Articles and whitepapers

Home Automation - it's time to talk cables and more (4/1/2010)

By Andrew Restivo, Structured Cable Products

Home automation systems come in many forms, but unless they are designed to be completely wireless, they all have one thing in common - they need good quality, reliable and suitable cabling. It used to be the case that a home automation system might control the lights in a home, plus some automation of blinds and shutters, HVAC, security gates and perhaps the projector and screen in a home cinema. Nowadays however, home automation goes much further, and integrates with AV systems, allowing sophisticated sequences of control instructions to be carried out at the press of a button or a voice command. So, depending on the complexity of the system, the cabling requirements can range from simple control data, to cables for high-definition audio and video distribution.

Aren't all cables the same?

All cables aren't the same. Experienced installers know this. Cheaper cables from unknown companies may seem like a bargain, and may be tempting in these tough economic times, but they can end up costing you your reputation in the long run. They can get damaged more easily when being pulled, degrade thanks to environmental conditions, and generally provide a poor level of performance. This is why reputable installers opt for well-known brands that they can rely on. Many are resigned to the fact that they will have to pay top dollar for cables with assured quality, but that isn't always the case. Structured Cable Products, Inc (SCP) for example, has a lean operation and low overhead costs, and so can manufacture high-quality UL and CE-rated cables that are reasonably-priced and have a lifetime warranty. The cables are also printed with labelling information to help the installer cut lengths accurately and gauge how much cable is left in the box.

SCP printed cable, marked with SCP part number; description of the cable; 3) certifications such as UL or CE rating; 4) sequential foot markings; 5) date of manufacture; 6) ROHS designation if applicable; 7) SCP location numbering system including Room and Outlet designation.

Designs to make the installer's life a little easier can be taken even further. For example, as far as the box is concerned, there is nothing more annoying than picking it up to have it fall apart. We know that boxes get thrown into backs of vans, get dropped, and get stored in damp places, so we have redesigned our category and speaker cable boxes to be very strong and to have a wide mouth. They also have a special coating on them that is moisture resistant and so will hold up a lot better under such conditions than a standard box.

Strong cable boxes will save time and hassle.

Aren't all suppliers the same?

All suppliers are not the same. When researching your source of cables, look for a responsive supplier with a good reputation that can offer good backup service and expert technical advice. A good supplier will understand the vagaries of the custom install market, and will know that some installers will purchase only the cable they need that week due to cash flow, or may purchase the entire requirement for the project, and store it until required. The supplier should therefore be able to handle smaller orders as well as fulfil larger ones, and meet repeat orders quickly. At SCP for example, we stock everything we sell, and our large warehouse in The Netherlands can meet the demands of our growing network of distributors and dealers across Europe.

Proprietary cabling systems

Depending on the complexity of the design, a home automation project may require Cat 5e or Cat 6 for control data and AV distribution, cables for fire alarms and security systems, speaker cable, and coax and/or HDMI for audio and video distribution. If these can all be sourced from one reputable supplier, the job of the installer is made easier - just one order to make, one delivery to take, and one point of contact for support and technical advice.

Sometimes however, proprietary cabling is specified for particular systems. In such cases, the choice of supplier may seem limited to the manufacturer of the system in question, but there can be alternatives. For example, in addition to an extensive range of control and AV cables, SCP manufactures Lutron-, Elan - and Crestron-compatible cables that are produced to exacting standards. Indeed we have been manufacturing Crestron-compatible cables for five years now, and our customers have never had any technical issues with these. We also now offer Crestron Digital Media-compatible cable.

Being able to order standard as well as compatible proprietary cable helps to keep down costs for the installer, and provides the convenience of ordering all of the project cabling requirements from one supplier.

(from left to right) Example of SCP's seven types of Crestron-compatible cable, three types of Lutron-compatible cable, and Elan Home System-compatible cable.

What else do installers need?

As installers know, cables are only half of the story. They will need various accessories and tools to complete the cable installation, including voice and data connectors, compression connectors, and other installation tools and accessories. Again, it is far more convenient if these can all be sourced from one supplier. To answer this, SCP has significantly grown its range of accessories to include a full line of HDMI extenders and HDMI matrix switches, wall plates, inline surge protectors, home theatre plates, etc. We offer the Easy RJ45 compression connector system, plus a new tool EasyTool Pro for Cat 6 connectors. We have also addressed the problem of HDMI connection to wall-mounted TVs. Normally, with a rigid cable, the HDMI connection may push the TV away from the wall by 4 - 6 inches and there can be pressure on the connector which can eventually cause a degradation of the signal. Our swivel-head HDMI cable allows the heads on both ends of the cable to swivel 180 degrees, which means lower-profile mounting, and no pressure on the connector.

SCP swivel head HDMI cable.

Conclusion

Any installation, whether it is a simple lighting system to whole-house full automation with integrated home theatre, multiroom AV indoor and outdoor security and more, needs good quality cables and connectors. The performance of all system components ultimately depends on these, so it is essential that the installer finds a reliable and responsive supplier that can offer consistent quality and, especially in today's economic environments, reasonable prices.

Andrew Restivo is the International Sales Director for Structured Cable Products, Inc. SCP is a global manufacturer and supplier of low-voltage cable and accessories, with a growing network of distributors and dealers across Europe and the Middle East.

www.scpcat5e.com