What Can be Wired

by DoItYourself Staff

Access Controls: The ability to gain access to your home, including driveway gates, security keypads, electronic locks, etc.
Audio/Video Control Systems: These control home theater, audio and video systems.
Communications: Telephone systems and intercoms allowing internal and external communications.
Control Devices & Sensors: Nodules, devices, and sensors that activate a light, appliance or system.
Home Automation Protocols: Also known as home automation standards, these serve as the communication infrastructure for your home automation system, allowing different products and subsystems in the home to communicate with one another. Protocols include:
X-10
CE Bus (Consumer Electronics Bus)
Lon Works
You would typically pick one of these as the basis for your home automation system, in consultation with your dealer or installer.
Home Theater/Satellites: For the ultimate in home entertainment, these products bring you very large screen television, top-notch sound systems, and satellite dish technology providing access to more TV channels than cable or broadcast usually offer.
HVAC & Energy Management: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems lend themselves well to automation, providing the homeowner with maximum comfort along with maximum control over the timing and energy demands of temperature and ventilation control.
Lighting Devices & Sensors: These products allow you to pre-set (or detect motion or light) and activate the internal and external lights of your home to turn on, off, dim, or brighten, at whatever times you wish.
Motorized Devices: These open and close things like garage doors or blinds at just the right times.
Security Systems: From alarms to child tracking devices, these products help make your home safer.
Utility Based Services: Services provided by utility companies to monitor and control energy management requirements in your home.
Whole House Control Systems: When you want to be able to control and automate many systems in your home, go for a whole house control system.
Windows & Covering Controls: These pull the blinds, or open them up, without your lifting a hand.
Wire/Wiring & Cable Systems: Structured cabling systems are the information superhighways of your home; you need the right kinds of wiring to make the most of communications, the Internet, and audio/video.
Other Home Control Products/Services: Technology changes and develops at a rapid pace, so keep an eye out for new companies and new products!