Wiring for new house

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RolyT

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Oct 8, 2021
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Brisbane
Hi all,

We're building a new house and wondering if there is anything that I should consider in the electrical/data plans that would make setting up and running a show easier?

I'm a bit of a numpty with this stuff but can discuss the ideas with the electrical consultant....🤔
 
Outdoor access point. POE cameras.

Outside power on dedicated circuits you can go crazy on. Eaves is a key one. But Think about where in your yard (front and back) you might want 240V power. Moving Heads? Bubble/Snow machines on the front fence? where are your controllers? etc.
 
A few things I would have done if we were building again:
  • might be too late for this one, but 2-3 nice fat conduits from the garage (where my central controllers, rPi, etc live) out into the front yard to take power/ethernet out to controllers/data cables out to differential receivers/3 core cables out to props
  • large conduits under the driveway and paths
  • a few more outdoor power points
 
My suggestions. Some of these I added to my front yard specifically for my light show:
  • Power points outside... dedicated circuit breaker is a bonus.
  • Ethernet runs from a centralised point to areas you will have controllers outside.
  • Big fat conduit (100mm) from a central spot to areas in your yard. Wide conduit lets you shove an entire extension cord through.
  • Wired/POE security cameras.
  • Speaker cables run under eves for speakers.
  • Down lights under the eves outside, to reduce glare for CCTV cameras mounted under the eves.
  • Wifi/Zigbee relays on your motion lights outside, so you can turn off the lights when your light show is running :).
  • Hose/water tap at the front yard... easy to wash away soap/bubbles from snow machines & bubble machines.
 
Man oh man. There would be so many things i would have installed if starting fresh.

I think what has been suggested above is most of it.
  • Secondary Switchboard just for Christmas lights
  • Have power points well into the yard, not just on the house. As they are tied back to the secondary switchboard no need to worry about their use in the off season
  • Outdoor data points all over feeding back to a central area. I would wire these into a separate switch so that people cannot tap into your network.
  • POE cameras
  • Plan when you want speaker cable and back to a central point where you want amp / FM transmitter etc
  • Large conduits under driveways/paths so wires are less visible
  • Power points/data points in your roof space.

Oh the possibilities!
 
kinda depends how deep you want to go.

I'd be having conduit run from wherever im having my network in the house to pits or cabinets in the yard. also under any driveways/paths.

plenty of outdoor power and network points. cameras and wireless ap.
 
I'd be installing 3 phase.. It's getting to the point a single phase connection isn't enough
Pull boxes/pits in the ground between various parts in the yard with lids that can be closed while having cables exit. large conduits between them, and one to at least a cupboard in the garage for easy indoor-outdoor network/power/whatever flow.
A dedicated sub-switchboard for lighting outside the house.
 
tooms said:
Not electrical or data related, but a massive shed or attic to store it all
Click to expand...
Yep. After spending about $5k in January to increase my show for this year, then deciding to rebuild I am struggling to fit all this stuff in a small house with no shed...
 
Notenoughlights said:
I'd be installing 3 phase.. It's getting to the point a single phase connection isn't enough
Pull boxes/pits in the ground between various parts in the yard with lids that can be closed while having cables exit. large conduits between them, and one to at least a cupboard in the garage for easy indoor-outdoor network/power/whatever flow.
A dedicated sub-switchboard for lighting outside the house.
Click to expand...
3 phase is boss! Especially once you start adding movers, large led panels ect.
 
first thing with a medium and upwards show is to get some GPO's down near your front fence, as well as at least one ethernet connection from your house down to there, so you can do updates, and test your sequences out from your pc.

If you have your house a long way from the front fence, as I do, with 100 metres from house to front fence, consider a subboard, where you can have circuit breakers to split off your show in to 'bit size chunks', as it's far easier to find that device that's tripping stuff. :)


Adding 90mm storm water pipes underground and popping up near where props are located, will help you manage grass growth during the month+ your display will be up. That allows you easily throw shedloads of cables and extension cords across your yard, without making it impossible to mow/manage your lawn . :)
To cover the openings up, you use those irrigation system covers you can get from Bunnings, so you just pop the cap off, and the pipes become instantly accessible.
 
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