Rewiring House and installing IT equipment tips..

[psd99]

Hi all,

I am looking to get my house fully re-wired. Obviously this would primary be the electrical wires, sockets lights plugs etc. I will get an electrician to do this part.

I am also thinking of running additional wires myself such as:


- Cat 5e for a wired network
- Wired Cameras
- Wired alarm
- Coaxial Cable.


What I am a little bit stuck about is the networking situation. I am thinking of having a wired network using a 8 port networking switch and hooking it up to my router.

What I am worried about is the placing of such device, i/e where do I put it in a standard 3 bed semi? Can it go under the stairs? Or does this equipment need air?

Also I am thinking of putting my camera control box in the same place next to the switch - is this advisable?

Has anyone on here done something like this project in the past? Any tips would be greatly appreciated along with pics.

Thanks,
psd99.

 

[psd99]

Garage is too far

I've not installed patch panels before. I was thinking about just running the cables straight into the switch lol

you got any pics? did you use a rack?

 

[psd99]

Doesn't networking equipment require some type of cooling?

 

[psd99]

Not at the scale you are looking at. If youre installing a server that kicks out a lot of heat or some other equipment such as a CCTV NVR etc in a small cupboard then it may get hot but from a few threads on here people have just installed a vent into the door to extract the heat.

yep that's a good shout
vent in the door I like it

I will prob need lots of power sockets in there too.

 

[psd99]

wow thanks for the replies guys

under the stairs it is

what goes on the other side? i.e on the walls in the rooms any tips? I want to put the ethernet port next to the plug socket

or do you just use the cables like they are and plug them in?

 

[psd99]

Get a standard back plate (like you would use for sockets) put in and the cables pulled from under stairs cupboard to these back plates. I got the electricians to do this bit for me.

Then get some CAT6 faceplates

Read up online about wiring them up and your good to go!

thanks makes sense do you think it is worth doubling up on ports .ie 1 socket but two ports, in the two main front rooms next to the telly?

 

[psd99]

so I am thinking of making my own made to measure cables
probably get a cable tester too.

which type of cables do I need between access point and switch? is it a cross over cable or straight through?

 

[psd99]

Update

Well well here I am with a broken building

Sweat, blood, tears, pain, ecstasy and thrills just all part of parcel of what probably a lot of ocuk uk folk go through.

I should have done construction it is great money

Anyway I did it... I ran the network cables and cctv system
All to a budget and no I did not get cat6! I don't need a 10gig network

Here are the pics... It was frantic if anything needs to be changed please tell me within 48 hours otherwise hold your peace

Btw absolutely zero networking cable upstairs!

- cat 5 cable
- cctv system
- freeview booster

All of the above are connected to under the stairs, at some point in the far future I will buy a switch, patch panel and rack if needed, but not right now the option is there....

Critique my designs but be damn quick!

Thanks...

 

[psd99]

 

[psd99]

So I could probably also put my router under the stairs
I prefer this along with a nice rack/ cabinet that has a lock on it!

Otherwise router can go either front left when entering the property or in the main front room

Anyway happy bank holiday weekend all, last one before xmas! Critique my design within 48 hours or forever hold your peace!

 

[psd99]

that switch for that luscious wall mountable TV is not too high! Ceilings are almost 2.6m I am confident the tv will cover that switch

 

[psd99]

cat5e utp

don't worry none died yet!

 

[psd99]

wow that looks good

I was seriously thinking about speaker wire but did not do it in the end

 

[psd99]

so just an update as I am now looking for a 24 port switch or something similar..

I got the area under the stairs sanded and cemented and just about managed to get a lick of paint there

It is very messy under the stairs but the following has been completed and or bought:

- 6u Data rack cabinet
- 24 port patch panel
- BT master socket under the stairs
- 3 X Electrical sockts
- Broadband installed BT
- cables tidied up
- CCTV system

Violla:







I wanted to mount the rack to the wall but
I was not sure how to do this as I could only really see two holes on the top of the cabinet.

Also there is a very irritating metal old pipe there so I had to slightly elevate the rack with a few bricks... I intend to saw away the metal pipe and then put nice bits of timber underneath the cabinet when I get a chance.

I am now looking for a networking switch I want something very quiet I hate noise
prob 20-24 ports.

Got any suggestions?

 

[psd99]

lol

 

[psd99]

That metal pipe to the right of the pic is an old Gas pipe i would avoid cutting that tbh.

I agree.
I am leaving that bad boy right there as I don't know what the consequences would be by breaking it!!

there is another pipe which had already been cut and is position underneath one of those bricks but it is not in line with the floor therefore the Rack thing was unbalanced.

wall mounted would be ideal but I guess not totally required.

 

[psd99]

When I got my house rewired I took the chance to run at least 4 Ethernet ports to every room. I also wired in three IP CCTV cameras. I placed my switch and panel in a little space under the stairs.

Spoiler

After living here 3.5 years we're now thinking about moving and it's quite sickening to think I'll be losing it all. It was easy to lift floorboards and cut channels in walls when the whole house is being torn apart; but when you're looking at houses that don't need that sort of renovation (as we currently are) it's a little more...problematic.

nice setup see this is also one of my concerns

I suspect at some point in the next 10 years me and my mrs will want to move on to a better house if we can afford it
that leaves all that hard effort, sockets and cabling

naturally I will take the hardware but I've already decided that I will also not include the cctv system, cat45 switch boxes or coaxial sockets in the sale lol

the thought of setting something up like this again is daunting
best just enjoy it all

next thing I want is ceiling speakers with bluetooth in kitchen/dining/extension!
I got time to research this though.

 

[psd99]

Interesting point regarding what to take/leave.

Nothing has been decided, but I was thinking I'd leave the patch panel, but take the switch. But then, does that make the selling point of a fully networked house redundant?

I'll probably leave the CCTV cameras, as they're practically part of the building (and would involve some built-in furniture removal to access connectors).

I suppose the best I could hope for is negotiating a price from any buyer to leave the stuff. At least that would help buy new stuff. Although, I can't see a buyer backing out of purchasing the house if I decided to take it all. It's just like leaving curtains, carpets, etc, isn't it?

lol true it is part of the house, but any decent solicitor would be able to draw up a list of contents detailing what is and what is not included in a potential sale
get that in early imho