What is Low Voltage Wiring

The Low-Down on Low Voltage Wiring

A lot of today’s homeowners can’t see their home not having high speed Internet and Wi-Fi, in-home automation controls used for lighting, entertainment, HVAC and state of the art security systems. That’s the reason a lot of home builders are turning installation of structured cabling in new buildings the standard or offering it as an alternative. And whereas some of the fundamentals are comparable, the installation of low voltage wiring is an entirely different animal. When you’re overseeing an electrical project or you own a home, this guide is going to help get a better comprehension of the way low voltage wiring works and how electrical contractors can help.

Low Voltage Wiring in Short

How is installation of structured cabling different from the installation of standard electrical cabling? A lot of wall outlets run 120 volt or 240 volts of electricity. However, low voltage wiring does not carry the equivalent current as power outlets, wall fixtures and/or switches that usually get installed in homes. Low voltage wirings are designed for carrying 50 volts or less of electricity. General low voltages are 12-volt, 24 volt and 48 volts. Low voltage wiring is typically used for Smart doorbells, phones, garage door opener controls, HVAC thermostats, landscaping lighting, alarm system sensors and controls entertainment wiring, internet networks and/or Wi-Fi, and LED’s and/or low voltage lighting. The foundation on which low voltage wiring functions is known as structured cabling. Structured wiring systems are built on a different network from most of a home’s typically wiring. In a lot of cases, the home’s primary electrical system gets installed first, then the low voltage wiring. Ideal performance for a structured cabling system depends on a good design. A good design takes into consideration airflow and cooling issues, permits for redundancy, opts for the proper cabling for the project, and projects the cabling patch-ways. Many of the more typical kinds of cables utilized in low voltage wiring comprise of:

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable – Cat 6 or 6a cable are the kinds typically used in today’s homes
Fiber optic cable – Utilized for longer distance runs. It’s challenging to work with and needs special crimping devices and connectors.
Coaxial cable (coax) – The most general type of cable utilized in homes
Speaker wiring – Utilized for whole-home entertainment applications.
Security system wiring – Typically in 18 and 24 American wire gauge, having two or four conductors
Thermostat wiring – The most common thermostat cabling is 18/5 since 5 conductors usually provide enough functionality

Structured cabling systems are streamlined, proficient, forward adjustable, and systematic. Particular wires can be located quickly. It’s also adjustable and easy to modify or add to. They can carry data at high-rates, at the same time decreasing power and maintenance expenses. You aren’t able to pull low voltage wire the way you pull standard electrical wire. Low voltage wiring is very delicate. Aggressive handling could damage it, pulling out it’s twist, and impacting cable performance. A maximum of 25 lbs. of pull strength is suggested, although each manufacturer will have its own standard in which you need to follow. Another important factor to heed is that low voltage wire, like fiber optic cable, isn’t able to bend at a 90° angle. when you require to turn it in a different direction, you are going to have to create a loop. Once more, examine the manufacturer’s standards to find out the maximum radius of their loop. Cable fibers are inclined to kink or break, in which could compromise the signal. Low voltage wiring is required to be installed a foot away, at least, from the home’s primary electrical wires, running the same direction with each of the cabling. Because the high voltage from electrical cables, they could produce signal hindrance that may impact the data cables. When there is no way to stay away from installing low voltage wires over electrical wires, they will need to be installed at a 90° angle. And, usually, copper cabling should not surpass 100 meters, even though there are some exceptions.

A Great Growth Opportunity

The worldwide structured cabling market is foreseen to reach $17,181.2 million by 2022. The market is particularly lucrative in the US because of the high demand for Internet connectivity, in addition to so many technology giants are located here. This produces and ideal business opportunities for electrical contractors. Whereas there is intense competition from other cable installers like electronic system contractors, alarm systems installers, and home entertainment system installers, electrical contractors are in a better position in a lot of ways to benefit from this profitable opportunity. Why? General contractors prefer to work with companies that they are familiar with and companies that they’ve appreciated a good working experience with on previous projects. General contractors know how important business relationships built on trust are. Additionally, electrical contractors are a big part of projects and are already on the job site installing the primary electrical components. For example, they cannot be replaced by an alarm system installer. One other reason general contractor chooses to hand over the cable installations to electrical contractors comes down to the final result. With an electrical contractor as a singular contact instead of having to deal with several installers could save general contractors up to 20 % on the electrical installation expense of the project.

Find IT Services in Phoenix, AZ

Wired IT Group is a full-service information technology (IT) vendor, based in Phoenix, AZ. Our team is capable of designing, installing and maintaining all of your IT solutions from network systems to security systems and low voltage cabling.