Low voltage wire suggestions?

15 years ago

I'm getting ready to re-wire a house in New Orleans still gutted from Katrina. Electrician is starting tomorrow on the high voltage wiring, but I told him I'd handle all low voltage myself to save costs. Now I'm looking for any recommendations (gauge, brand, best place to buy, etc.) for:

1) Speaker wire for distributed audio

2) Coax for HD Cable distribution

3) Cat5e wire for home network/future upgrades

4) Anything other suggestions?

Max runs for all will be about 50 feet.

Thanks much!

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Comments (3)

gblentz
15 years ago
You'll want CL2 or CL3-rated speaker wire for in-wall installation. Don't skimp on the gauge--especially for runs longer than 15-20 feet. Don't waste your money on grossly overpriced Monster Cable and the like either.

For network/coax, a structured cable solution like this may be to your liking: 2-CAT5e/2-RG6 Quad Structured Cable

Alternatively, if you really want to future-proof your installation, it's hard to beat "smurf-tubing"--basically a blue flexible corrugated ENT (comes in other colors, too). Run it like a cable from you central distribution panel to wherever you need a drop, connect it to your LV outlet box, and you'll be able to pull new cable if and whenever you need to upgrade. Just make sure you use a large enough diameter... I'd stay away from 1/2" (if I had it to do over again ).
spencer_electrician
15 years ago
For audio run a 16/4 to a single gang ring for a volume control where you then run 16/2 to each speaker. To this control also run a cat5 wire so that you will be ready for any future touch panel or keypad to control an audio system. If you do not use a volume control or keypad for now, just connect the speaker wires together in the box.

To each computer location run 2 cat5s for flexibility.

To each TV run 2 rg6 coax even if you only need one. I buy dual coax for this. Also run at least one cat5 but preferably more. In the future you could stream video from a server, have additional control, or send a video signal over cat5. 3 or 4 runs of cat5 is good. A wire I just ran in my own house is called RGB5. It is 5 mini rg59 coax wires in a cable to carry component video and audio. That way I can view one cable box over all my TVs instead of paying for multiple boxes.

The multi cables are not very price efficient, buying 1000ft of cat5 and 1000ft of RG6 is cheaper. RGB5 runs $200 for 250ft even with a good deal.

I like a large plywood board with very neatly bundled and terminated wires over a panel. A panel fills up very fast unless it is a minimum install with 8 cat5s and 8 rg6

Cat 5 to audio locations is good to because it carries sound, video, network, phone, audio control, and just about anything. Some situations need 2 cat5 wires for one device
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pjb999
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Don't forget phone outlets, you can use cat5e/6 for that.

Low voltage wire suggestions?

Comments (3)

gblentz

spencer_electrician

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pjb999

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