Author Topic: Power and Data Infrastructure for New Yard  (Read 457 times)

Offline ChevySSinSD

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Power and Data Infrastructure for New Yard
« on: November 09, 2021, 08:28:11 AM »
I recently moved (new construction) and landscaping work has started.  I would like to set up my first shows for Halloween and Christmas in 2022.  Planning to start with roof/window outlines using C9 PixaBulbs (or similar) and a few props, and adding on over time after that.

I have not started my layout in xLights yet, but I have an opportunity in the next few weeks to have my landscaper to put some runs for power and CAT5 throughout the yard.  Does anyone have recommendations on how many power and data runs I should have put in and how close they should be spaced?  I would greatly appreciate tips on the best way to set up my infrastructure to support future expansion and also hopefully minimize the rats nest of wires running around the yard.

The attached picture shows my initial thoughts.  The red boxes are existing power outlets on the exterior of the house.  The green boxes are my proposed locations for additional power outlets and CAT5 (2 runs each box).  I would run the CAT5 into the house at the garage into patch panel and could use either for ethernet or differential control signal.

Offline scuba

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Re: Power and Data Infrastructure for New Yard
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2021, 05:13:31 PM »
Wow!...talking about a clean sheet of paper! you're so lucky!  Plan on the future...

I would run as many hard conduits (if you make it large as possible you can run different types of lines, and lots of them!) from your garage as possible...also put something on the roof, and where the roof meets the vertical house...Also put lines on to the perimeter of the property.

Fiber is coming within several years....

A patch board is a great idea..Best of Luck!


Offline ChevySSinSD

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Re: Power and Data Infrastructure for New Yard
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2021, 05:20:37 PM »
Thanks for the reply and suggestion!  You are right, conduit (and pull string) throughout will be very helpful.

Offline jnealand

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Re: Power and Data Infrastructure for New Yard
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2021, 12:23:11 PM »
I run my whole show using FPP master remote.  I have no data cables in my yard.  Reminds me of when I bought a new home many years ago and ran phone jacks everywhere and then the world went to cordless phones.  The same thing seems to be happening with ethernet jacks now with wifi being used thruout the home.  The one thing that did old constant was the need for convenient power outlets.  I do agree that it is way better, easier, and cheaper to do stuff now than retrofit later.  Just posting some things to think about.  Master remote uses very little wifi bandwidth, but I would love to have power outlets in my landscaping.  Even in my current house, when I had my driveway repaved 10 years ago I put a 2" pvc pipe underneath the drive so I could in the future run data wires over there.  Never happened as  FPP master remote came about and has worked great.

Other things I learned over the years when buying new construction.
- Look carefully at where the builder puts the power outlets inside each room.  They never seem to be convenient for where my furniture is going.
- Add more outlets now
- Make your sidewalks and driveway wider than the builder defaults.  When I lived in snow country, I hated to have walk in snow to get around or in a car after the shoveled stuff was piled up right on the edge of the paving.  Be sure sidewalks are wide enough for two people to walk side by side. 
- And if you plan to get old in that house be sure all doors are wide enough to get a walker or wheelchair thru them.

Just this old farts two cents.
Jim Nealand
Kennesaw, GA