How to Wire Your New House for Home Automation

Although most enthusiasts install home automation devices in existing homes, many new homes are being built and wired for home automation. A little pre-planning during the new home construction process can save you extra work down the road.

Electrical Wiring

Ask your electrical contractor to run neutral wires to all junction boxes. Although most electricians do this as a matter of professional practice, making your preference known ensures you will always have a neutral wire available. Neutral wires are required for most powerline home automation devices. If you plan to install enhanced wall switches, dimmers, or keypads in the future, you want the neutral wires available, as these require a three-wire connection.

Request deep junction boxes. Deeper junction boxes give you more room to work, accommodate deeper in-wall devices, and in general make your life easier.

Have your electrical contractor install and wire extra junctions boxes. If you don't have a use for them at first, cover them with a faceplate. It's easier to install extra junction boxes during the construction phase than it is to come back later and add them.

Install Conduits

Install cable conduits everywhere you might anticipate a need for wires of any kind. Cable conduits are separate from electrical conduits and are used to run speaker wire, video cable, and network cable. Install conduits in walls even if you don't anticipate using them right away. Again, it's easier to install a piece of the conduit during construction than it is to fish speaker wire through a wall after the house is built.

Terminate your conduits into junction boxes, cover them with faceplates and forget about them until you need them. Install at least one conduit and junction box at eye level in each room to accommodate a touch panel.

Wiring Closets

Build a small, centrally located closet for storing patch panels, distribution panels, and media servers. Ensure your wiring closet is large enough to accommodate a rack with extra room for moving around, and install ample cable conduits in this room because much of your wiring will terminate here.

Speakers

Even if you aren’t installing a whole-house audio system initially, consider planning for it in the future and wire every room for in-ceiling or in-wall speakers. At some point in the future, you may want to add whole-house audio to your home.

Wireless Networks for Home Automation

You may be tempted to go all wireless in your new home. Wireless has its place, but it isn't as fast as wired connections. If you anticipate using high-traffic applications such as video or streaming 4K or Ultra HD, you are better off with wired connections. Wiring the new house with Category 5e or CAT 6 future-proofs the house for years to come.