cost building works
  10. Use the system for a week or two before creating a final list of snagging / amendments. It’s only as you use your new system that queries and potential tweaks and changes will come to mind. It’s better to collate these into one final engineering visit than each time you find something as one change usually affects a change in another area. Ensure your installer has a final engineering / handover visit built into your proposal
  11. When installing Data Cabling for Home, decide what’s important to you visually. Some clients will want the best brand television or higher specification / series for their budget even if it means a smaller television. Others will want the biggest television for their budget and not worry about the brand. Decide which you are in advance so it can be designed into the building works and installation drawings

Read more about Data Cabling and AV Installation – also see our Data Cabling FAQs for more information

Call our Sales office on 01923 888588 or [email protected] for your free Data Cabling for Home survey and quotation

NM Cabling is a technology and structured cabling integrator working throughout the United Kingdom.

We have created a comprehensive Knowledge Centre for our industry which can be viewed at https://www.nmcabling.co.uk/knowledge-centre/