Wiring your digital home for dummies /
by Dennis C. Brewer and Paul A. Brewer.
- Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Pub., c2006.
- xx, 357 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. + 1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in.)
- For dummies .
- For dummies. .
Includes index.
What You Don't Have to Read -- Installing Power Distribution and Basic Wiring -- Adding Communication, Audio, and Video Systems -- Installing Home Networks and Advanced Technology -- Security and Safety Systems -- Extending Technology to Outdoor Living Spaces -- Installing Power Distribution and Basic Wiring -- Designing Your Digital Dream Home -- Living on Digital Easy Street -- Planning Your Digital Dream Home -- Designing for new construction -- Remodeling an existing residence -- Completing single-focus projects -- Choosing the Contractor -- or Being Your Own -- Selecting a contractor -- Being your own contractor -- Gathering Tools and Equipment -- Hand tools -- Power tools -- Test equipment -- Bringing In the Services -- Understanding the Power You Need -- Alternating stuff -- Transforming current with transformers -- Amps and volts and other terms -- Meeting Power Company and Code Requirements -- Getting permitted -- Installing in light of code requirements -- Choosing a circuit panel -- Choosing a distribution-panel location -- Installing Electrical Services -- Setting up temporary service -- Looking up to overhead electrical service -- Going underground -- Connecting the electrical distribution panel -- Grounding your service -- Roughing In the Wiring -- Laying Out Receptacles (Legally) -- Spacing receptacles -- When to use GFI receptacles -- Setting box heights -- Making sure the box is flush -- Mounting boxes during rewiring projects -- Calculating box fill -- Drilling Holes for Wiring -- Drilling the framing -- Drilling joists -- Pulling Wires -- Wiring to Code -- Diagramming -- Wiring the rest of the house -- Wiring dryers and ranges -- Wiring closets -- Trimming Your Home's Electrical System -- Selecting Device Styles and Colors -- Working with Receptacles and Switches -- Installing receptacles and GFIs -- Installing switches -- Flushing and Leveling Electrical Devices -- Testing Your Installations -- Controlling Your Life Remotely -- Controlling Your Gadgets Remotely -- Infrared and radio frequency remotes -- Motion sensors -- X10 remotes and devices -- Using Timers for Around-the-Clock Control -- Adding Communication, Audio, and Video Systems -- Wiring Your Home Phone System -- Wiring Your Phone Service -- Planning service entrances -- Planning internal house wiring -- Wiring for Conventional Phones -- Installing a Home PBX System -- Integrating VoIP -- Understanding how VoIP works -- Choosing a VoIP phone adapter -- Choosing a VoIP service provider -- Videoconferencing from Home -- Equipping for videoconferencing -- Using gateways for multi-point conferencing -- Installing a Public Address System -- Planning a Home Communications System -- Selecting locations -- Choosing wire -- Selecting amplifiers and speakers -- Choosing intercom components -- Installing the Hardware -- Installing LV rings -- Installing a central control unit -- Connecting radio antennas -- Installing and wiring remote locations -- Installing Cable TV and Advanced Digital Services -- Readying Your Home for Prime Time -- Bringing TV service into your home -- Installing TV cable jacks -- Installing TV cable -- Connecting the common distribution point -- Installing for a Fiber Optic Future -- Understanding fiber optic cable -- Consider your fiber optic strategy -- Choosing home fiber optic service -- Connecting to fiber optic devices -- Hooking up to the ONT -- Checking availability -- Adding Stereo and Surround Sound -- Considering Whole-House Sound Systems -- Using monophonic sound -- Enhancing audio with stereo sound -- Selecting stereo speaker locations -- Encompassing your listeners with surround sound -- Choosing and Installing Speakers -- Wiring multi-room systems -- Choosing speakers -- Wiring in the speakers -- Wiring Family Rooms and Home Theaters -- Designing for Adaptable Family Rooms -- Lighting Your Family Room -- Measuring light levels -- Selecting fluorescent fixtures -- Using recessed fixtures -- Using track fixtures -- Supplementing with lamps and task lighting -- Controlling your family room lights -- Planning Family Room Outlets -- Designing Your Dedicated Home Theater -- Maintaining access to the equipment -- Including a control center -- Maintaining clear sound zones -- Installing Video Systems and Cameras -- Selecting Video Components -- Reviewing camera features -- Choosing a video surveillance system -- Installing Your Video System -- Positioning cameras -- Supplying power to your cameras -- Connecting cameras to the network -- Installing Home Networks and Advanced Technology -- Home Networks and Internet Connections -- Understanding Internet Terminology: Stirring the Alphabet Soup -- POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) -- IP (Internet Protocol) addresses -- DNS (Domain Name Services) -- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) -- Reviewing Your Internet Connection Options -- Dial-up service -- ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) -- T-1 lines -- Fractional T-1 -- Broadband cable -- DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) -- Fiber optic service -- BPL (Broadband Over Power Lines) -- Area wireless services -- Connecting Your Home Network to the Internet -- Installing a DSL or cable modem -- Installing and configuring a router -- Using firewalls -- Understanding hubs and switches -- Preparing to Wire Your Digital Home for Networking -- Understanding Wireless "Wiring" -- Setting Up Your Home Network -- Integrating Computer Controls and Voice Technology -- Selecting Home Automation Components -- Choosing automation software -- Selecting a computer to run HAL -- Wiring Your Home Automation Computer -- Connecting HAL to the telephone -- Installing voice-command stations -- Interfacing with the home's electrical system -- Providing backup power to the automation system -- Networking your automation system -- Programming the automation interfaces -- Security and Safety Systems -- Working with Security Zones and Alarm Systems -- Protecting Your Home with Alarms -- Comparing intrusion alarms -- Understanding sensors -- Wiring and installing sensors -- Increasing safety with supplemental alarms -- Surveilling Your Surroundings -- Digital cameras -- Closed-circuit television (CCTV) -- Webcams -- Integrating Alarm and Communication Systems -- Improving Your Home's Safety -- Get the facts for your area -- Screen visitors -- Make some security elements visible -- Secure your home -- Backup and Alternative Power -- Identifying Your Home's Critical Systems -- Comparing Types of Backup Power -- Uninterruptible power supplies -- Inverter systems -- Green power systems -- External combustion steam systems -- Internal combustion systems -- Interfacing Backup Systems to Your Electrical System -- Alternative Energy Systems -- Choosing an inverter -- Caring for batteries -- Extending Technology to Outdoor Living Spaces -- Wiring Outside the House -- Powering Sunrooms -- Installing power and lighting -- Bringing entertainment to the sunroom -- Electrifying Patios and Decks -- Lighting Your Garden -- Delivering Electricity to Outbuildings -- Retrofitting power to existing outbuildings -- Wiring in workshops -- Lighting outbuildings -- Installing network, phone, TV, and intercom service -- Wiring for sheds -- Installing Saunas -- Selecting a sauna stove -- Supplying power -- Installing the sauna stove control -- Wiring near Pools and Hot Tubs -- Pumping Water on Your Property -- Powering well pumps -- Installing garden and waterfall pumps -- Using waste system pumps -- Outdoor Electronics -- Designing around the Weather -- Running wires in bulkheads -- Wiring directly to the point of use -- Using Electronic Devices in Outdoor Kitchens -- Wiring Outdoor Theaters or Sound Systems -- Controlling outdoor theaters or sound systems -- Planning the theater space -- Installing a Home Weather Station -- The Ten Best Wiring Web Sites -- Wiring Devices -- Wire and Cable -- Home Electronics -- Home Security -- Networking and Electronics Technology -- Networked Video Surveillance -- Solar and Alternative Energy -- Digital Home Media -- Outdoor Living -- Remodeling and Repair Projects -- The Ten Biggest Wiring Mistakes -- Not Leaving Enough Slack -- Not Paying Attention to Details -- Including Lighting Loads on Receptacle Circuits -- Ignoring Physics -- Gravity -- Wind -- Water -- Fire -- Installations Not Designed for Use and Abuse -- Improperly Interpreting the National Electrical Code -- When Grounding Is Not Grounding Ignoring the BOCA or IRC Codes -- Not Following Your Own Consistency Rules -- Minimizing Wiring Runs and Circuit Counts -- Ten Troubleshooting Tips -- Collect the History -- Who witnessed the point of failure? -- What was happening at the time? -- Where was the device when it failed? -- How did it fail? -- When did the failure occur? -- Why did it fail? -- Understand the Process -- Plan the Approach -- Follow Safety Procedures -- Eliminate the Obvious -- Begin at the Beginning -- Avoid the Replacement Trap -- Check the Vital Signs -- Eliminate the Cause -- Verify the Repair -- Product Sources -- Big-Box Stores -- Best Buy -- Circuit City -- The Home Depot -- Lowe's -- Small-Box Stores -- Micro Center -- RadioShack -- Wholesale Electric and Contractor Suppliers -- Crescent Electric Supply Company -- GE Supply -- Graybar Electric Company -- Home Automated Living -- WESCO International -- What Mr. Ohm Wanted You to Know -- Using the Basic Ohm's Law Formula -- Measuring current in amps -- Measuring electromotive force in volts -- Calculating Electrical Values -- Calculating power in watts -- Calculating energy use in watt-hours -- Measuring power in AC circuits -- Using the NFPA Wire Properties Table -- Selecting Conductors -- Limitations for using small conductors -- Bundling conductors together -- Using non-metallic cable (NMC) -- Converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit -- Ethernet Length Limits -- System Requirements -- Using the CD with Microsoft Windows.
Provides instructions on planning, installing, and connecting wiring in a home.
047191830X (pbk.) 9780471918301 (pbk.)
2006926169
Electric wiring, Interior--Amateurs' manuals. Dwellings--Maintenance and repair--Amateurs' manuals. Dwellings--Electric equipment--Amateurs' manuals.