Originally, homes had one and only one room; they were created for shelter.  As time went on, walls were erected to create specialty rooms for activities of eating, preparing food, and sleeping.  The invention of the inside toilet is credited to an Englishman in 1596.  However, it was not until the late 1800s that specialty rooms were commonly built in individual homes for bathtubs and commodes, and then only for the super rich.  Believe it or not, in 1950, 35 percent of American households still did not have an indoor toilet rooms.  Today, just 50 years later, home buyers of even the most modest starter homes expect two or more bathrooms.  Homes at all prices now include rooms for special purposes that would have confounded most homeowner's at the beginning of the 20th century:  mudrooms, walk-in closets, laundry rooms or even family rooms.

Well, be prepared for a new room that I predict will be in every home in much less time that it took for commodes and tubs to get their own room.  It is an "electronics room," and it serves as the central distribution point for new homes equipped to take advantage of modern technology.  Just as the wealthy lead the way from the outhouse, they are also the front runners in insisting on electronics rooms (ER).  Technicians from our company meet often with builders and architects to plan for an ER to be a part of one their client's new homes, generally the homes are in the $3 million and up range.  These meetings are most productive if we have first met with the client to determine their wants and expectations for electronic technology, now and to prepare for the future.

What goes in an ER?  Panels and boxes that control security, lighting, audio and video storage and distribution equipment, telephonics, computer networking, amplifiers, termination box for touch pad control instruments around the home, and several other possible electronic components.

Do only the wealthy need to plan for an ER?  Like so many things, the number and size of the toys is going to determine the need for an ER is a good idea in most homes over $350,000.  A special room is the best possible scenario, but a great deal of sophisticated equipment gets installed in less than ideal environments.  There are three basic rules about segregation of electronic equipment.  First, they are electronic, not electric.  High voltage and low voltage mix about as well as oil and water -- keep them apart.  Second, there is not a ground fault device fast enough to save electronics if they get wet.  Keep them away from potential leaks like water heaters.  Third, excessive heat shortens the life of components so a cool, ventilated area will save money in the long run.  Below is a list of places that we are asked to install equipment everyday.  I have listed them fro m the very worst to the not so bad.

• The worst situation is generally created by an electrician who has no idea about low-voltage structured wiring.  Sometimes they are hired by the home builder to do the low-voltage while they are wiring the house.  Generally, it is in the place too close to the high voltage wiring and then is pulled out through a hole in the side of the house right next to the electric meter.  There is no way to install electronic devices that are meant for "indoor applications only," on the outside of the house.  Often it is suggested that we just poke them back through the hole and mount the equipment on the inside wall.  this breaks the rules about segregating your electronic components from heat and high voltage.  An interior wall is always a better place because of the consistency of temperature.  The only other solution is to install a weatherproof, totally sealed special box and this actually costs more than the homeowner would have paid to have low-voltage wiring installed correctly.  Furthermore, this solution is by no means foolproof.  Heat and humidity create corrosion that can really foul a system up.
• Next are attics where the thermometer often runs 130 degrees here in the Lowcountry.  It is a miserable environment to ask your low-voltage technician to do an installation or a repair.  However, it is even worse on electronic equipment, its life can be shortened by as much as 60 or 70 percent.  Only when a space of reasonable height and size can be walled off, insulated and added to the HVAC system, can attics become possible ER locations.
• Garages are perfect for cars and lawnmowers, but not sensitive electronic equipment.  Corrosion is impossible to control in garages, especially in the Sea Islands, and the electronics act like a magnet to the dust to be found in this specialized room made to house automobiles.  Things become even more complicated when we are asked to use an exterior garage wall that is likely to get very hot.  Once again, not planning for a proper ER creates shorter component life and creates more calls for repairs.
• To many builders, the laundry room seems a good place to terminate structured wiring, and although it is not as bad as an attic, there are still unique problems.  The components are being placed in an area susceptible to water leaks from an appliance or water heater.  Again, we often meet the issue of an inadequately insulated exterior wall and it also can be difficult working on a security system while standing on top of a clothes dryer.
• If we cannot have our own room, our own well-planned ER, then a room specifically designed to house the HVAC system probably has the fewest negatives.  However, it must be an area that has controlled temperature, with good ventilation and lighting, and unobstructed interior walls to mount components.

So what will be the characteristics of the ER in the future?  Well, today we are actually working with many builders and architects to provide optimum ERs for luxury homes in places like Kiawah.  The rooms are centrally located on an upper floor.  this allows us to use the preferred method of distributing an low-voltage wiring, which is known in the industry as "Star Topology."  By running wires to an elevated hub, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel, means that all the wires come up and meet in the center.  This results in all of the wiring being about the same length and typically they are shorter, plus fewer are required to run next to one another.  Using this technique any radio frequency that the system generates will come from the center of the house, instead of an outside wall, and therefore it less likely to pick up or emit interferences to or from an outside source, such as an electrical transformer or a next-door neighbor's system.  These ERs are will lit and insulated.  It is important that the room be temperature controlled with an adequate return air system.  We have done complete home electronic integrations that included elaborate home theaters plus all the other bells and whistles, and these complete systems would generate as much as 18,000 BTUs per hour if all of the components were running at one time.  Temperature control becomes as important as heat in the bathroom.  Also, as a rule of thumb we like to design these rooms with 1.5 times more space than the initial installation requires.  This is called being future ready.

Obviously, not every home needs an ER that is this sophisticated, but progressive builders and architects of high-end homes are including a minimum of an extra closet to meet clients electronic home integration expectations.  Be on the cutting edge, get in touch with your structured wiring contractor and start planning for this new room of the future early in the building process.

This is the sixth in a series of articles by Mike Riley, who has over 30-years of experience in home electronics.  Progressive Integrations, Inc., is owned by Mike and Yvonne Riley and is located at 3424 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, SC  29455.  Contact us for a consultation today!