Community Clubhouse

Types of Electric
Wiring Needed

Are you having a 50s-themed party out by the pool this spring? Dressing up for Halloween and holding a dance before the costume contest — complete with disco ball?

Do not forget about the electrical needs for all your entertaining goals. Your community’s clubhouse is the perfect place for every type of party, but the party will be over before it starts if there is a short (or worse, a fire).

So how do you know what types
of electric wiring you need ?

This article explains what exactly is inside an electric cable and what type you need for different appliances. Read the details below to understand more about your clubhouse wiring options.

Types of Electric Wiring

Houses are wired with concealed conduit wiring, meaning that the wires are behind the wall inside a conduit or tube of some kind (usually steel). The cable used inside the conduits is Romex cable.

Romex wiring is a brand name, but it is also a generic name for NM or NMC cable, referring to Non-Metallic sheathing that covers the outside of the cable.

Cable classification uses two numbers, separated with a hyphen, for example, 10-2 or 14-3. The first number is the gauge (or physical size/diameter), and the second number is how many conductors are inside the cable.

Inside each cable are several tiny wires bundled together. The number of conductors (referred to by the second number) is one less than the actual number of wires that will be inside the cable. Always add one extra for a ground wire.

Thus, inside a 12-2 cable, you will find three wires, one hot, one neutral, and one ground. What is the point of knowing the size of your wire?

Reasons for Wiring

The goal when wiring a clubhouse (or any home/structure) is to be able to power your devices without overheating. Various wiring sizes allow you to conduct different amounts of current. The larger the diameter of the cable, the more current it can conduct.

Some standard wiring projects you have to account for in new construction are:

» Light switches (many types)
» Ceiling fans
» Exhaust fans

Every clubhouse needs a kitchen, so there are appliances to consider as well. Refrigerators get wired differently than ranges and other appliances because they run on a different amperage. These will require a larger wire.

You will also need to consider a complete home audio system because no clubhouse gathering is complete without music. Whether you listen on vinyl or by streaming, it is important to wire the system correctly to achieve your entertaining and hospitality goals.

If your clubhouse will have a media room, you will probably want a motorized TV lift. Consider the various lighting controls for all your entertaining possibilities.

Most importantly, wireless internet and security should be a main priority for your clubhouse. There will be routers, extenders, fiber, and many other considerations to consider in planning the wiring to support these devices.

Easy Steps to Build
Your Home Network

Your home network is the backbone of your entire home media. The project needs careful consideration during the installation process.

Even as more people embrace the smart home device revolution, there are thousands of ways to get your whole system corrupted. Without a strong home network design, you could be troubleshooting for weeks before you know what went wrong in your system.

1

Determine Your Coverage Needs

One of the most important elements in understanding what you need for your home network is to know what coverage is needed. Every home is different, with various challenges and advantages.

For instance, while you might struggle to get a wireless signal up in your attic, you should also consider how much computing you plan to do in there as well. If you’re struggling to get around strange corners or from one place to another, perhaps focus on other key areas instead.

If you're installing a home theater, music system, remote camera or lighting and shades, it's important to know what proper wireless layout and channeling is required. This is where working with a professional installer comes in handy. They'll be able to handle such things as Gigabit routers and switches, AC wireless products.

Finally, they'll make ensure the proper wiring of your entire home using wired access points over wireless extenders.

2

Security and Safety

Decide on Wired or Wireless. While a wired network is faster than a wireless one, most new technology is wireless. Between the rise of smart devices and the Internet of Things, more appliances and devices you buy in the coming years may not even have a wired port.

Depending on how your system currently works, you could centralize the wired region and then use access points throughout the house. Access points allow you to transmit your signal further than your wireless router could normally reach.

The access points will wire into your home's electrical current and use that as a way to improve your Internet signal.

3

Choose Data Backup

There are many wireless devices and routers that now pair with backup systems. Whether you're just a casual photographer or a serious programmer, having a backup of your data is essential to ensure you don't lose anything valuable.

You can set up a wireless automatic backup connected to your wireless router. Via your router, your data will backup while you're using your machine. Or if you set it up the right way, you can have it back up while you're sleeping.

Additionally, look into cloud storage as a viable way to ensure your system is backed up properly. The cloud offers flexibility and scalability in today's connected world.

4

Make It Secure

5

Finalize Your Layout

The ideal home network design is functional and customized to fit your needs. Integrating technology into your design, whether it's for your landscape or the interior of your home, it's vital to iron out all the details with a professional home media and design installation company.

For outdoor projects, such as swimming pools and entertaining areas, getting the home network design right the first time around will save a lot of headaches in the future. With summer quickly approaching, now is the right time to finalize your projects so that you can enjoy the upcoming warm days and nights.

Now that you've figured out the specifics, you can lay out how you want data to flow. Finalize your layout and you'll know what you need and how the network will interact. Pay close attention to how you set it up and take extensive notes to make troubleshooting easier later on.

Simplicity is Key for Your Home Network

Element Integration is an electronic and automation installation company serving both residential and commercial clients in the Raleigh-Durham area. As an experienced specifier and educator to architects and building designers, we offer expertise and specifications for projects from concept to completion.

Posts tagged: Wiring

Types of Electric Wiring Needed