"Low-voltage structured wiring contractor," is the term that refers to the professionals who install wiring and then integrate various electronic devices and systems in what are now called, "smart homes."

Their skills and knowledge come from experience with all of the several different low-voltage components that just a few years ago were installed by several different individual specialists -- telephone, security, computer networks, audio systems, lighting control, video systems and home theater.  As homeowner's desires for smarter houses have grown, with more and more electronic features, it has become impractical for the builder to use vendors who are experts in just one or two of these systems.

There are three very important reasons that home builders at all price points should use "structured wiring contractors."  First, is their capability to assist in planning and budgeting with the client on a comprehensive basis (that is, do they want a $10,000 phone system at the expense of distributing music throughout the home?).  Secondly, the simple logistics of dealing with multiple subcontractors, with each installing wires for only their specialty, is a formula for real problems.  And lastly, all these systems both interact and affect one another.  The goal is to build a system of wiring that meets the homeowner's expectations, and is capable of feeding power, control and data to all the electronic devices they want to use in their home, now and in the future.  Wiring that is installed correctly for just one application can unintentionally create havoc with another application.  Today, we can install groups of wires that are compatible, and make integration of devices like plasma TV and surround sound work at the highest possible efficiency and clarity.  These "bundled" sets of wires, depending on the complexity of the entire "smart home" plan, and the correct installation of these bundles is critical to eliminating problems of integration of the electronic equipment.

We are often called in to diagnose an fix problems where well-intentioned contractors have installed wiring without a comprehensive plan, and ignored the potential effect of their work on other systems in the home.  A wire that is run too close to a 110 wire can create interference and noise in phone lines and data for computers, which can range anywhere from just being annoying, to rendering the system unusable.  Homeowners become very upset when told that no provisions were made for their new plasma TV to be attached to anything other than cable TV, and that expensive alterations will be necessary to make provisions for satellite signals, DVD, VCR, or to send digital audio from their computer to the expensive speaker they had installed.

I do not mean to make it sound like it is brain surgery, but there are some similarities in becoming an expert in both professions.  Before becoming a brain surgeon, physicians must first study the entire human body and learn the cause and effect of their work on all the different organs of the body.  Likewise, a true "low-voltage structured wiring contractor" has learned the cause and effect of several systems in a "Technologically Correct Home."  The good news is that brain surgeons are required to study extensively, be tested and certified, and are under constant evaluation by their peers.  The bad news is that this is not true in the structured wiring business--so choose your contractor carefully!  Get references from other builders, homeowners and subcontractors that they have worked alongside.  Just as you would not ask your expert plumber to put a roof on your house or a podiatrist to do heart surgery, make sure you use a competent expert at structured wiring and home integration of low-voltage electronics, and you will have very satisfied clients for years to come.

Mike Riley has more than 30 years experience in home electronics.  Progressive Integrations, Inc., is owned by Mike and Yvonne Riley, ad is located 3424 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, SC  29455. Click here for a consultation.