Home Electronics

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T.V. SYSTEMS

Since all televisions today are flat panel, whether you plan to set them on a stand or mount them on a wall, be sure to plan them into your wiring plan. If you are planning on having a really large wall mounted television, have the wall where it will be mounted reinforced with plywood or blocking for the mounting hardware before the drywall is installed. 

MUSIC SYSTEMS

If you are a music lover, you have a great opportunity to pre-wire your new home for stereo speakers. After the house is framed up inside, it is not hard at all to go around and run speaker wires from different locations to where your home entertainment system will be located. This would be an ideal time to wire for that new “home theater” in the living room.

WALL LIGHTING

Consider using wall lights in hallways, living rooms, master bedrooms, rooms that have cathedral ceilings, and in other areas instead of ceiling lights. They add a lot of mood, are unusual, and come in a wide variety of styles to suit every taste. 

SWITCHED OUTLETS

When it comes to switched outlets, consider leaving them out, unless you personally like them. Most people, including myself, don’t like them. Why? If you should turn off the lamp at the table instead of at the switch, the next time you walk into the room and flip on the switch, the lamp won’t come on. Since some builders still do this in homes, be sure to tell your builder you don’t want it done (unless you do). It really is so 1970’s” and the money saved is so minimal, the cost in inconvenience isn’t worth doing it.

CEILING FANS

If you are going to have cathedral ceilings in your new home, be sure to have your electrician wire for one or more ceiling fans, depending on how big the room is, since all the heat will rise to the ceiling.

SAFE OUTLETS

Electrical codes are always changing and most places today require “arc fault breakers” which all but eliminates electrical problems but, if they are not required in your area, the very least you should do is to have all rooms on their own electrical circuit, and have the electrician install a GFI (ground fault interrupter – about 5 bucks) in the primary feed box for each room. By doing this all of the other outlets in that room will be “shock protected”, the final connection in the room should be the light switch and light. The cost to do this in the average home is well worth the protection it provides. 

ALARM SYSTEMS

Alarm systems a really quite affordable. Some companies even offer a free system with a two or three year contract. Now is the time to consider having an alarm system installed.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Depending on where you new home will be located you want to plan your exterior lighting to make sure that you feel secure.

COMPUTER WIRING

If you have special computer wiring needs, the time to think about them is before your new home has had the drywall installed. With wireless connections today, there is usually no problems unless you have special needs.

3 WAY LIGHT SWITCHES

3 Way light switches should be installed in your new home in a manner that allows you to walk from your garage to the master bedroom, without having to turn around and walk back to turn off lights along the way.

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