Beam Spec & Security Wiring
Jan 23, 2001
 
15 January 2001 The beam specification is done. There are a few solutions possible, but the best seems to be a 12" x 26 lb. steel beam. This provides for the least load deflection in the center at only about 1/4". Although LVL beams would work, any combination ends up with either too much deflection or is too wide to provide adequate headroom in the basement. 23 January 2001 We have hired Safe & Sound Security in Norcross, GA to wire our house for an alarm system. They began work today on wiring everything. I wanted to get this done before the basement construction so wiring is easier. I am going to find a good alarm panel myself because I want something that will connect with or become my home automation system (which I don't have yet). I'm also going to get the guys at Safe & Sound to help me finish up my structured and audio wiring throughout the house while they are at it. When it's all done we expect to have four runs of Cat 5, two runs of RG-6, and 14 AWG speaker wiring to pretty much every major room in the house. The Cat 5 is for networking, phone, infrared, and audio system keypads, and the RG-6 is for video. I'm using a ChannelPlus video distribution panel (DA550HHR) and a 4-channel MTS modulator (5645) for video distribution. The DA550 is very nice and made a noticable improvement in picture. I didn't need anything fancier since none of my cable runs is over 90 feet. The jury is still out on the modulator. http://www.channelplus.com/shapeimage_2_link_0